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 The 2026 African Week event kicked off on Monday, May 18. The annual program has been designed to enlighten and educate Africans and other immigrants about how they can integrate into Finnish society and learn various methodologies on how they can navigate their way within the environment. The 2026 African Week program started on Monday afternoon, May 18, and would come to a conclusion on Monday, May 25. The event promises to inspire hope and propel Africans to achieve their objective(s) with ease, and also take adequate steps within the timeframe of their arrival, and help them find comfort without hassle. African Week 2026: Complete Program Schedule In this article, we will be looking at the schedule for the 2026 African Week program.  Day One: African Voices (Monday, May 18) This took place on Monday, May 18, at Think Company Viikki, Latokartanonkaari 3, Helsinki.    Day Two: African Cooking Workshop for Youth (Tuesday, May 19) This is taking place at Saladmaster...

 Written by Karen Santos African Voices: How Immigrants Can Integrate into New Society The Africa Voices programme, organized as part of Africa Week Finland 2026, began with an introduction by the facilitator and moderator, Pascal. During the first session, Pascal invited participants to share their experiences of integrating into Finland. He asked many important questions about their lives in Finland, how they have adapted to the new environment, the challenges they have faced, and how they feel about their overall experiences. The discussion was open and honest, and participants shared personal stories about their journeys, achievements, and difficulties. Following the first discussion, there was a short coffee break. Participants had the opportunity to relax, enjoy coffee and snacks, and continue informal conversations with one another. After the break, the programme resumed with a discussion focused on family life and integration. Participants spoke about family relationships, ...

 Hyvaa Vappua simply means “Happy May Day” in Finnish. A moment to celebrate those in the workforce, and shed light on the artisans who built the nation. Further, it is a mix of spring festival, student traditions, and workers’ day. It’s an interesting time where people come together to feast and felicitate. Having a good time at Hyvaa Vappua 2026 Vappu is one of those days you don’t want to waste indoors. The uprising platform was out there to take pictures of the interesting moments; see them here. Sunny day on Hyvaa Vappua Balloons in the air Artisans and students on Vappu Day Vappu Day is a day to felicitate with colleagues, friends, and family from across various fields of life Good food The Key Purpose Of Vappu Day Celebration: May 1st is a national holiday, with festivities often starting on April 30th.  Labour Day: Celebrated in honour of workers and social movements, often with political rallies and speeches by trade unions and political groups. Student Celebration: U...

Written by: Durodoluwa Femi-Ajala Duro Takes Over Finland Living in Sweden for some years now, I have always lingered on Finland as a place to visit, somewhere in the back of my mind. It was close enough to visit, yet somehow always postponed. Well, until last week. What finally pushed me to make the trip was simple and personal. Family. My cousins and their beautiful family live there, and that alone was reason enough.  La Familia But there was also a lighter, unexpected reason. I had recently developed an interest in Chinese dramas, and one of them was filmed in Finland. That curiosity sparked something in me. I wanted to see the place through that lens, to experience even a fraction of what I had watched on screen. Time did not allow me to visit all the filming locations, but I did make it to Allas Restaurant , where one of the scenes was shot. And strangely, that small moment, standing there and connecting fiction to reality, made my day.  Photo taken in Finland But beyond...

UFF is one of the leading second-hand shops in Finland . It is renowned specifically for bringing equal pay initiative to help those who want to buy a product at an affordable rate. Some of the notable products at UFF include clothes, bags, and shoes, among other items. sales for the month of July While other second-hand stores, such as FTA Vintage , Helsinki Secondhand Oy , Frida Marina , Kierrätyskeskus (Recycling Center), and SPR Kontti (Red Cross second-hand stores) sell affordable products, UFF stands out due to the low price of their products and the willingness of the management to provide adequate services to prospective customers. Equally, UFF is a Finnish non-profit that sells used clothes, shoes & accessories and uses the proceeds to support environmental and development work. Where Can You find UFF in Finland? Kierrätyskeskus (Recycling Center) Second-hand (everyday fashion): • UFF Second Hand Citykäytävä – Central & easy to visit near Helsinki Central Station ....

 It was around 3:30 am in Kampi , the central part of Helsinki city . It was snowing heavily, and I had just missed the final bus that would have taken me home; I was as broke as a shattered plate on the kitchen floor, I was out in the cold, and I was experiencing one of the cruellest realities during my time in the capital city of Finland . I've experienced so many highs since coming to the Northern part of Europe; it's the absolute opposite of everything that my home country represents. There is constant light here, the transport system is impeccable, and the standard of living is almost similar to the one preachers often describe when talking about heaven; however, when it comes to the weather, it's nefarious on the skin of a black-skinned person such as myself.  A cold night in Helsinki You could become a frozen turkey if you are not properly dressed, and your fingers would almost become numb if your gloves are not thick enough. Back to the recent episode of how I ended...

The Akwa-Cross food festival and gala night took place at Tolarantie , Helsinki , on Saturday, December 13. The gala event was established to celebrate the culture and tradition of Akwa Ibom and Cross River indigenes in Finland . Although the event was equally attended by personalities from other parts of Nigeria , the event was simply an appreciation of cultural values and an expression of the elements that make these cordial natives unique in their respective approaches to life. The Akwa-Cross program was attended by various dignitaries from the Nigerian community, such as Dr  Kingsley Jideofor Abisi , president of the Association of Nigerians in Finland , Divine Calling , who is also known as Mr Kenny, and he is the Public Relations officer (PRO) of the body. Also, the matriarch of the Nigerian community, Mama Africa , was present at the event. Celebrating Cultural Values, Food Fair, and Art Exhibition Before unravelling what happened at the Akwa-Cross event that took place o...

  I woke up this morning and looked outside my window. I saw snow. It’s safe for me to inform you that, if you’re reading this, it's likely cold outside. This is the ice season , snow powder , and the emerging season of Christmas. The streets of  the neighborhood are littered with snow, and the atmosphere is chilly; it's ice, ice baby. It's snowing outside Wear your thick gloves, zip up your winter jacket, and cover your neck with a muffler. Hey, also, try to stay away from ice cream. Drink a cup of coffee and keep your spirit, soul, and body warm. Outside of Helsinki It’s dark, it’s depressing, but it’s still the ice, ice season, baby. We are here and hope we find light as we push through the cold season of winter. Get your winter attire

 The Independence Day festival to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the most populous black nation, Nigeria , took place on the first day of October; however, Nigerians in Finland decided to gather to celebrate the event in grand style on Saturday, October 4. Nigerians from various parts of Finland and other Scandinavian countries , such as Denmark , Sweden , and Norway , matched to celebrate the event. The Independence Day event in Finland was attended by notable figures, including the Nigerian Ambassador to Scandinavian countries , Ambassador Elias Fatile . During his speech, he admonished Nigerians to embrace the ideology of love and unity amongst themselves and desist from every form of tribal war and bigotry. He instead mentioned that Nigerians in Finland should endeavor to be impeccable ambassadors by representing Nigeria properly on the global stage. Other honourable mentions, Kingsley Jideofor Abisi , president of the Association of Nigerians in Finland , and Mama Afric...

Screen time will never be a substitute for genuine human interaction. Connection is built over time; therefore, you need to go outside and touch grass. Go outside, say hello to someone- on the train, bus, or the cashier at the mart. Go outside, touch grass, and stop always claiming to be coy, shy, or an introvert. There isn’t much time to live through this moment that God has created for us- life should be lived, not hidden; spread your wings and embrace the heat of the summer.  8am In Uspenski Cathedral, Helsinki Don’t hide yourself in your room, don’t bury your soul in the hole where light doesn’t shine through. Your body requires sunlight and penetration of light to help strengthen your inner core. Go outside, be at the gym, and keep fit. This life is ours to live, take care of yourself, and go out to see what life has to offer. Go jogging, take a walk, skip, smile, and embrace the entirety of a sunny day. Night walk to White cathederal in Helsinki Enjoy your youth, go w...