African entrepreneurs blend culture, business at 'one-of-a-kind' trade fair in Winnipeg

A growing trade fair in Winnipeg is allowing local African entrepreneurs to share their cultures through business.

The second annual Naija trade fair, co-organized by Nigerians of Winnipeg and the Canada Naija Business Hub, brought together about 100 African, Black and/or Nigerian small business owners to showcase their locally-made products like arts and crafts, clothing and food.

It was Toludare Toluwalope's first time at the fair. The 43-year-old ceramicist is a Nigerian and recent Canadian citizen who has been making pottery for nearly two decades, describing his work as an ode to traditional African pottery with a modern twist.

The trade fair is a "one-of-a-kind" event for Winnipeg's African and Nigerian communities, he said.

"This kind of event brings everyone together," Toluwalope told CBC News at the event. "Lots of us are in different places. There are people that you might not see again until this time next year."

He says the event's growth compared to last year was a prominent sentiment among attendees on Saturday.

"It means the community is growing, and it means the business is [also] growing for the community."

Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara says markets like Saturday's trade fair are common in Nigeria, adding that it's "almost like you're getting a piece of home in your new home here in Manitoba."

The trade fair also came at a critical time for Canadians to show strong support for local businesses, Asagwara said.

"Everyone has their own ability to make sure that they're contributing to buying local."

'Testament to our resilience'

Vera Keyede, president of the Nigerian Association of Manitoba, said she was excited to be at the event, where she found a special ingredient for a Nigerian pepper soup recipe.

"Having this kind of market — the second year running — is a testament to our resilience," she said. "This is just the beginning."

The multigenerational group of people at the event also gave her hope, she said.

"We are passing [this] on to our younger generation. Our culture is not dying away."

Tolunope Adebayo, another organizer of the event, said it's a great opportunity to give visibility to small, African-led businesses in Winnipeg.

It's also a chance for people outside of those communities to take part in cultures that they might not be familiar with, and forge new relationships with Winnipeg's African entrepreneurs, she said.

"We want other people from within other communities to come in and be a part of what we're doing."