By Henry Akubuiro
Drumbeats and gyrations held many spellbound. Singing voices reverberated amid colourful spectacles. The charmed audience at Agege Stadium were caught up in an ecstatic bug. It was a fiesta of culture with extravagance, the Lagos way.
Coming a few days after the gasoline hike in Nigeria, there weren’t too many vehicles on the road that Saturday, as Lagosians chose carefully where to go. However, long before the wife of Lagos State, Mrs Ibijioke Sanwo-Olu, and wife of the state deputy governor, Mrs Oluremi Hamzat, hit Agege Stadium, there was no room to swing a cat.
Themed “Lagos Cultural Extravaganza”, the 2023 Cultural Display and Appreciation Carretta drew participants from the five divisions of Lagos: Badagry, Epe, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Ikeja. The appreciation programme was designed as part of the post inauguration activities of the re-elected state governor, Olusola Sanwo-Olu, and Dr. Kadiri Hamzat, his deputy.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who described the event as a pan-African celebration symbolising unity in diversity, said it was a testament of the shared history of Lagos, its resilience, and ability to transform the people’s cultural differences into a vibrant expression of unity.
Besides, “It mirrors the spirit of Lagos, a city that thrives on the strength of its diversity and cherishes its unique blend of cultures. The myriad of costume, infectious rhythms of the drums, the exuberant dances, and the tantalising flavours of our diverse cuisine that grace the event are all symbols of the rich cultural tapestry that is Lagos.”
An array of cultural displays made the day magical. They included performances from Igunnuko, which originated from Nupe; Egungun masquerades, Efe/Gelege and Agbo Remireke masquerades.
Other performers included the Kori troupe from Badagry, which appeared on the tartan track with round calabashes on their heads decorated with toys and paraphernalia of childbearing; the Meu Bou troupe, Asarokulo Agere and the popular Zangbeto masquerade from Badagry.
Adding colours to the event were grand performances from The Brazilian Descendants Group, the Lagos Cultural Troupe and Ara the drummer. Seyi Law enlivened the audience with comedy, just as Ewi traditional poetry performance added to the glamour.
Reflecting on the show, Mr. Ayo Akinmade Ayinde, Chairman, Inauguration Committee, described Lagos as the most vastly endowed state in Nigeria.
Hence, the festival “is a reflection of our diverse cultural identity showcasing scintillating cultural performances, magical displays, dance and music, and exhibitions of our artifacts.”
The day wasn’t just about showing off the cultural heritage of Lagos. The event was also a competition, with Footprints of David, a children arts and education advocacy group from Bariga, winning the first position for the display of “Together We Fly”, a 15-minute dance piece depicting Lagos’ uniqueness and cultural diversity.
The Zangbeto from Badagry took the second position, with the Ajojimale masquerade from Epe coming third.
The Chairman of the Media and Publicity Subcommittee of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dr Obafemi Hamzat second term inauguration, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, speaking to newsmen at the event, extolled the cultural merits of the re-elected governor.
“Mr Sanwo-Olu has done a lot in the Ministry of Tourism, Art and Culture to show Lagosians that we are not joking with it. There is a city coming out in Epe that will be a face for all our young people to exhibit their skills.
“Various groups are being trained to be on their own in the area of filmmaking, script writing, editing and everything they want to learn in the creative industry free of charge.”