•Chief Host & Convener, Amb. Yeye LARA FASHOLA Gives Details
On the 26th & 27th of August 2022 at the Monarch, Lekki in Lagos the 2022 Olokun Festival will take place. The festival is usually organised by Amb Yeye Lara Fashola, who is the Chief Host & Convener. In October 2021 she was made a Culture Ambassador to the African Union-ECOSOC Nigeria National chapter for the development of Africa’s Cultural sector.
A few days ago, she hosted a Press Conference where she revealed what to expect at this year’s Olokun Festival. Below is her speech.
Our Host, The Executive Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Dr Femi Hamzat, The Honourable Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Osuolale Akinolu, His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja the II, All Royal fathers here present, Mr Oba Olasunkanmi, the Country representative of the African Union Economic Social and Cultural Council AU-ECOSOCC Nigeria, Mr Suwardy Abd Shukor, Trade attaché Malaysia High Commission Nigeria. Hon. Quadri-Adu Kehinde, head of Culture and Tourism for AU-ECOSOCC Nigeria. The Chairman Olokun foundation, Chief Architect City of Atlantus Olo Sears. All Priests and Priestesses Present, devotees of Olokun, Gentlemen of the press. Ladies and Gentlemen.
It gives me great joy to address Nigerians and Africans through this medium in the forthcoming year 2022 Olokun festival. Olokun Festival is a cultural festival celebrated throughout Yoruba land including Edo State, the main purpose is to unite our people and showcase the cultural value and heritage of our dear people to the whole world. The festival, which has been held since 2002, is organized by the Olokun Festival Foundation and has become so popular that tourist now marks the date in their calendars to attend. It has promoted tourism and cultural value chain to the world at large and makes Africa Culture ripe with potential and promises. It is high time that all hands are put on deck to systematically transform it into an economic force. This requires concerted efforts, time and attention of every African.
The Theme for this year’s event; “The Role of African Culture in the Promotion and Development of Young Africans.” is very timely and apt to the present situation in the country. My belief is that, if Culture is properly harnessed, it will increase the GDP of Nigeria and of course, of the entire African continent. There is a need to enlighten our youths to take their destiny into their hands, they should take due advantage of the continent’s rich cultural diversity to develop themselves economically. The promotion of our culture in Africa should have an impact on the way we view life, this gives us an edge over other continents. But contrary to this statement, our culture is been pushed aside for foreign cultures in terms of food, languages, entertainment and fashion. Promoting the Yoruba Culture through the Olokun festival has come to mend the gap by showcasing our culture in the best way possible with our local cuisine, music, fashion, folklore and others. As a Cultural Ambassador of the African Union- ECOSOCC Nigeria, my job is to support the work of the regional body which is to promote greater unity and solidarity between African countries and their people and also to defend Africa’s position on issues of the common interest. The better way to achieve these goals is by promoting and driving the relevance of our cultural heritage to our coming generations.
The support of the Africa Union-ECOSOCC Nigeria for the Olokun festival is something worth mentioning. Olokun festival is in line with aspiration 5 of the African Union Agenda 2063 which is meant for the future to accelerate progress towards continental unity and integration for sustainable culture and heritage, growth, trade, exchanges of goods, services, free movement of people and capital through establishing a United Africa and fast-tracking economic integration. This aspiration which is in progress is fundamental to our growth as Africans, and if this is properly harnessed, it will surely take our continent to where we all want it to be in future. Ambassadors and High Commissioners from Africa and from other countries like Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Malaysia, France, China, America, Spain, and Britain, have been invited to come and be part of this year’s event on the 26th August 2022. Part of the programme expected at the event will include but is not limited to; cultural display, ewi recitation, dance performances, inspired African shows, display of African artefacts, and life Band of Contemporary African Music. The window of collaboration is open to all who are interested in working with us at Olokun Foundation, I am sure that this is a healthy beginning of greater things to come to Nigeria and our dear continent in general. Once again, I want to say a very big thank you to our dear Governor, His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu for creating an avenue for people of different cultures and religions to thrive and live together in harmony in Lagos state. Kudos to you, Mr Governor. To men and women who had toiled endlessly in making this event successful, I want to say thank you! Long live Lagos State, long live Nigeria, long live Africa!”
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