Partying the Nigerian Way

Nigerians love to party and many of them will not spare expenses when planning a party. Some Nigerians see throwing parties as a way to flaunt their wealth and some just have-to throw parties because if they don't, they'll never hear the last of it from family members.

Here is how to party the Nigerians way:

Rsvp?

Nigerians do not RSVP! (The origin which happens to be French is "respondez s'il vous plait", which means please respond) But what it simply means in Nigeria is "Rice & Stew Very Plenty" No one bothers to confirm if they'll be showing up at a party, as if that is not bad enough, they will have the nerve to bring one or two people along with them. In Nigeria people usually prepare more than enough food and drinks in anticipation of uninvited guests, believe me; no party is ever complete in Nigeria without gate crashers.

Seating Arrangements?

A typical Nigerian will be thrown off balance if you asked him or her about the "seating chart" Seats are arranged in the hall and everyone picks a chair and sits down on it, end of story! The only time any thing remotely resembling a seating chart arises, is when certain seats are reserved for guests of honour.

Dress To Impress

You cannot come to a Nigerian party looking casual (unless the dress code is casual), because it is the perfect avenue to show-off your expensive designer jewelleries, bag and shoes. Nigerian women love wearing lots of jewelleries, in fact, the more the merrier. The party host or hostess expects you to buy the "aso ebi" which literally means "family cloth". Buying this aso ebi guarantees a special gift for you from your host or hostess and it will also put you in their good books.

Mo Gbo Mo Ya

"Mo gbo mo ya" is literally translated "I heard and I came". It is the phrase used to address uninvited guests, who decided to invite themselves to a party because they know the host or hostess of the party. They invited themselves to the party because of the food and drinks and nothing else (that is why they were not invited in the first place), they are known in the western society as party crashers.

Party Favours

Most Nigerians give out all sorts of items as party favours, but the magnanimity of the host or hostess depends on the party attendee's contribution to the success of the party. If an invited guests buys an expensive aso ebi from the host or hostess, he or she is entitled to a choice party favour but if he or she didn't purchase any of the aso ebi's, he or she is not entitled to choice party favours. Party favours is not what any Nigerian wants to miss, because it could be anything from an electric blender, fan, glasses etc to household utensils

Food and Drink

Nigerians are not particular about what kind of wine would be best served with what fish! These are the popular foods served at a typical Nigerian party

Jollof rice, no party is complete without jollof rice. Who hosts a party in Nigeria without serving jollof rice? Unless off course a Northern Nigerian.

Rice and sauce, fried rice and ofada (local) rice

Amala, eba, pounded yam, starch, fufu, and or semo-vita, these foods are eaten with soup

Popular drinks include: bottled beer, malt, fruit/tonic wine, palm wine, spirits and lots of soda and fruit juices.