Lagos State government in conjunction with Culturella Africa has concluded plans to hold the 2024 Edition of the Culturella Festival in the state, saying that the move is part of measures to display its cultural heritage and promote cross-cultural dialogue on a global scale. Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Idris Aregbe, made this known at a press briefing, saying that the state government was collaborating with the private sector players to boost youth engagement and empowerment by investing in the creative sector, vocational skills and training for youths in the state.
Aregbe, who was represented by Mrs. Olufunke Adu, disclosed that this year’s Culturella Festival would bring together Africans from across the globe and lovers of the continent, to explore and celebrate the diverse traditions, cultural expression and artisanal craftsmanship across Africa. He, therefore, urged Nigerians especially the youth to portray the image of the country positively on social media and avoid derogatory painting of Africa as poor and dirty, pointing out that Lagos had been doing its best under Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu to empower the youths through vocational schools of entertainment to engage them and bring about the desired change.
“Lagos has been doing its best under Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu to empower the youths and that is why there are vocational schools of entertainment to engage them and bring about the desired change, while youths must also speak positively about their country Nigeria to the international community,” Aregbe said. Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Culturati Africa, Dolamu Badejo, noted that this year’s Culturella Festival mission was to leverage culture and arts as pivotal tools for enhancing international relations, fostering youths development, promoting social cohesion and unifying the continent to drive economic growth. She noted that Culturati Africa’s annual arts and culture event would be known as “Culturella Festival,”saying that the 2024 edition would be redirected to function as a research centre, meant to tell African stories in a positive way.
This was just as Badejo equally urged Nigerians, particularly the youth to always project Nigeria and Africa at large positively through culture, arts and tourism to the world. Badejo who harped on the need to intensify effort in telling African stories, further urged the media, government agencies, research institutions and all stakeholders to engage in relaying positive narratives of Africa, to spur tourism growth. “I am elated to respond to the announcement made earlier today regarding my appointment as the new CEO of Culturati Africa.
We want to see how our stories can be relayed right from our future to the past to change Africa’s image. “I am counting on the shoulders of giants and pillars across industry sectors, our very loyal stakeholders, new investors and the support of the culture, arts stakeholders communities to collectively join in the vision of re-imagining the Africa of our dreams. “We should ensure a return to cultural awareness and sound values and to re-build the fractured pieces and stories of our continent from a healed and renewed narrative.
We can together fill our cracks with gold,” she stated. Head of Brands Tantacom Experiential Projects Ltd., a communications partner with Culturati Africa, Mr John Fadejola, earlier in his remark, said the 18th edition of the annual Culturella Arts and Culture Festival would hold from Dec.
6 to 8, 2024. Fadejola, who unveiled the pre-event activities ahead of the festival, said that there would be a fashion soiree to showcase the beauty of African fabrics, adding that individuals who had contributed to the growth of the continent would be honoured at the Culturati African personalities in October. NIGERIAN TRIBUNE.
