Why Nigerians Do not Know about Horticulture.

Africa soil is good for planting fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Although, not all Afrcican countries plant flowers, but African countries are still leading in the world for flouristculture. According to a reliable source, it is estimated that over 2-8 billion roses are imported from Africa; Uganda, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Kenya. Kenya is the third largest exporter of cut flowers in the world. Since Kenya signed the agreement with European Union to be importing their fresh vegetables, flowers to Europe; from Naivasha to Amsterdam, the countries farmers and gardeners has been doing a great job, to meet up with the task. The country flower power or bloom is attributed to it's sunny climate, which enable high quality flowers to be grown year-round basis.

In Europe, for instance in Germany, flowers are use for various activities or occassion, it is more or less like a tradition for the Germans; just like same way people all over the world use flowers for communicating; the German people enjoy exchanging flowers at any occasion. According to Mr Karlheinz Starck, owner of flower-house STARCK (Blumenhaus STARCK) in Grünstadt-Germany: he explained what flowers are used for in Germany or Europe. He says, flowers are use as gifts on special occassion such as; wedding, birthday, mother's day, and as burial rites. When the German people visits their dead relation they bring flower to the graveyard of their departed soul. He also went further to explained, how countries like; Isreal, Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, and even our neighbor Cameroun are doing well from exporting flowers. I was overwhelmed with curiosity? I was surprised, because in Nigeria, the floriculture or horticulture is not well developed.

Why is Nigeria not doing well in flouristculture or horticulture? The answer to this question is far-fetched, firstly Nigerians do not know about the usefulness of flowers, and they do not appreciate flowers, unlike here in Germany that people use flowers as gift, if you give a Nigerian flowers as a gift he/she might not really appreciate it, because flowers is not part of Nigerian culture. Of course, Nigerians use artificial flowers for decoration, as wedding bouquet, and on valentine's day some lovers also exchange artificial rose-flowers. "Personally, I never saw a real rose flowers in my country (Nigeria-Africa). I was surprised or amazed to know that Africa (Kenya) is the largest production of rose flowers. They grow buttonhole carnations and red roses for the lovers of rose flowers in Europe, but they themselves could not enjoy the beauty and fregrance of the flowers due to the poverty level in Africa. The poverty level in Kenya made a lot of their farmers to work so hard, to harvest more flowers for the European labour market, because they live in adject poverty they do not know about the beauty of flowers, nor do they understand the language of flowers but only seeing the flouristculture in Kenya doing well, will soon open eyes of other Afrcican countries in horticulture, especially Nigeria who depend only on crude oil as the only source of income, since the oil sector provides for 95% of Nigeria's foreign exchange earning, and has failed to develop it Agriculture or Horticulture sector, and other sectocs of economic growth of the nation.

Nigerian will be surprised to know that Kenya flouristculture ranks as one of the economy's fastest growing source from the highest industries, the second largest foreign exchange earner, $250million per annum. It sound cool right? But one can not overemphasised the usefulness or significance in European culture. I'm glad in a country that understand and communicate with flowers or nature. For example, the German or European's culture has made me to know that, the rose flower speaks life for their sharp thorns signify that life is beautiful, but also hard. In Germany or in some other part of the world, people give the sick bunches of flowers to wish them a new life of health, and also bring bunches of flowers to their dead relation to show them contiunity of love and a new hope in paradise. Flowers make the world beautiful. The world is made beautiful by wonderful creatures, things that exist in it, including plants and animals. Even God the Creator of the Universal, when He created man, he placed man in beautiful garden "The Garden of Eden" (Gensis 2:8-14). That tells us that God is interested in flouristculture.

But sadly enough, most of the African countries are not communicating with flowers. When you visit the cemetery or memorial Park one will not find a single flowers there. And yet Africa (Kenya) is leading in flouristculture. Even the Lake Naivasha that used to be a beautiful place in Kenya in nomore beautiful like it used to be known in the past. Not only that The cemetery look abandoned, the parks too are nothing to write home about. The one thing that bothered me about 'flouristculture ' in Africa is that the gardeners of those flowers that are been imported to Europe remains in poverty, while their governance are the one enjoying the benefits. This is another story of the African Child! It is a disease called corruption.

Queendaline Schneider.

Music School Park Festival in Germany.

On Sunday, July 10, 2016 at 12:30pm. The Grünstadt music school performed; drum, violin, flute, guitar, trumpet etc at the Park festival organised by the music school, which took place at St Peter's park. The Park festival is a yearly event and this year the school celebrate the festival alongside with their 40 years aniversary of the music school in Grünstadt. 

The music school, celebrate its 40 years aniversary, the school was founded in (1976), and since then it produced a lot of singers within and outside Grünstadt. Speaking with one of the school board of director Mr Martin Richard, who explained how the school is been manage through funds from donations, and case prize won by students in concert are to buy new Music Instrucments for the school. He also talks about how the school recently went on tour to Spain to perform in a concerts of over 1,000 bands with 6,000 singers, and the students performance was outstanding; they performed in the concerts to very appreciative audience, the school recived cash prize of 1,000 Euro. No doubts, with talent and good training the students are doing well in concerts. 

Also, speaking on the concert and the various music instrumentals such as; piano, drum, viola, cello, trumpet, flute, harp, clarinet, guitar etc, Völker Riegler the guitar teacher of the music school in Grünstadt talks about his experience of teaching guitar over 25, years with the school, and they have around 1,000 students who plays different music instrucments. He also explained how the children start to learn music from early age, some of the children who starts from the age of 5 year old, and some of them go further to study music at University, but most of them have already have their foundation from the music school. 

The youth singers directed by Völker Riegler began the concert with the guitar and other music instrucments, they produced delightful Performance, other bands or group also performed gospel and Rock songs. 

There were different music bands at various corner inside the Park (St Peter Park). One can hear the music from different angles as the music students perform. There was also a big stage at the center of the park; the main entertainment centre. From here one could see the big bands performing on stage to audience that either sat in a lower area directly in front or stood around the edge with a plate of cake or bread with sauge and drinks to enjoy with the music. Of course with a nice weather, in a beautiful atmosphere in the park the audience does had a great and a good time with the music. 

At 3:pm, the big band sings. The big band which is made up of teachers and old students from the Grünstadt music school, another great performance from everyone, and most importantly a great day out as the big band left us in high spirit. This made the concert an even more great experience for me and I think as well as the audience did have a great time. 

In Germany the children get to learn a lot of things as they grow up, which includes learning the music at school, while in Africa (Nigeria) most children do not really enjoys such right due to the sick economy of the country. Even though the country is one of the richest country in Africa, yet the children or youths are still lagging behind. On like in Germany where the people organised concerts to entertain the people, in Nigeria (Africa) most of traditional musical performances are for religions, and social engagements such as; funeral rites, naming ceremonies of a new born baby, marriage ceremonies, opening of new house, gospel festival, these are the only period Nigerians enjoys musical experience. In the past most the children in Africa (Nigeria) do not have access to learn music in school at early stage of their life, especially the poor children. There are no music school where children can learn and show case their talent in singing unlike here in Germany where Kids get to learn from the music school. Most of the Nigerian famous musician discovered their talent from singing in the church choir, they do not have any formal education or any knowledge of music from school. Since the churches in Nigeria were imported to Africa by the Europeans missionary, so by that way a lot of children were able to learn how to play some of the music instrucments. But today, some of the very rich children can now learn music in the school at a very high price, and the Europeans rock, Jazz, trumpet, afro pop and Africa America hip hop within which Western classical music remain the predominate in Africa (Nigeria) today. 

I was impressed by the concert, because it made a lasting impression on me, such I have not see in my country Nigeria (Africa). 

Queendaline Schneider.