Yinka Olatunbosun
From spectacular dancers to fearless wrestlers, the just-concluded 2023 edition of Culturati was like a nursery for young talents. Held at multiple venues in Lagos, the 17th edition of Culturati, the fiesta was a major centrifuge for culture buffs in the city. At Sol Beach, Oniru, the two-day display of varied art forms was indeed a thrill. While overlooking the lagoon, the stage was mounted at the right wing of the venue while at the centre was a circular wrestling ring that doubled as a great ethnic backdrop for pictures. The atmosphere was simply magnetic, conveying the relaxed spirit of holiday. The cool breeze from the splashing overlaps of water was a sharp contrast to the hot afternoon sun that preceded the evenings of funfair on stage. Sellers of artworks drawn from Lekki Art Market were also at the beachside to showcase their brands and artistry.
Kafayat Quadri, one of the headliners that brought back that groovy feeling of acoustic soul with a dint of alternative music accentuated by her powerful vocals.
Meandering around the venue, it was only natural to run into the Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Tourism, Arts and Culture Idris Aregbe draped in an all-white casual attire, soaking in the moment. He is a walking reminder of why every hardworking Lagosian deserves some rest.
For him, the event was not just another excuse for a good time. It was a vehicle for empowering youths, promoting tourism and other economic initiatives that resonate with global sustainable development goals (SDGs), given the latent economic potentials therein.
“We are so much interested in this because we believe that it is an opportunity to connect back to our roots and most importantly to engage our youths,” he said, ignoring the noise from the surround sound system. “If you look around today, there are lots of youths who are showcasing their energy and talent and we keep inspiring them to do more with their passion. Most importantly to turn their passion into profit. Some of them depend on this type of initiative. We are telling our story and showing the strength of Africa.”
On the last day of the event marked by a food fiesta along the food court area as well as wrestling competitions, Aregbe met with some of the stakeholders in the culture sector at the Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel Victoria Island.
The featured brands and audience engagement with a number of interactive segments served as testament to the ingenuity of craftsmen as well as the richness of African cultural heritage.
On the ideology behind the event, the African cultural enthusiast with a penchant for creating value, Aregbe, who is also the Convener of the yearly event Culturati that brought tourists from around the world to Lagos, Nigeria for a delightful experience of the variety of culture, foods and beverages said the dire unemployment situation in Nigeria precipitated the cultural movement SISI-OGE in 2006 to bring attention to the potentials in African culture.
“Over the course of a decade, SISI-OGE metamorphosed into CULTURATI which has become Africa’s largest cultural fusion, continually creating business opportunities for many young cultural buffs to leverage on, rewarding cultural excellence while celebrating Africa’s rich and diverse heritage.”
Additionally, he noted that this year’s edition was a lot more robust as it was targeted at opening up economic opportunities in African culture for youth empowerment, tourism promotion and general economic development.
