My son Charles could not stop talking about the cultural day that was not due until another two weeks. He went on and on about reminding me of all that was required of him – he was expected to come to school dressed in full Yoruba regalia: agbada, cap, irukere, beads and all. He was also to come to school with a Yoruba traditional dish; specifically Amala, ewedu, gbegiri and dry fish stew. Wish he knew all that went into preparing him for that day, but why worry his adorable little mind. All that mattered was for him to feel proud of his heritage and appreciate the diverse other cultures that would be represented on that day.

The day came and all was set. He went to school all dressed up and very happy. The look on his face spoke volumes. I was just grateful that we could make his dream a reality. Only recently, a number of things had happened that had rocked our boat as a family; so every moment building up to that day had made me all the more appreciative of the many blessings that we had so often taken for granted.

It was such a colourful event. The assortment of attires representing the various tribes was truly breath taking; beautiful. The children sang and danced; the teachers wound their waists; their every presentation left me grinning from ear to ear. A few parents made presentations too, educating us on the culture of the various ethnic groups represented on the day. I was gobsmacked to discover the very many little details and thought that went into making the occasion a success. The details on many of the clothes worn were a testament to the tangibility of the support and thoughtfulness that every parent had given to the programme. I have attended a number of cultural days organized by the school, but this one surpassed them all. For a moment, it was a representation of what is possible if only we decide to work together.

Did I forget to mention that there were different tables with various delicacies on display for us to feast on? The food and drinks were so on point.

Summarily, I had a good time; yeah nearly as much fun as the children had.