A Salute to the Green and White

Nigeria's Flag Flies High In Philadelphia In A Special Anniversary Ceremony in which Community Officials Call for Unity

(October 1, 2026) -The Nigerian community in Philadelphia proudly raised the colors of the green and white, as the City of Philadelphia presented Dr. Eric Nzeribe, publisher of Fun Times and the event's host, with an official proclamation declaring it "Nigerian Independence Day in Philadelphia."

On a sunny autumn afternoon on October 1, 2026, a large crowd gathered outside of Philadelphia's City Hall to celebrate Nigeria's separation from Great Britain 66 years ago.

Observations like this are held worldwide each October annually. The ceremony was attended by local African and Caribbean immigrants, City Officials, local residents, and Nigerian Americans who listened to formal remarks from guest speakers. The Nigerian Independence Flag-raising- Awards Ceremony showcased the rich cultural heritage and achievements of Nigerians. It fostered an understanding, respect, and appreciation for a nation with a rich history. It served as a day of pride and patriotism.

The program featured a ceremonial flag-raising with national music, performances by African masked masquerade performers, drummers, traditional African gowning ceremonies, and the remarks by elected and community officials. The local political leaders included representatives of the Office of the City Representative & Office of Immigrant Affairs; Pennsylvania State Representative Carol Kazeem; Azikiwe Legacy (community) Award recipients: Pennsylvania State Representative Joanna E. McClinton, Pennsylvania Speaker of the House. Joining them were: Nneka Nwosu, Vice President of TV News, and Osagie O. Imasogie, Adjunct Professor, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School & Founding Vice President, GlaxoSmithKline.

FunTimes presented its annual Azikiwe Legacy Awards recognizing change-making leaders who advance freedom, preserve history, and strengthen connections across the African diaspora.

The event emcees were Leah Uko, Press Secretary & Deputy Director of Communications/Mayor Cherelle Parker, and Nkwa Asonye, President of NABJ / Philadelphia Chapter & TV sports producer-editor.

Since 1960, October 1st officially has marked Nigeria's independence from Great Britain. Communities in the Greater Philadelphia area freely wave the vertical bands of green, white and green annually. Nigeria is considered to be the "Giant of Africa," with its large population and economy.

The event was an opportunity for Philadelphia-area communities to come together, reflect on its shared identity, and celebrate the significant contributions of Nigerians to the city, noted the Fun Times' Dr. Nzeribe. Dr. Nzeribe said: "The Nigerian Independence Flag-raising is an afternoon istuo when we can show our pride and patriotism. Fun Times served as a proud host and partner in this significant celebration of the 66th anniversary. Liberty is oxygen for any nation. And the green-and-white flag waving in the wind was a glorious sight to see and a great symbol of freedom."

The event was part of the City of Philadelphia's PHL Honors Diversityme flag-raising program administered through the Office of City Representative and Office of Immigrant Affairs, which fosters ethnic relations and services in diverse communities.

The ceremony featured cultural performances, including the masquerade dance, and Nigerian traditional music. The event included heartfelt speeches from local city and state political representatives. At 12 p.m., on a perfect day under light-blue skies, the Taliking Drummers performed melodies from the Oja a sacred flute sound with spiritual meaning to the Igbo people of Nigeria. Women adorned in bright yellow-and-red Ankara prints, other African and Caribbean immigrants, the City Officials, local city residents, and Nigerian Americans joined the drummer dancers on stage for ceremonial photos to mark the occasion.

Event host Fun Times Magazine serves African-American, African and Caribbean communities in the region and world. Established in 1992, Fun Times is a trusted source of local and global news and entertainment. It has built bridges of understanding and appreciation recognizing the diversity of African-centered cultures throughout the world.

FunTimes Hosts Successful Maternal Care Virtual Workshop

On Friday, April 17, 2026, FunTimes hosted “The Mother of All Workshops: The ABC’s of Maternal and Childcare” – a virtual ZOOM community conversation recognizing the nationally-observed World Maternal Health Week and the ongoing crisis in maternal care. It was part of FunTimes ongoing virtual series focusing on pressing community issues impacting the Diaspora.

Multi-media host Lavonne Nichols led a stellar panel of maternal care professionals: Hadja Diallo, nurse, midwife, educator and community advocate; Alexia Doumbouya, founder of CocoLife, a certified doula and child birth educator, and Joanne D. Craig, Chief Impact Officer for The Foundation for Delaware County. Workshop listeners learned about the quality of maternal and child care in the United States and in Africa, key factors driving the growing crisis of high maternal mortality rates and resources for Black mothers and families.

The panelists shared effective tips on parenting and infant care, and took a dive into systemic issues such as racial bias in healthcare. They provided insight into access to quality care, socioeconomic inequality, as well as services including community midwives and doulas.

Joanne Craig, of The Foundation for Delaware County, noted that it “takes a village” to birth and raise a baby. Community educator Alexia Doumbouya called it a system of “sister’s and brother’s keepers.”

Craig added that the high mortality rates universally among Black women, from all stations of life including the wealthy and the poor, are preventable. Some of the driving forces are racism, inappropriate care and uninformed mothers. “We’ve got to do better as a community and society,” Craig urged, regarding the approach and delivery of maternal-health care services.

The panel discussed reproductive education, advising parents that it is ultimately their responsibility, and to start early to have a dialogue with kids. FunTimes writer Diamond Jones shared her personal experiences with using doula services for her two children. She praised the services, and said parents should find support providers who make them ”feel loved and heard.” She relied on the services of midwife and panelist practitioner Hadja Diallo, who said that communities need to invest in and implement better maternal health care polices. She also said that reproductive health is not taught adequately in schools.

The three panelists explained that free educational maternal-care sources and support were available. For details about these services and an in-depth look into our informative maternal-care discussion, “The Mother of All Workshops: The ABC’s of Maternal and Childcare, please check our video.

FunTimes Presented IG Live, The Detty December Culture

On Thursday, December 18, 2025, FunTimes hosted a free IG Live: Detty December × Christmas, a lively conversation on how Christmas celebrations have evolved, from family traditions and togetherness to the rise of Detty December culture. We took a journey with engaging co-hosts Tomiwa and Niffy and explored if the meaning of Christmas has changed or has simply grown into new ways to celebrate. We tooWrite some awesome text here, totally customizable.k a deep dive into what Detty December represents today, the influence of IJGBs on December energy, culture, and lifestyle, as well as how their presence has shaped Lagos into a global holiday destination. We examined the emotional, cultural, and economic impact of the season, from homecoming and identity to tourism and creative industries. And we we interacted with the hosts and reflected on what ultimately December means as a time of connection, culture, and coming home. @funtimesmagazine IG Live

City proclaimed ‘Nigerian Independence Day in Philadelphia’ in Patriotic Flag-raising Ceremony to Celebrate 65th Anniversary of Independence

October 1, 2025

FunTimes hosted the Nigerian Independence Flag-raising & Awards Ceremony showcasing the rich cultural heritage and accomplishments of local Nigerians. The event outside of City Hall in Center City Philadelphia on October 1st fostered an understanding, respect, and appreciation for a nation with a storied history. The occasion was a testament to the enduring spirit of the Nigerian people in an afternoon of pride and patriotism in which the City of Philadelphia proclaimed it “Nigerian Independence Day in Philadelphia.”

The event was in observance locally of a milestone -- the 65th anniversary of the country’s separation from Great Britain, as the Nigerian community proudly raised both the green-and-white colors of the flag and also awareness of Nigeria’s contributions. The ceremony featured the patriotic flag-raising, remarks by city and community officiials, a performance of African “Talking” drummers, and a procession of African masked masquerade performers, a presentation of a City mayoral anniversary proclamation, achievement awards to three Nigerian community leaders and the unveiling and distribution of FunTimes Magazine Nigerian Independence Anniversary print keepsake edition by editor Dr. Eric Nzeribe. Dr. Juliet Njoku, was the event emcee.

Community leaders of Nigerian descent from the world of academia, medicine and entertainment were bestowed the Azikiwe Legacy Award for their outstanding achievements: Dr. Brenda A. Allen, President of Lincoln University, Dr. Odiraa Nwankwor, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, and Laolu Senbanjo, acclaimed musician and multi-disciplinary artist (Senbanjo's brother accepted the honor on his behalf). The awards were part of the launch of the Oral History Initiative, an exciting multi-year project documenting first-person accounts of the African and Caribbean diaspora in the Delaware Valley and globally. The goal is to promote reporting, classroom engagement, and public dialogue while encouraging storytellers, interviewers, sponsors, and host sites to join the conversation.

Since 1960, October 1st officially has marked Nigeria’s independence from Great Britain. Communities in the Greater Philadelphia area freely wave the vertical bands of green, white and green annually. Nigeria is considered to be the “Giant of Africa,” with its large population and economy.

Honorees of the awards presented at the Nigeria @65 Ceremony

Dr. Odiraa Nwankwor
Associate Professor of Pediatrics

honored for his leadership and service to African communities worldwide

Dr. Brenda A. Allen
President, Lincoln University
honored for her visionary leadership

Laolu Senbanjo
Multidisciplinary Artist and Human Rights Advocate

honored for creative excellence and dedication to uplifting African heritage through the arts

Many of our priorities center around family. That’s why FunTimes Magazine created an engaging virtual event, Exploring the Many Faces of Black Families on July 25, 2025 during National Black Family Month (observed in July). The enlightening and educational virtual ZOOM session focused on family values, traditions, parenting styles, work-family balance, family dynamics, and traditional and unconventional families. Our distinguished and lively panel of educators and experts -- Dr. Ellyn Jo Waller, Annette Deigh and Joel Austin -- shed a sharp light on the state of family living. The event was moderated by multi-media host Lavonne Nichols. The discussion was so riveting, it could have gone on way past the designated one-hour limit....

On April 3rd, FunTimes and Campaign for Working Families held a virtual conversation with award-winning real estate associate and event host Ama Addo and Dr. Nikia Owens, President & CEO of Campaign for Working Families. Learn how to get your taxes done for free, and earn potential Earned Income Tax Credits. That’s money back in your pocket in these inflationary times. Dr. Owens says that each year, more than $100 million in tax credits is unclaimed by eligible residents. So, get what you deserve!

FunTimes takes a look at love in Black culture

On February 21, 2025, we dove head-first into the Valentine’s season with FunTimes Magazine’s latest engaging community workshop, The Color of Love: How The Power Of Love Can Strengthen Black Communities. This post-Valentine’s virtual presentation was inspired by the phrase “loving on us.” It will celebrate love and the power of the Black community in an ever-changing and sometimes unwelcoming world. We explore d ways to cultivate unity and collaboration within Black communities including among younger generations; the role of love in addressing systemic inequality, racism, and economic disparities. We discussed inspiring instances in history when communion and love have been a transformative force in Black communities as well as how the power of love can effectively build intergenerational bonds and preserve cultural heritage. Check out these insights from expert panelists Dr. Kory Grice, of the Life Turn Network of therapists and Christian counselors, and “Your favorite church girl,” Kala West (a.k.a. Kala J.), host-producer of WURD Radio’s Sunday Morning Praise, a weekly faith-based program. The event moderator was Lavonne Nichols, a dynamic multi-media host-author-trauma recovery coach-certified ACEs trainer. Learn about "The Power of Love," and view this transformational experience...

FunTimes presented a holiday virtual event on Instagram December 12, 2024, “Faith, Family & Culture: Learn how different religions celebrate the winter holidays," focusing on Black communities. Moderator Lavonne Nichols and panelists Coach B. Wright (Bulinda Wright-Jones) and Juliette Njoku, Ph.D, led an engaging session celebrating cultures and religions. It was a fun and educational interfaith exploration of family and the spiritual dynamics in our modern-day society. Get a glimpse. Here is a video of the event.

Nigeria Independence Flag-Raising Ceremony in Philadelphia

October 2, 2024

Recently, FunTimes successfully hosted Nigeria’s Independence Day celebration and annual and historical observance in Philadelphia, bringing together the Nigerian Diaspora, African Americans, and others from the Caribbean and African communities. The event engaged our city and community partners, and attracted a large crowd and wide media attention from three major Delaware Valley news outlets, securing a coverage outreach of 500,000 people. High-profile events like this effectively showcase how cultural celebrations are vital in creating spaces for networking, collaboration, and cultural exchange. These efforts highlight the importance of maintaining and deepening ties between the local Diaspora and their countries of origin.

Photos by Laura Elam (top right), and Emmanuel Oyelami (all others)

Exploring The Many Faces of Black Families Today

Many of our priorities center around family. That’s why FunTimes Magazine thought a virtual event, Exploring the Many Faces of Black Families Today, during National Black Family Month (observed in July) would be particularly interesting. And so timely. This engaging and educational July 25th session focuses on family values, traditions, parenting styles, work-family balance, family dynamics, and traditional and unconventional families. Our distinguished panel of educators and experts -- Dr. Ellyn Jo Waller, Annette Deigh and Joel Austin -- shed light on the state of family living.

Events with