Music, food, and culture connecting communities
By: Edwige Ozo
With each strike of the iya ilu drum, Omotosho Oluwatobi Ayanlekan pulls students toward the stage, his patterned green attire swaying as he and two other performers send Yoruba rhythms, common from southwestern Nigeria, echoing through the Roblin Centre hall.
“Any time they see the drum, they always appreciate it,” said Ayanlekan. “Their interest keeps me motivated to practice and play.”
Ayanlekan, 31, started drumming in church nine years ago. For him, opportunities like this are a rare but welcome chance to showcase his culture.
The Roblin Centre dining hall shifted into celebration mode, decorated with green and white balloons to commence the Nigerian Cultural Celebration.
Students, staff, and visitors immersed themselves in the sights of colourful cultural attire, the sounds of Nigerian Afrobeats, and the flavours of traditional snacks.
Skilled in playing the West African gangan (talking drum), specifically the omele (baby drum), and the iya ilu (mother drum), Ayanlekan said the Nigerian drumming scene feels restricted in Canada, as he has only a limited number of events where he can play traditional drums; still, the enthusiasm of listeners inspires him.
Students arrived in cultural attire: bright head ties known as gele, Ankara shirts and dresses made from cotton fabric, an African wax print popular in Nigerian fashion, with bold and colourful designs.
Miniature Nigerian flags were pinned to outfits or waved as the Nigerian anthem was recited throughout the dining hall.
A heritage documentary showed the history of Nigeria’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1960, followed by a fashion show featuring pieces by Nigerian designers projected on screen, while Afrobeats from Flavour, Falz and Asake played on the speakers.
Food brought another layer of home, offering comfort and familiarity to Nigerian students and many international students in the crowd. Students and staff were laughing in line as they inched forward for a taste of meat pies and plantain chips.
While chatting with some Nigerian students, Racine Mesquite, 35, originally from Jamaica, said the celebration offered space for cultural learning and connection with the community.
“I think having these events is very valuable for those who are learning about it and for the people who are from the home country,” said Mesquite, an information technology operations student.
She said the highlight came from the confidence on display: “The one thing that I’ll remember is the pride… showing off their dance moves, the drummers,” said Mesquite, chewing on the crisp plantain chips. “It’s just the pride of ‘this is where I’m from, and I’m proud of it.’”
The current number of international students for the 2025–26 academic year is 2,077, with 191 students from Nigeria.
As the numbers continue to change, the RRC Polytech cultural planning committee hopes to host four similar events each year to reflect the Polytechnic community’s diversity.
Ayanlekan looks forward to seeing Nigerian culture grow in Canada.
“This is the right time to show our Nigerian culture to people, and let people know more of our culture,” he said.
