By

Hakeem Babalola

His name is Tunde Komolafe. He knew from the on set his mission when he came to Hungary almost a decade ago. Initially, like most Africans here in Hungary , his intention was to go west. But something more profound arrested him from further adventure. While his contemporaries were absolutely obsessed with Germany , Britain , Belgium , Italy , Austria , Switzerland etc, Komolafe listened and trusted what he called his intuition. He stayed among eleven million Hungarians who would soon be his source of inspiration. However, his friends were astonished at such silly decision. They even thought he must be mad for choosing to live in a Communist Block, which was barely known to Africans then. Today, Hungary has become a sort of haven for Africans.

Komolafe settled down by marrying a Hungarian woman. He worked in different places including casino, thus becoming the first African to get such “interesting” job here in Hungary . Although being in the casino arena is not true to his nature, young Komolafe must provide food, clothing, and shelter for his new family. In the meanwhile, he watched compulsive gamblers do their thing, while his mind kept burning to accomplish a mission. It was not long before he resigned, an action other Africans considered suicidal, probably because it was/is a herculean task for Africans living here to secure a “noble” job like working in the casino.

And thence he took to the street of Budapest with one aim: to introduce African culture to Hungarians. Nevertheless, he was filled with fear of unknown, the terrible feeling of whether Hungarians were ready to embrace a foreign culture – African culture especially. The thought deeply engaged his mind like looting occupied Nigerian rulers’. Komolafe knew the road would be rough, but knowing the art of gambling, he went out as a pioneer of cultural melting pot. The love he has for culture had taken preference, believing that he who laughs last laughs the best.

In the early 90’s, Africans living along the Danube River were so few they knew one another by name. Hungarians were curious about them, and surprisingly they were accepted with open mind and hands. This hospitality was to have an important impact on Komolafe’s thinking. He took Hungarians’ cordial reception as a lifetime opportunity. He danced. He sang. He recited incantations. He drummed. And he gradually became a street entertainer as well as African acrobat to his fans – women in particular.

However, his African brothers (very few sisters were here then) did not see him as someone promoting culture, but a young man without respectable means of living. They made a mock of him, but Komolafe won’t be deterred. He often took their jibes as one of those things. He felt they were only jealous because Hungarian women always flocked to the “shrine” whenever he performed. And he too began to take a little surreptitious pleasure in their ignorance.

Still, he could not understand why his fellow Africans refused to acknowledge his contribution in uplifting the mood, and promoting the image of a whole continent in far away Central Europe . He was disturbed but focused. Since African culture was relatively known in Hungary , he decided to champion that cause. After establishing himself as a street performer, he moved ahead with the introduction of what he termed Bongo music. Within a twinkle of an eye, other four Nigerians – Toyin Akinwunmi, Godwin Okonofua, Sonere Aregbenye and Oludayo Lapite – had joined him. Bongo music instantly gained recognition, boosting the group’s confidence. They were overwhelmed with joy because Hungarians were showing great enthusiasm about African culture.

But law enforcement officers – through incessant harassment – soon put abrupt end to their dream of making a joyous living in the street of Budapest . The determination to save Bongo music took them to nightclubs and provincial towns strictly on invitation. Bongo music consists of African conga, throbbing tam-tam drums, talking drum, a gong, and Sekere (a drum made from calabash laced with strings of cowries or beads, which tinkle as it is shaken or knocked against). The combination of these instruments always enrapture the audience. “Hungarians always respond by swinging and swaying their hips to the rhythm,” says Komolafe.

The River Niger then flowed into the Duna in 1995 when he staged the first Africana Festival during the Sziget Festival, the most popular annual summer event in Europe . This was a turning point in his life, as he used the occasion to celebrate African cultural activities such as Egungun, Eyo, exhibition, poetry reading, and of course, dancing. Africana Festival has since become a yearly event. Komolafe had opened African Dance School prior to 1995 where he taught African steps and rhythm.

In 2003, he launched Miss Afro Beauty Pageant, which was won by the then 21-year-old Bettina Abiwu whose father is Ghanaian. The contestants are always mulatto whose ancestry is a mixture of African and European. Chonjo Claudia Elder, 21, whose father is Tanzanian, won Miss Afro 2005, which was chaired by Ambassador Joao Miguel Vahekeni of Republic of Angola .

The main purpose of the event, according to the twelve contestants, is basically to showcase their identity. “Most of us do not know their fathers talk less of being to their fatherland,” says Anette Ughoro, 2004 Miss Afro first runners-up whose father is from Nigeria . Although Anette seems to be enjoying both worlds – having lived in Nigeria for ten years – she believes Miss Afro contest is a way “to re-introduce ourselves…to show who we are.” And for Clara Bassey whose father is also Nigerian, participating in the Miss Afro Beauty contest is to show that “we are not just sexy or a piece of flesh, but intelligent and equal in every sense.”

In a country where Africans seldom come together, Miss Afro Beauty Pageant has become a special occasion to bring close interaction among African community living in Hungary , while promoting African culture. For instance, Anette says she met a friend she had lost for ten years during Miss Afro 2004. Komolafe also shares the same sentiment. “We are using Miss Afro to bring different people together,” he says. “To popularise African culture in Central Europe ,” adding that he was actually inspired by the determination of African- Americans who did everything possible to project African beauty despite racism that was so pervasive in those days. “Let’s face it,” he quips, “African woman is a symbol of beauty. You know that a Nigerian had once won Miss Swedish.”

In these days when a few Nigerians have been accused by Hungarian authority for committing various crimes, Komolafe would like to erase such bad image through different cultural activities, and by making Miss Afro the Mecca of African beauty in Central Europe .

Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 20.12.2005 23:54

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# 2 Thanks for sharing the story of a Nigerian doing positive things like promoting our arts and culture in Hungary. Here, in New York, the attitude of Nigerians is the same as the ones in Hungary. Whenever they see someone doing positive things to improve the image of Nigerians abroad, they will be mocking him or her instead of supporting THE CAUSE. They will even go to some unimaginable lengths to bring that person down. PHD-Put her down syndrome.Then, they glorify the people making quick money through crimes. Kudos to the organizers in Hungary . Posted by Unregistered| 21.12.2005 12:19

Unregistered

# 3 Note to self: Visit Hungary Soon....pretty babes. Posted by Unregistered| 21.12.2005 13:48