How culture festivals will shape Lagos in 2018 – Commissioner

The Lagos State Government has explained how its “over 70 state-sponsored and endorsed arts and culture programmes” slated for 2018 will shape the year. In the long-list of programmes rolled out by the State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Steve Ayorinde, the state government listed its popular Gidi Fest, Lagos Water Regatta and Fanti […]

The Lagos State Government has explained how its “over 70 state-sponsored and endorsed arts and culture programmes” slated for 2018 will shape the year.

In the long-list of programmes rolled out by the State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Steve Ayorinde, the state government listed its popular Gidi Fest, Lagos Water Regatta and Fanti Carnival, the International Jazz Day celebration which will be dedicated to the South African Jazz legend, Hugh Masekela; the Lagos Comedy Festival and the Eko Art Expo as some of the programmes that will thrill the city, its residents and expected local and international tourists. 

Ayorinde, in a statement, described the calendar as a novel exercise designed to frontload state and privately driven arts, culture and entertainment events that will have positive effects on tourism promotion.

“This is in fulfillment of the State Government’s promise to announce a yearly calendar of events to guide programming, tourist and visitors’ decision,” the commissioner said.

According to Ayorinde, the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, kick-started the year with his attendance at Ali Baba’s January 1st Comedy concert at Eko Hotel. Other arts and culture events held in January and February 2018 and included in the calendar are Angel and Muse, an art exhibition by a Lagos trained world renowned artist; Eebi; a month-long Indigenous Cultural Festival in Epe; Wazobia FM Carnival as well as the Lagos Marathon amongst others.

He added that the idea of creating a calendar of events for state-sponsored and state-endorsed programmes is to make event planning, tour bookings and business decisions easier for tour operators and the general public.

“The calendar is part of the State’s innovation to project arts, entertainment and leisure benefits inherent in Lagos and to make the state attractive to domestic tourists; business travellers and stop-over passers-by. The state is forging ahead of expanding the consumption of its tourism products by improving access to tourism information and creating an events guide for the media and tour bloggers.

“Although not exhaustive, the calendar contains many of the indigenous cultural festivals across the state, entertainment events; concerts; visual; performing and fashion and culinary events. The State is expected to leverage on infrastructural development, regeneration of old and creation of iconic attractions for entertainment, arts and culture enthusiasts to boost economic activities and expand opportunities for job creation during the various events on the calendar,” a part of the Commissioner’s statement read.

Ayorinde also said the administration’s belief that the quantum of cash transactions across the tourism and entertainment value chain, as tracked in December 2017 when about N50billion was spent on entertainment and leisure alone, is a testimony to the huge economic gain in promoting tourism in Lagos State. 

“June will be rich with the first ever Lagos Golf Funfair and the Lagos Cinefest, which is designed to take cinema-going experience to all the five divisions of the State. The Lagos Festival of Plays is a major highlight in the third quarter of the year; so is the Lagos Fishing Festival (Oshoroko) in Ibeju-Lekki; Akwaaba Travel Market and Faaji Agba – a special concert for the elderly to mark World Elders Day.

“October to December will be the most intense period on the calendar with Olokun Festival; MUSON Festival; AFRIMA, AFRIFF; Kayo-Kayo Festival in Epe; the Lagos Luxury Summit/Fair; Felabration; Lagos Books & Arts Festival (LABAF) as well as the One Lagos Fiesta,” the statement read.