Greenway Plaza is somewhat like a maze. The fact that a megachurch is part of the area is of no help, either. After I had to navigate myself through the nearby Saturday evening church crowd, I made my way to the Doubletree Hilton. As I took the escalator up from the parking garage, finely dressed melanated people came into view. I had made it to the Nigerian American Multicultural Council’s 6th annual Gala and Awards Show just in time for cocktail hour.
The gala and awards show highlighted the accomplishments the non-profit organization has made in the past year, as well as honored prominent members of the Nigerian community making a notable difference. Having just found out about the event the week before, I was thrilled to join and take a deeper look into an organization I had also found out about the same day. Gala guests donned a mix of formal and traditional Nigerian attire, with its dazzling designs, bright colors, intricate details, and even some sparkle. Local artists and a few other vendors were able to showcase their artwork, offering some up for sale.
My ensemble for the evening.
The theme of this year’s gala: Building Unity. The meaning was twofold, as one could interpret building stronger connections within the Nigerian community, and also, they are raising funds for a brand-new multicultural center, the first of its kind. There is a related predecessor, the Igbo Catholic Community center in southwest Houston. NAMC, however, is focused more on unifying all Nigerians, no matter what tribe. Such a building would be so fitting in Houston, given the overwhelmingly large Nigerian population, the most of any city in the U.S. outside of New York City.
I was beyond excited to discover that the host of the evening was a woman of new celebrity. Nigerian-born actress Yvonne Orji is most famous for her role on the HBO series Insecure, a show that virtually took off instantly. I admire her as an actress and as a woman in real life, so I was looking forward to possibly meeting her.
Ms. Orji and I #instagramfilter
Nigerian jollof rice. Yum.
Nigeria is pretty dense with different groups of people.
I am what you would consider an honorary Nigerian. Since one of my best friends is a first-generation Nigerian-American, I have learned quite a bit about the overall culture and sub-cultures for the last decade. When Yvonne made a cultural joke about the struggles of being a single woman with anxious parents, I was able to understand and laugh about it with everyone else. One highlight of the gala, besides being served Nigerian jollof rice, was the slide show running throughout the dinner, showing the different tribes Nigeria is comprised of. I was so delighted to learn even more about this densely cultural country in west Africa.
The honorees ranged from the founder of Glazed Doughnuts, a doctor who conducted a successful fetal surgery, and Ms. Orji herself, for representing her home country in everything she does. Her acceptance speech was what pulled everything together for me. It’s no secret that the American Dream is the dream of many immigrants that grace our shores. While many people are away from their homeland, that homeland is never far from the heart. According to Yvonne, what keeps her going is “the love of God and country.” I was touched by how Nigerians constantly support each and keep their culture alive and well within another country. My ancestors did not get the chance to pass language, food, and family values down from generation to generation, so I have a deeper appreciation for a people, some away from many loved ones, striving and thriving for the people and country they represent and love so much.
If you would like to learn more about the Nigerian American Multicultural Council, you can visit them online at namchouston.org.
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