What Is One RGU Many Nations?
One RGU Many Nations is an annual event celebrating the diverse culture of students in RGU. This RGU:Union led event gives both local and international students an opportunity to showcase their cultures therefore enabling increased awareness on cultural diversity. This year, RGU:Union in collaboration with various cultural societies and groups hosted “A Taste of Culture”. It was an incredible day celebrating the culmination of a time of cultural exchange, enabling dialogue and conversation.
This event was marked in a unique way this year with three different activities:
- Workshop Session: We enjoyed knowledgeable insights from speakers from diverse fields and cultural backgrounds, Philippo Antoniazzi (Director Student Life), Dr. Uche Iloka (Lecture, Law School) and Makin Abdullah Mohammed (PG Student Oil Gas and Renewable Energy Law). In the audience we had a special guest Veronica Strachan (University Secretary and Vice Principal Corporate Services) and students from diverse nationalities in attendance. This workshop session was hosted by Suzanna Bamigbola, your President for Communication and Democracy.
- Cultural Exhibition: We enjoyed the view of a cultural exhibition display by our talented students running cultural societies. Both staff and students enjoyed learning new thing about the different countries that were represented. We had stalls organised by students from Brunei, China, Columbia, Ghana, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Singapore and many more. Traditional food sampling from different countries was available for students and staff to taste.
- Entertainment: The entertainment session commenced with a song performance by the President of our music society - Fakankun Ayo-Ola Michael, Oliva Sanchez Montesino and Prashasti Meshram. These performance portrayed Indian, Mexican and Nigerian cultures. The events wrapped up with different nationalities teaching students latest dance steps from their various countries.
We had over 100 students and staff in attendance.
Direct Feedback from Students
Mexico
Our culture represents celebrations, we appreciate family, traditions, music and in general we try to look always for the bright side. We wore a lot of Mexican items, like handmade Mexican earrings, embroidery blouses, the Mexican football t-shirt, flower headbands and the traditional sombrero. In this time we offered chilaquiles (crispy tortilla with spicy sauce, cheese and onion)
We showcased some cooking Mexican items, information about our traditions like the Day of the Death, decorated skulls, food, Mexican drinks, music, dancing, wrestling items. We are proud of our culture because we are so happy to live these experiences in our own country, that we want the rest of the world get to know the amazing food, people and traditions Mexico has.
Oliva Sanchez Montesinos
President La Sociedad Society
Pakistan
The land of the pure. Pakistan is located in South-Asia. It is the land of giant mountains, glaciers, beautiful vallies, lush green fields alongwith hot and cold deserts.
Pakistan is known for its hospitality, brotherhood and lovely people. There are people from different ethnicities like Punjabi, Pukhtoon, Sindhi, Balochi, Balti united by single faith and nationality. Urdu is the national language along with regional languages like Punjabi, Saraiki, Pushto, Sindhi and Balochi.
Shalwaar kameez is the national dress of Pakistan. We have accessories like turban, ajrak, khairi, khussa etc. I was wearing kurta and shalwar.
Pakistan has delicious cuisine. Biryani, palao, mutanjan, karahi, dam pukht, sijji, kebabs and many more dishes that can bring water in your mouth.
Pakistanis, we consider each day our last day so we enjoy each day like Eid(the event of joy). We never miss the moment of celebration and are ever ready to do bhangra, Luddi, jhoomer , attan etc ( our culture dances).
We shared chocolate, vegetable palao and salad. Pakistan culture is proud worthy as it is integrated with our faith, and it brings unity, love and respect among it's people. Our culture welcomes everyone. Say salam to any Pakistani and he will be there for you just like your brother.
"One RGu many nations" was a remarkable event to represent our Pakistani culture. It provided us a platform to meet our community as well the other nations. We came to learn about interesting traditions of other countries. Such type of events brings coordination and respect among different communities that ultimately produces a loveable diverse environment.
Toseef Ahmad
Student Pharmaceutical Science
Nigeria
We are very cheerful people who love to dance and cook. We are known for our hospitality.
Our traditional outfit are Ankara and lace, and I wore an Ankara gown.
Our national food is jollof rice, plaintain and moi-moi we have other region foods such as Afang soup, Edikang Ikong. Ekpang Nkwukwo, Egusi soup, eba, pounded yam, fufu and Amala and Tuwo. We have 3 major ethnic groups in Nigeria, Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa.
We shared plantain chips, groundnuts, coconut peanuts, Ijebu garri, chin-chin and cashew nuts. We are proud of my culture because it is beautiful and unique. It is our identity
Patricia Innocent
President Nigerian Students Society
China
Chinese culture is long-standing and profound, we have a history of 5,000 years, in which countless artistic treasures have been born, such as traditional ideas: Mohist ideas, Buddhist ideas, military ideas, etc.
Our traditional festivals are Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Spring Festival, and Chinese theatre: Kunqu, Beijing Opera, etc.
Chinese characters and Chinese language: Chinese characters, Chinese language, couplets, riddles (lantern riddles), haggis, familiar phrases, idioms, shooting over, wine orders, etc.
Traditional Chinese Medicine: Chinese medicine, traditional Chinese medicine
Religious philosophy: Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism
Folk crafts: paper-cutting, kites, Chinese embroidery (embroidery, etc.)
The traditional costume I wore at the event was one that was prevalent during the Ming Dynasty, which was in the Little Ice Age, and most of the costumes were very warm, which people nowadays mostly wear in winter. It is worth mentioning my skirt, the horse-faced skirt, which is shaped like an ancient city wall, and this ancient city wall is called “Mamian”, so this skirt is called a Mamian skirt. For political reasons such as the change of dynasties between the Ming and Qing dynasties, the number of Ming costumes that have been passed down to the present day is very limited. My skirt is an imitation of a bird and flower skirt.
There are many traditional foods in China, and we eat different traditional foods at different festivals, usually the traditional foods eaten in the south of China are very different from those eaten in the north. In addition to this we have eight major cuisines, but the most popular is the Hot Pot, an ancient name for the 'antique soup', named after the 'thumping' sound it makes when food is thrown into boiling water, which is an original Chinese dish with a long history and is a popular dish for all ages. It has a long history and is a popular food for young and old alike. According to research, hot pot was available during the Warring States period, when people used clay pots as pots, and by the Song Dynasty, hot pot was very common among the people. During the Yuan Dynasty, hotpot spread to Mongolia and was used to cook beef and lamb. During the Qing Dynasty, hotpot not only became popular among the people, but also became a famous 'court dish', made from wild game such as mountain chicken.
Our stall offers a free display of Chinese tea and fans.
China is the home of the tea tree, and it is the country where the first and most wild tea trees were discovered.
Fans are used to draw the wind and cool the air, and to shelter the sun from the dust. It has a long history, with roots dating back to the time of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors: a rich cultural heritage, with fans being the subject of numerous works of poetry, calligraphy and painting throughout the ages.
China has a long history, and because Chinese is a hieroglyphic language, much of it has been preserved and passed on intact, leaving behind many valuable historical relics and cultural treasures from ancient times to the present day, which are innumerable. The culture and customs of the ancient times have also been passed down intact, and we enjoy the same moon, the same hot pot and the same tea as the ancients did a thousand years ago. China has gone through some very difficult times in its history, but it is the self-reliance of the Chinese people that has kept us going time and time again. I am very proud of China's culture, history and the backbone of its people!
Xinyi Hou
Student Business and Management
What was your Highlight of the Event?
One RGU Many Nations was a fantastic, joyful, and engaging event. We had the privilege to learn about different cultures. The entertainment session was my best part of the event because there was cultural integration that portrayed the ‘ONE RGU’.
Oliva
The best part of this event was the entertainment sections. We learnt some moves of Hispanic, Indian and Nigerian traditional dance. We got a chance to perform bhangra and it's vibes are something else. Those moments of joy are remarkable.
Toseef
I thought One RGU Many Nations was a great event and should be held at least twice a year. I loved getting to try taste foods from other countries, and other nationalities trying mine as well. Oh…the party afterward was fun as well.
Patricia
My favorite part of the show was the cultural clash and the charm of the different countries, especially the friendship between the Chinese people and the Pakistani brothers, and the Indian culture.
Xinyi
Written By:
Suzanna Bamigbola
President (Communication and Democracy)