By Taiye Olayemi and Aderonke Ojediran
Lagos is about to host no fewer than 200 worldwide vacationers from 11 international locations for the maiden version of Afropolis Lagos Festival, slated to carry from Oct. 26 to Nov. 3.
Mr Qudus Onikeku, the competition initiator, disclosed this throughout a information convention on Wednesday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reviews that the Afropolis Lagos Festival with the theme “Within New Myth”, is a collaboration between QDance Centre and the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
Onikeku, who’s the founding father of QDance Centre, described the competition as an African diaspora-focused competition.
He mentioned 200 artistes and vacationers from over 11 international locations together with South Africa, Togo, Benin Republic, France, U.S., Ghana, Netherlands, Morocco, Ethiopia, Colombia and Brazil would take part within the competition.
According to him, the competition will likely be celebrating the wealthy cultural heritage, creativity and innovation of Lagos state.
“We are expecting 200 international tourists from 11 countries to participate in this festival. Over 20,000 local and international tourists are expected.
“Specifically, these people will be coming from Dakar, Cotonou, Lomé, Johannesburg, Marrakech, Addis Ababa, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Sao Paulo, Bogota, Cartagena, Saint Anne, New York and Florida.
“You will also have artistes from Lagos, Kaduna, Abuja, Asaba and more. We will have a large gathering of artistes, creators, technologists, innovators and tourists, coming to be part of Lagos landscape for nine days.
“So, we are closing down the JK Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History road from Oct. 26 through to Nov. 3, to create a big festival arena.
“Also, in that festival, there will be visual art exhibition, dance performances, music concerts, dance competitions, pop-up arts spaces, children corner that we call the play zone.
“There will also be a tech zone that will be run by CC Hub. So, the way we have put it together is a real collaborative process between different components of the creative ecosystem in Nigeria and not just Lagos. We will have the comedians, poets and many others,” he mentioned.
Onikeku famous that vacationers might register to attend the competition by afropolis.org, as people would solely be required to pay N3,000 per day or N15,000 for the 9 days.
Earlier, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, the state Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, mentioned that Afropolis Lagos Festival can be a celebration of Lagos individuals and Nigerian identification in addition to a showcase of abilities.
She mentioned it might be a testomony to the facility of creativity to unite and encourage.
According to her, the competition will likely be an avenue for African creatives to return collectively, showcase their abilities, trade concepts and collaborate on groundbreaking initiatives.
She mentioned the competition would additional have a good time Lagos as the biggest black cultural melting pot on the planet.
“From Oct. 26 to Nov. 3, Lagos will become the epicentre of African creativity, welcoming artistes, innovators, and enthusiasts from across the continent and beyond,” she mentioned.
Benson-Awoyinka mentioned that the opening day, Oct. 26, would kick off with a VIP preview and cocktail, adopted by a grand opening ceremony at ‘The Vibez Stage’.
“We will be honoured to host a fireside chat with our esteemed Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, where we will explore Lagos’ role as a hub for the global African creative economy.
“On Oct. 27, the streets of Lagos Island will come alive with a vibrant carnival procession, embodying the spirit and energy of our people.
“The day will culminate in the Afropolis Global African Vibez Exchange (G.A.V.E), a testament to our commitment to fostering international collaborations.
“Oct. 28 marks a historic moment with the official opening of the J. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History. We will be privileged to have Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu lead us on a tour of this significant cultural landmark.”
According to her, the competition will host each day movie programmes, interactive artwork installations, and performances that span the spectrum of African creativity, from conventional to up to date, dance to music, and visible arts to know-how.
She mentioned that the closing weekend would function a global efficiency, which might showcase the unimaginable abilities of “Our Afropolis Tribe of 2024”, adopted by a grand finale of ‘Afro House and EDM Rave’ on Nov. 3.
“To our young talents who are making significant strides on the global stage, Afropolis is your stage to shine. To our local and international visitors, prepare to be immersed in an unparalleled celebration of African creativity and innovation.
“As we launch Afropolis 2024, we are not just opening a festival; we are opening doors to new possibilities, fostering connections that transcend borders, and showcasing the incredible potential of our creative industries to drive economic growth and cultural exchange.
“I invite all Lagosians, Nigerians, and our international friends to join us in this celebration. Let us come together to experience the magic of Afropolis, to be inspired, to create, and to reinforce Lagos’ position as a global creative powerhouse,” she mentioned.
Also, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, famous that the competition was of paramount significance to Gov. Sanwo-Olu, contemplating its quite a few advantages to the state and people generally.
