King Charles set aside royal protocol on Wednesday and welcomed President Bola Tinubu and his delegation in Yoruba during a state banquet held at St George’s Hall, Windsor Castle.
Tinubu, accompanied by Oluremi, his wife, and other Nigerian
officials, is in the United Kingdom (UK) for a two-day state visit that began
Wednesday.
“Ẹ káàbọ̀, şé dáadáa ni,” King Charles said to the 160
guests in Yoruba, which translates to “Welcome, how are you doing?”
Tinubu responded with a hearty laugh, returning the king’s
gesture.
Earlier, the usual lunch hosted by the king on such state
visits did not take place in recognition of the ongoing Muslim Ramadan fast
which Tinubu is partaking in.
Wednesday’s dinner featured the popular Nigerian Zobo drink
made from hibiscus leaves as an option on the menu.
There were also alcoholic drinks available for guests,
including fine red and white wines, port and whisky.
Nigerian sports stars, including Maro Itoje, England rugby
union captain; Christine Ohuruogu, Olympic athlete; and Ben Okri, a poet,
attended the feast.
The senior British royals, including Queen Camilla and the
Prince and Princess of Wales, were also at the dinner.
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservatives, was also in
attendance.
In his speech, King Charles saluted the “living bridge” of
the Nigerian community in the UK, calling them “quiet heroes” at “the heart of
British life”.
Tinubu had described the diaspora group as “the strongest
bridge” between both countries during his address.
The king also spoke of the importance of religious
tolerance, in which “people of different faiths can, do, and must live
alongside one another in peace”.
He said it is important that Nigeria and the UK stand
together in difficult times “when rain clouds gather”.
The British monarch also addressed the “painful marks” of
colonialism.
“I do not seek to offer words that dissolve the past, for no
words can,” he said, while expressing hope for a more optimistic future “worthy
of those who bore the pains of the past”.
This is the first state visit by a Nigerian leader to the UK
in 37 years, while the banquet was also the first during Ramadan hosting a
Muslim president in nearly a century.
The last similar event was in 1928, when King George V
hosted Afghanistan’s King Amanullah Khan.
When Tinubu and Oluremi arrived at Windsor Castle, they were
met with pomp and ceremony, receiving a 42-gun salute by the King’s Troop Royal
Horse Artillery.
Official gifts were also exchanged. The president and his
wife were given hand-crafted pottery, a silver photo frame containing a picture
of the king and queen, and a silver and enamel bowl.
In return, Charles and Camilla were given a traditional
Yoruba statuette and a jewellery box featuring the faces of important Nigerian
women.
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