Beyond the Gowns: Inside OAU’s Convocation Feasting Culture
Every year at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), convocation season signals more than the formal conferral of degrees. Beyond the academic gowns, official processions, and ceremonial speeches lies a tradition that undergraduates eagerly anticipate—the unmistakable feast of convocation rice, drinks and jotters.
As graduands celebrate the end of years marked by strikes, disrupted calendars, and academic pressure, non-graduating students also join the moment—not for certificates, but for the culture. The scent of jollof rice mingles with fried chicken, chilled soft drinks, and jotters clink in nylon bags, while voices echo across the academics area. Plates of egusi with semo, amala, small chops, and cake circulate freely. Not because everyone has graduated—but because it is convocation.
At OAU, convocation feasting is not a random indulgence. It is ritual. It is tradition. It is campus culture.
More Than a Ceremony
Convocation literally marks the formal completion of a student’s academic journey. Graduands don academic gowns and process to the Amphitheatre to symbolically cross the final stage of campus life. University principal officers, deans, and professors appear in colourful regalia, honouring academic excellence and resilience.
Yet, outside the Amphitheatre, another celebration unfolds—one driven by joy, camaraderie, and shared experience.
Across the university, students exchange information on WhatsApp platforms often tagged “Convocation Rice Plug.” These groups spring to life only during convocation week, sharing verified locations where food and drinks are available. Once convocation ends, the platforms go silent—until the next convocation.
A Culture, Not Desperation
To outsiders, the sight of students moving in groups, politely greeting parents and guests, or dramatically announcing congratulations may seem puzzling. But on campus, it is well understood.
“It’s more of a culture than hunger,” said Olarenwaju Temitope, a Part 3 student. “It signifies the passing out of students who have laboured for years. They celebrate a major milestone, and others share in that joy. I'd say it’s a very good culture.”
Students deploy creativity—sometimes humour, sometimes drama. Lines like “Mummy, congratulations!” or “We helped your daughter with tutorials” echo playfully. There is even an unspoken proverb among students: “You chop for another person’s convocation; one day, people go chop for your own.”
This shared understanding reinforces the idea that convocation feasting is communal, not uncultured.
Different Expectations, Shared Joy
For Ola, a student of English, convocation is about atmosphere more than appetite. “I expect the buzzing and joyous environment. Different people bring different delicacies, but I don’t really go out sourcing for food. I just enjoy the vibe.”
Part 1 students, often shy at first, quickly learn the tradition from their seniors. Many admit that convocation season helps them break out of their shells, teaching social interaction and confidence—an unexpected lesson outside the classroom.
Still, not everyone fully embraces the ritual.
Bamgbose David, a Mass Communication student, chose a reserved approach. “I value my self-respect. I understand it’s a culture, but I don’t drag for convocation rice. I went to one person I knew, collected food, and that was it. I kept my expectations low.”
Where Festivity Builds Friendship
Beyond food, convocation feasting fosters connections. Students move in groups searching for locations, bonding over laughter—even when the meat runs out and only rice remains. From these walks emerge friendships, academic partnerships, and even business ideas.
When the Amphitheatre empties and certificates are filed away, what lingers most in memory is not always the formal proceedings. It is the laughter, the shared plates, the hurried walks across halls, and the collective joy.
At OAU, convocation is more than a ceremony—it is a cultural fingerprint. When the drums of convocation beat for everyone to dance.
Comments
Post a Comment