Canadian Mayor Turbaned Sarkin Brampton At Flavour Of Nigeria Festival

The third edition of the annual Flavours of Nigeria Festival lit up the City of Brampton, Ontario, Canada, with colour, music and cultural splendour as the Mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown, was ceremoniously decorated as Sarikin Brampton by the Northern community conducted by Hon. Dr Abdulrahaman Terab

The 2026 edition themed:”The Royal Court of Arewa,” celebrated the rich heritage of Northern Nigeria while showcasing the traditions of the country’s three major ethnic groups alongside an array of Nigerian cuisines.

The festival attracted government officials from the three tiers of government in Canada, members of parliament, councillors, cultural organisations and members of the Nigerian diaspora, who gathered to celebrate Nigeria’s rich cultural identity.

Traditional dances, royal processions and colourful displays highlighted the diversity and unity that define the country’s heritage.

Founder and convener of the festival, Chuks Anyaduba, said the initiative was conceived to export Nigeria’s festivals to Canada, project the country’s authentic culture to the world and promote tourism.

According to him, the platform is designed to encourage people from different parts of the world to discover Nigeria’s cultural wealth and tourism potential.

Anyaduba commended his partner, Akin Oduntan, the City of Brampton and other stakeholders for supporting the growth of the festival, describing the event as a major platform for telling positive Nigerian stories.

“The bigger picture is telling more Nigerian stories, showcasing Nigeria to attract international revenue through tourism and taking the Flavours of Nigeria Festival across North America and Europe,” he said.

Speaking on the Memorandum of Understanding signed during the event, Anyaduba explained that the partnership with PAMA and the Museum of Nigerian Arts would promote Nigerian artefacts, arts and culture through a pop-up museum and residency programme.

He added that plans were already underway to expand the festival to other Canadian provinces, including Alberta, Calgary, Ottawa and Manitoba.

Nigeria’s Business Ambassador to the City of Brampton and partner of the festival, Akin Oduntan, said the event was far beyond food, noting that it was designed to showcase the quality, creativity and rich heritage of Nigeria.

He said the presence of the Minister of Treasury Board, the Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship, members of parliament and councillors demonstrated the growing recognition of the Nigerian community in Canada.

Oduntan described the turbaning of Mayor Patrick Brown as a historic cultural moment, saying many Canadian dignitaries had never witnessed such a colourful display of Nigerian tradition.

“They saw the richness of our culture and what Nigeria has to offer the world. It is another opportunity to showcase that Nigeria remains a great nation blessed with unique cultural heritage,” he said.

Edo indigenes resident in Brampton also added colour to the celebration with an impressive display of Benin cultural heritage.

The initiator of Edo Language Worldwide, Nekpe Obasogie, said the association joined the festival to celebrate Nigerian culture and promote the Benin language, describing the annual gathering as a unifying platform that strengthens harmony and oneness among Nigerians living in Canada.