Adeyinka Olaiya, Sao Paulo/
Wednesday went down as a day the Nigerian community in Brazil will cherish for long as they led several other African countries to experience what was seen as the best ever street carnival in São Paulo.
It was a day when the Nigerian Embassy in Brazil also received accolades for its immense contributions to the success of the event.
The Government in collaboration with the carnival committee gave a popular Avenue in São Paulo metropolis to the Africans in Brazil to display their real carnival for Arts and culture with music, dances, performances and talk shows.
Several Nigerian and African music played at the occasion with dignitaries from the Nigerian Embassy in Brasilia present.
Some Brazil-based Nigerian professionals were also present at the festival with Nigerian flags, drums and attires.
Madam Gislene Cavalcante, a traditionalist, said: “I feel great dancing in the midst of the real owners of the black culture, the Yorubas, the Fons, and the Nagos. Thank you for bringing Africa to Brazil. We are proud of you.”
In a brief interview with the representatives of the Nigerian Embassy at the occasion, the Honorable representative of the Nigerian High Commission in Brasilia, Mr Imam said: “We are glad to be here and to see the Nigerian culture and tradition setting the pace in Brazil.”
The event which, however, paraded several thousands of Africans and Brazilians from the collective stages of Afro and African-Brazilian band “Eu sou do Axé “ at the Rua Augusta in Avenida Paulista, Sao Paulo extended through the Avenida Eng. Luiz Gomes In Vila Mariana, Sao Paulo with dances, shows and cultural performances of the African people.
The Nigerian Embassy and the Nigerian community in Brazil are constant promoters of all events that concern the culture and tradition of the Nigerian and the African residents in Brazil.
This year’s event also counted with the participation of several other African countries including Ghana, Ethiopia, Angola, Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and South Africa.
