LAGOS – Obi Asika, Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), has stated that the 2024 edition of the National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) is currently being rebranded to bring culture to the centre of the Nigerian economy.
Asika, who is saddled with the responsibility of organising NAFEST and the International Arts and Craft Expo (INAC), annually while speaking with journalists in Lagos explained that rebranding the festival was important to focus more on capacity building for creatives, talent discovery and development.
He said the festival, scheduled to be held from November 22 to November 30 in Abuja, would feature programmes like Dambe, a cooking competition, a Jollof rice war, a Swag show, a fashion show, a dance-off, a sing-off, a traditional games competition and more.
“NAFEST this year is critical to us, we are planning on rebranding NAFEST as we have engaged development partners, private sector partners, reality show development partners and more.
“The Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy has developed a specific roadmap and has discussed with states to re-key into the programme.
“Another way we are rebranding the festival is that NAFEST will be made a live event, to be showcased on DSTV channels, YouTube, Trace and all. We want to engage a lot of people.
“My over 30 years of experience as a producer will be brought to the fore. I want a situation whereby kids will be able to watch NAFEST in the comfort of their homes, and they will be looking forward to subsequent editions of NAFEST,” he said.
Asika noted that he wanted Nigerians to experience real Afrobeats in the course of NAFEST, as many artists will be engaged at the National Stadium in Abuja with over 60,000 of them expected.
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He said legendary artists would be invited to share their music and experiences for the younger ones to learn and gain inspiration.
“I want people to see NAFEST as our Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC). We have several things that will be different about NAFEST this year, we will have eight art galleries in Abuja running exhibitions around past editions of NAFEST. 80 per cent of the festival will be held at the Artist Village,” he said.
Asika, who disclosed the theme for the festival as “Connected Culture”, said the aim was to encourage cultural integration and diplomacy.
“Our cultures are so connected; it is just different generations and perceptions. What the younger people are doing is re-inventing what the older ones have done. Our main problem is our inability to translate our culture to one another.”
Ogun state’s Ojude-Oba, Anambra state’s Ofala and Kano state’s Durbar are all festivals that are connected, the difference is just the manner they are celebrated.
“NAFEST is the avenue to translate this to one another so that we can celebrate our culture together, that is the essence of our theme, “Connected Culture”.”
Speaking on the International Arts and Craft Expo, Asika said the expo would run as a four-day event, to begin November 18.
He urged Nigerians to look forward to these programmes to be better informed about Nigerian culture and gain inspiration.
