Thanksgiving Day! This is a tradition not only peculiar to the United States but also to other countries like Canada, Grenada, Brazil and Philippines as a National Holiday Celebration. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States.
In Nigeria, there is no dedicated day to it because every day is thanksgiving over here. You survive the heavy Island traffic and you are back home at 1am, you’ll give thanks. You celebrate for every time Nigera does not happen to you. It’s also observed by religious bodies on different occasions in a year. As a Christian and depending on the kind of church you attend, you can have as many as 5 a year. One for New Year, One for your church anniversary, one to mark the end of the year. You lose a family member? You go for thanksgiving the Sunday right after the burial. Your spouse just put to bed? Prepare naming ceremony funds and thanks giving funds.
This tradition goes way back to the 17th century, but we shall not go that deep into its history. I personally have not witnessed the ceremony as celebrated in the United States which would be fun to, but I just felt like tapping into that cultural aspect in this article in relation to music. Enjoy!
Thanksgiving Dinner
POV: A family of 5 is gathered and to celebrate Thanksgiving, each one of them are to play two songs related to celebration or thanks while connected to the home theatre system.
Father’s Pick (Obviously an old soul) – Appreciation by King Sunny Ade, No be Mistake by 9ice.
The religious Mother’s pick- Mo wa dupe by Paul I.K. Dairo, Thanksgiving by Yinka Ayefele.
The Millennial Big Brother who believes modern Afrobeats lack substance and quality- Celebrate by Waconzy, Thanksgiving by Kcee & Okwesili Eze group.
The Gen-Z brother chasing a career in Music and loves American Artists- Thankful by DJ Khaled ft Jeremih and Lil Wayne. Thanksgiving by Cordae
The Gen Alpha sister who loves new school Afrobeats- Pray by BNXN, Celebration by Joeboy.
Who will you rock with and leave the speakers connected to?
Happy Thanksgiving Day!
You might want to read this: Tyla Before Water: The South African Singer’s Rise to Fame