IT all began like a dream, the Miss World Beauty Pageant was coming to Africa’s most populous nation. Some 88 beautiful women including Miss Ghana, Shaida Buari, converged in Abuja to participate in the contest originally scheduled for December 7.

That dream was short lived. Some two weeks after the contestants arrived in Nigeria, they were again shipped off to London. “We were all made to assemble one evening and the organisers told us to pack our clothes.

We were flying to London the next morning,” Shaida told Showbiz last week on her return from the Miss World 2002 pageant. “We had heard bits of news regarding religious riots in the northern part of Nigeria but we did not realise it was serious enough to make us leave.”

Those riots, according to reports, claimed 200 lives and rendered some 400 people homeless. They were touched off by a newspaper article that was seen as blasphemous of Mohammed, the Holy Prophet of Islam.In the opinion of Shaida, the riots were unfortunate. She said that although the organisers did the best they could to protect the contestants from any harm, the contestants were not altogether shielded from emotional trouble.

“One report that touched us most was one that said that we had blood on our swim suits” she said.It took a while for news on the killing in some parts of Northern Nigeria to reach the participants who had hitherto been eagerly preparing for the pageant. According to Shaida their attention was brought to the riots when family and friends began calling to ask of how they were doing which made them suspicious. The participants then began paying more attention to news items.

Shaida believes that the newspaper article that sparked off the protest was only an excuse for some blood letting. “Everyone knows how the Christians and Muslims in these parts of Nigeria have been at each others throat over the years. It was unfair how the Miss World pageant had to be sacrificed.

“It was a shame not only to Nigeria but to the whole of Africa. What happened could have been solved with dialogue, understanding and respect instead of allowing it to degenerate into a fight.”Then after much deliberation the organisers of the contest decided to move venue to prevent further bloodshed. However Shaida believes that the relationship between the riots that occurred and the organisation of the pageant was over stated.

“ The contest could have been held in Nigeria if it had not been politicised so much.”With obvious regret, Shaida told of how elated most of the contestants were to be going to Nigeria. Though it was not the first time that the Miss World competition was being held on the continent of Africa, it was the first to be hosted by a West African country.

For Shaida, going to Nigeria was like going home, she found people speaking her language and was more than excited to find kenkey and fish at her disposal. “We were treated like princesses and the welcoming committee made sure that we got nothing but the very best of Nigeria. “It was sad when it all came to an end, after seeing the extent to which the country had gone in its preparation for the contest. It was especially unfortunate for the black African contestants who were looking forward to showing their fellow contestants a real taste of Africa” she said.

Like Shaida, the events in Nigeria only spurred many of the contestants on. Although they had to spend more money on shopping for warm clothes due to the cold weather in London, the change of venue was accommodated well by everyone.

She was unable to follow in the footsteps of Miss Nigeria to win the Miss World crown but Shaida said that “what happened has made me stronger, am now ready to share my experience with anyone who would love to know.” Meanwhile Shaida is looking forward to begin her assignment as Miss Ghana, continuing where Miss Ghana ‘01 left off on the campaign against HIV/AIDS.