The recently held 35th edition of the National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) took a different dimension of improvements.
The event organised by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), was hosted by Lagos State Nov. 7 to Nov.13.
Lagos State had hosted the festival twice in the past, in 1970 and 1988.
This time round, the state government worked unanimously with NCAC in upscaling the festival to give a different narrative.
Lagos State known as the entertainment nerve centre of the nation, inculcated series of entertainment activities which had some Nigerian renowned musical artistes perform to the delight of revellers at different times in the course of the seven-day festival.
This is the first since inception of NAFEST.
Sir Shina Peters, Adewale Ayuba, Salawa Abeni and Alariwo of Africa, among many others engaged delegates from over 29 states across the nation in what is described as emotional and psychological healing for revellers.
The real essence of music being food to the soul was in full display as revellers jettisoned their problems to embrace the music and performances in full.
Lagos State further made the 2022 NAFEST an eye-opener for states intending to host the subsequent editions, laying good precedence.
The festival organisation was top notch, accommodation spaces were created for all the delegates at Bariga surburb of the state and within the National Stadium where the festival was held, this is first of its kind.
Also, traffic was well managed, even as delegates turned up in their numbers because the accommodation venues were decentralised and all the law enforcement agents worked unanimously to achieve this.
The 35th NAFEST with the theme “Culture and Peaceful Coexistence” has truly united the nation as well as educated delegates, revellers attested to this.
Adebola Aladesuyi from Ekiti, said the various cultural performances exhibited in the course of the festival were indeed an eye opener for her as she noted that different states had specific dance styles.
She said the cultural displays were entertaining and educating and urged the Federal Government to continue to uphold the festival.
Also, Gambo Ibrahim from Katsina State was marvelled at the various seafoods displayed by Lagos Sate as he believed that such massive sized fishes could only be found in Kebbi state.
Ibrahim said he had also learnt a lot, for instance, he got enlightened and learnt that Lagos indigenes from Epe were predominantly fishermen and women.
He noted that he had been looking forward to Eko NAFEST and was not disappointed but happy he came.
“It is an interesting one, I saw Rivers State dancers in their full cultural regalia which I can now differenciate from those from Edo and Delta.
“This is truly a festival capable of uniting the nation, our diversity is indeed our strength and we must be conscious of this,” he said.
Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, Oyo State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, commended NCAC and the Lagos State Government for a well organised festival, with lots of innovations.
Olatunbosun said this is a festival the nation must not toy with, with the observation that it is really uniting the nation.
The most interesting and fascinating was the the display of Nigerian creativity in indigenous fabric designs which left many marveled.
This is due to the level of creativity displayed by various states who had used local fabrics peculiar to their state to make different costumes.
The local fabrics used included aso-oke, ankara, adire, and isiagu.
The indigenous fabric and fashion competition segment of the festival had Bayelsa, Delta, Ogun, Kogi, Ekiti and Kwara states exhibit their wealth of creativity.
Delta, the “Big Heart” state, took creativity to another level as they exhibited local fabrics used to create security uniforms, chef uniforms and some other corporate attire.
Also, the “Gateway State”, Ogun, was not left behind as they showcased the essence of beauty in simplicity, the fact that fashion is not just an outfit but a statement was reinforced.
The state known for its mass production of adire fabrics displayed different uniforms made with the fabric in colourful and beautiful designs.
Lagos state, the “Land of Excellence”, rich in rafia and many other resources, displayed foot wears made with the combination of rafia and aso-oke.
Similarly, Rivers, the “Treasure Base” of the Nation, affirmed this with the unique exhibition of carefully designed uniforms for various purposes.
The indigenous fabric and fashion exhibition was an eye opener for Nigerians at the 35th NAFEST and it behoves on Nigerian leaders to latch on the enormous opportunities in the textile industry.
This is another industry capable of addressing the nation’s challenge on unemployment.
Also, Basirat Iyanda, one of the food vendors who operated in the course of the festival said aside making huge sales from soft drinks and food, she was also able to understand how important it is to always host such kind of festival for the purpose of cultural integration which engenders peaceful coexistence.
Mudashir Ibrahim, an exhibitor from Kano State, who sold hand crafted jewelry said sales was not bad but could be better as he urged Nigerians to always patronise locally made products.
As various states engaged in competitive and non competitive events, Lagos State emerged overall winner of the 2022 festival, this was not shocking as the state paid good attention to the competition curriculum.
The competitions included traditional cuisines, indigenous fabric and fashion, traditional board game, children music,dance competition and more.
Over 500 youths benefited in free skills acquisition programmes, makeup and gele tying; bead making and straw hats; soap making-hair shampoo, air freshener, bleech, detol and izal; tailoring and ankara craft; traditional hairdo; paper flower craft; skin care and basketery.
Wife to the Lagos State governor, Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu’s passion and love for children was evident in the manner she hosted children who came from across the nation, gifting them educational materials like laptops and more.
She engaged the children in a mega party, at the government house in Marina, danced with them and advised them to always aspire to be good ambassadors of peace and unity.
The governor’s wife who was awarded “Mama NAFEST”, also advised parents to raise their children instilling in them the virtue of peace and love.
According to her, this is important to be able to build a nation void of social unrest and chaos.
“The essential ingredient of building peace, unity and harmony is love, we need to love one another.
“As students, we are training you to be ambassadors of peace, unity and harmony, replicate the virtues of peace, love and unity in your various homes and in your schools,” she said.
Sanwo-Olu noted that the choice of hosting the children at the government house was deliberate, to give them some sense of history.
According to her, this will enable the children know and understand history relating to the government house as they will be better equipped to project the future.
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu during the opening ceremony at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, said that his administration has made it a practice to support, partner and collaborate in activities that will further strengthen cultural heritage and promote unity in diversity.
He advised that rather than seeing the differences in language and culture as a dividing factor, Nigerians should see it as one of the greatest resources to be embraced, celebrated and used for collective advantage.
The governor unveiling the 37 wonders of Nigeria, revealed tourism and cultural landmarks peculiar with each state of the federation which are to be further developed.
The Benue State Swange dance, Odo Masquerade festival of Enugu state, Cross Rivers Ekombi dance, Zana Cap of Borno state, Ekpo masquerade in Akwa Ibom, Nasarawa state’s Farin Ruwa and Shere Hills in Plateau state are some of the 37 wonders of Nigeria unveiled.
The Director-General of NCAC, Chief Olusegun Runsewe, said that the 35th NAFEST has opened up a new chapter for the nation as NCAC plans ahead on new developmental approach to the festival in subsequent editions.
He said due to the rate at which the festival has helped in fostering unity and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians, states continue to bid tirelessly for the hosting right for the 36th edition in 2023.
NAN
