The city of Lagos, Nigeria’s economic powerhouse is gearing up for a convergence of people and events as the 2015 Lagos Black Heritage Festival, LBHF officially opens on April 18.
As stated on their website, the LBHF was inspired by the spirit of convergence for which Lagos remains pre-eminent, the Lagos Black Heritage Festival celebrates African creativity within a carnivalesque of traditional and contemporary Dance, Music, Painting and Photo Exposition, Drama, Design and Fashion Display, an International Symposium, Film and Video Fiesta and other artistic and intellectual offerings, both inter-state and international. In a seven-day cultural manifestation during which hundreds of performers will animate the ancient city of Badagry and cosmopolitan Lagos with a passage of the traditional and the modern, Lagos State will welcome thousands of visitors with a feast to engage the mind, entering the senses and linger in the memory for years to come. (LBHF Inauguration, 2010)
Activities for the festival which is adjudged as the biggest culture feast in city of Lagos will be declared open by the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola at the Freedom Park, Lagos on April 18 and will run till April,25.
Highlights of the week-long festival includes: Vision of the Child — Children/Pupils Competition and Exhibition Programme; Masquerade Parade from Badagry; Exhibitions – Children Art & Art fair/Bazaar; Do Your own Thing – Talent hunt programme for youths ; Drama & Dance Drama – six plays on showcase and Poetry & Music – Night of the Poets
There will also be the “Meet The Artiste” Showcase – which will showcase the Stage & Screen Career of Olu Jacobs; Film Screenings – Documentary & Experimental Films; Music Performances – Live from Emukay; Jimi Solanke; Eko Brass Band and more.
Prof. Wole Soyinka, the festival consultant, said in his statement, that the theme was inspired by news of an impending visit by the historic Globe Theatre in England was a major factor in LBHF’s decision to prolong its break from the geography based thematic series – The “Black in the Mediterranean Blue” – on which the Festival embarked in 2012.
