Belgium is often considered a land of class and pride: with rich background and legacy, cultural fusion, education advancement, respect for custom and tradition, strong sense of community, multilingualism, culinary delights, and global cooperation that earns her the deserved place of honour and respectability in Europe and beyond.
Ambassador Leenknegt delivering his opening remarks
The Kingdom’s foreign policy planners and promoters (including its foreign representations and diplomats) continues to advance and preserve her rich history and heritage over centuries through education, enlightenment, engagement, collaborations and commemorations.
Cross-section of invitees at the event
And, in this regard, the Belgian Embassy in Abuja, a respected foreign Mission in Nigeria in its typical class and uniqueness opened wide its doors, rolled out the red carpets, turned loud the music and set the tables for the sought-after Belgian cuisines and drinks as it celebrates a key historical event: THE KING’S DAY.
Ms Sandra Alonge Vermeilten, CEO of Belgian fashion brand IFFIZI giving her speech
King’s Day (Dutch: Koningsdag, French: Jour du Roi, German: Tag des Königs) is a national holiday in Belgium, celebrated on November 15th every year. It commemorates the anniversary of King Leopold I’s accession to the throne in 1865 and is also a celebration of the current monarch, King Philippe. The event held at the Belgian residence on the 14th of November 2024 in Abuja, was a reception of splendour and sophistication as Excellences, Ladies & Gentlemen and Friends of Belgium trooped out in colourful attires to rejoice with a dear nation and friend as they celebrate an important part of their statehood and royalty.
Mrs Sanne De Wilde Address
The Chief host, Ambassador Pieter Leenknegt and his team as usual were ready, excited, welcoming, and treating guests to the best of Belgium’s hospitality. The special occasion was a day to honour tradition, unity and shared values, with wide range of Belgian food, music, photography, fashion and inspiring remarks.
Belgian band performing at the reception
Below are the highlights of the speeches of the Chief Host, Ambassador Leenknegt at the event and other VIPS.
Welcome at the Belgian King’s Day. Indeed one day ahead of the calendar, we are celebrating our King’s Day with you in Abuja. The 15th of November is Saint Leopold’s and Saint Albert’s Day, the name day of over 70% of our monarchs in almost two centuries of Belgian history. Those 70%, however, exclude our current King Philippe, as well as his heir to the throne, who is a woman for the very first time in that same national history. Princess Elizabeth is currently attending Harvard’s School of Government that goes by the name of J.F. kennedy, the closest thing to homegrown royalty you can arguably get in the United States of America, as my American friends would remind me of.
Kingsday As one of my staff members aptly put it on the invitation is a day to celebrate unity, tradition and shared values among Belgians. They are eminently incarnated by our ceremonial head of state. And these values also come in handy at a time when democratic governance gets eroded in so many places around the world, when intra and interstate aggression is on the rise and genocidal drive rears its ugly head again. In Belgium, we are currently experiencing one of those lengthy phases of forming another federal government after elections last June. But without a shred of a doubt, the next cabinet will once again be a coalition government once more born out of the art of the Belgian political compromise between various ideological families and linguistic groups.
But we are not here so much today to celebrate political compromise. No, we are here to celebrate mostly those Belgians who make no compromises at all when it comes to their calling. I hereby refer to our high density of uncompromisingly creative artists of all kinds. And luckily, we are also blessed with Belgian artists interested in Nigerian themes or blending elements of Belgian and Nigerian formal and textural traditions in a convincing mix. You may recall a number of fashion shows hosted by our embassy in Abuja over the past year, and we will also remind you of those memorable moments through a book on offer at your departure from here.
But the keen observer will also realize that touches of the Nigerian Belgian fashion brand IFFIZI, spearheaded by Sandra Alonge Vermeilten here right in front of us, those elements of IFFIZI are again among us today in many forms and shapes. Enjoy the collection she recently showcased in London in very Belgian colors inside our atrium. This said, we would also like to introduce to you all not one, but two renowned Belgian young photographers, one, Colin Delfosse, exhibited and spoke at this year’s edition of the Abuja Photo Festival in which our embassy acted as a cultural partner. In the meantime, Colin went making a new stunning photo reportage in the Nigerian northeast with MSF.. MSF Belgium, also known as the Belgian branch of Doctors Without Borders, is present in Nigeria and also represented among us tonight.
And some of Colins images from Borno State are exhibited in this residence today. Another young but already internationally renowned and award-winning Belgian photographer, Sanne De Wilde celebrates the Yoruba culture of twin mythology through her work called Land of Iyabeji. At the same time, she raises awareness about harmful practices committed against twins in other parts of Nigeria. Sanne is among us tonight, together with her Nigerian but Belgian based partner, the musical performer Stix, who treats you to some energetic Afro psychedelic music. Tonight, I hereby happily pass the floor to Sanne so she can shortly explain what her photographic work in Nigeria all is about.
Mr. Moses Taiwo of ANIM with Ambassador Onowu (Immediate Past Nigerian Ambassador To Belgium & Luxembourg)
It was indeed a warm and memorable evening.
Acclaim Nigeria Int’nal Magazine (ANIM) was there and covered the event.
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