Memories from LBHF 2013

This year’s Lagos Black Heritage Festival (LBHF) is quite colourful, beautiful and interesting. The parade of masquerades drawn from all corners of Yoruba land, a moving mosaic of colour and motion, Eko Brass Band, and Afro-Brazillian Meboi ushered in the festival on March 25.  Also, Late Duro Ladipo’s drama, Oba Kosoko was shown on the first day while exhibition of “The Vision of the Child” started from March 25, and will end on April 1.

The 2013 edition, which focuses on Bring Back Brazil celebrated dance, music, paintings, drama, beauty pageant, film and video symposia proved that Lagos State is indeed at the forefront in promoting arts and culture. 

During the official opening of the one-week festival, Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism and Inter-Governmental Relations, Oladisun Holloway, said LBFH was organised by Lagos State Government to sensitise people about their culture. On what Lagosians stand to learn from the festival, he said: “The Vision of the Child which displayed many faces of corruption painted by school children drawn from six educational districts in Lagos State was quite appealing. I am into arts so I felt weak when I saw their paintings. These children were expressing their thoughts on Nigeria in terms of corruption and the pictures are very powerful. I think we can learn from it. People can learn from our rich culture which are displayed at the festival”

While lending credence to Holloway’s statement, the Festival Ambassador, Erelu Abiola Dosunmu, said people at home are dire need of revival of their culture just like the people in Diaspora. “I am happy that our culture has continued to wax stronger and a lot people have continued to participate as the festival progresses. Moreover, the re-awakening of Brazillian descendants in Lagos which is taking the centre stage in this celebration. 

Also, speaking, Elisa Larkin Nascimento from Brazil was elated to witness this year’s LBHF. The United States of American citizen who has been living in Brazil for over two decades said “The masquerades are beautiful and reminded me of some of what I have seen in Brazil. That is why I was moved by the music, which is the spirit of communication between Africa and Brazil.”

She translated and edited paintings and poetry by late Afro-Brazilian playwright, painter, revolutionary and senator, Abdias do Nascimento, which was exhibited on Tuesday, March 26. Late Nascimento had a life-long dialogue with the orisa and this dominated the exhibition. His spiritual play Sortilege was put on stage at LBHF for the first time in West Africa

On Wednesday, March 27, the Festival among other events,  showed a historic drama by Wole Oguntokun named Oshodi Tapa,  an encounter between Lagos traditional governance and the colonialists.

Today, “The Vision of The Child” gala night awards will take place at Oriental Hotel, Lagos followed by Carnival Queen Pageant on Saturday March 30, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.

On March 31, the Boat Regatta will brighten the lagoon with decorated crafts, fluttering pennants, synchronized paddles. There will be a display of marine skills and ethnic symbols created by cultural groups, labour unions, youth organisations, ]craft guilds and warrior descendants with some floats narrating the history of the riverine communities.

The event will be rounded off on April 1, with The Street Carnival with the theme:”Bring Back Brazil,” which will begin from Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, through King George Catholic Mission and ends in Tafawa Balewa Square. Indeed! The memory of this year’s festival will linger for a long time on the minds of those who witnessed it as it reawakens the interest of art-lovers.