Delegation Leaves for Sister City Visit to Nigeria

People shop for goods and services on a crowded street in the town of Lagos, just outside of Osogbo. Lagos is former capital of Nigeria.

Staff Reports

This August a small delegation will travel from Asheville to our newest Sister City, Osogbo, Nigeria. The group will carry documents establishing the official relationship; the documents, from the Mayor and Asheville City Council, will be signed by the two Commissioners of Osogbo. During their visit the Asheville delegation will also exchange cultural, educational, technological and economic programs and ideas with their Nigerian counterparts.

Osogbo is also
called the City of Peace, reflecting the fact that it has never been
conquered or occupied by a foreign army. The city is also home to an
ancient shrine to the god Osho that is visited by thousands of
travelers during the festival season each year; the Asheville
delegates’ visit will coincide with the festival. Osogbo has a
hospital, medical school, soccer stadium, and cultural school for
dance, drumming and martial arts, and the delegation from Asheville
will explore ways in which an exchange will be beneficial for both
Sister Cities.

There
will be processions, entertainment, and an all-night Festival of Lights
before the official signing of the Sister Cities Agreement.
Particularly exciting for the delegates is the opportunity to stay in
private homes with Nigerian hosts, allowing them the opportunity to
interact with residents rather than visiting as tourists. For many
members of the delegation, the idea of helping African people through a
Sister Cities exchange program is even more appealing.

A batik designer at work in the town of Osogbo, Nigeria.

Of
course, getting to Africa is not easy. First, every delegate must have
a passport, which can be acquired with a quick trip to the downtown
post office and a fee of up to $170. The next item on the agenda is
immunizations: to travel to Nigeria you need vaccinations against
Typhoid, Polio, Malaria, Yellow Fever, Tetanus, and Hepatitis – at a
cost of over $300. Next comes a Nigerian visa; all the delegation will
need for that is a letter of invitation from the government in Osogbo
(on the way) and another $200. Another $2,000 or so for the airfare,
and the dream of traveling to visit the people of Africa will become a
reality.

Leading
the delegation are Valeria and Rainer Doost, who visited Nigeria two
years ago and have been instrumental in arranging Osogbo’s Sister City
relationship with Asheville. The Doosts’ previous visit gives the
current delegation insight into what to expect in Nigeria: the
electricity doesn’t always come on, and the extreme heat during the day
can send you indoors at high noon; cold showers are usually all you can
expect, and the bathroom facilities are primitive at best (“Bring your
own toilet paper,” advise the Doosts!) Despite these and other
anticipated hardships, however, Asheville’s delegation is thrilled to
be the first official visitors to our newest Sister City, Osogbo,
Nigeria.

To view pictures, a video, and information about Osogbo, please visit: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3272005624283435173 .
To donate funds to help members of the delegation make the trip to
Nigeria, send a check payable to Sister Cities/Osogbo, to Sister Cities
of Asheville, PO Box 2214, Asheville, NC 28802.