Lagos hosts 165 Days Across Africa to celebrate African tourism, arts, culture, heritage
By Editor
THE city of Lagos is set to host a major celebration of African tourism, arts, culture, history, heritage and creativity with the forthcoming “165 Days Across Africa” Symposium and Documentary Showcase, an initiative of Ambassador Valerie Opia-led The Adventures of Valerie of Africa – 165 Days Across Africa. It is in partnership with the Wells International Tourism Cultural Educational Foundation (WITCEF) and the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Lagos Hub. The event is scheduled to hold from 11.00am on Wednesday, September 30, at the National Council of Arts and Culture (Redbricks) in the premises of National Theatre Iganmu, Lagos.
The landmark event will bring together distinguished personalities from the tourism, arts, culture, education, media, drama and creative industries to celebrate Africa’s rich cultural heritage and explore the role of tourism and storytelling in promoting the continent to the world. The event will feature the showcase of the “Adventures of Valerie of Africa – 165 Days Across Africa” documentary, which captures the journey, experiences, people, destinations, cultures, traditions and tourism possibilities encountered through the ambitious African tourism project. The documentary is designed to tell African stories from an African perspective while encouraging greater interest in intra-African travel, cultural exchange, heritage preservation and destination development.
The symposium will provide a meeting point for tourism professionals, cultural practitioners, historians, artists, educators, students, filmmakers, media organisations, policymakers, creative entrepreneurs and other stakeholders. Among the issues expected to be explored are the role of tourism in economic development, preservation of cultural heritage, youth participation in tourism, women in tourism, creative arts and tourism, destination marketing, cultural education, storytelling and the importance of documenting Africa’s history and contemporary experiences. The organisers believe that tourism is not only about visiting destinations but also about understanding people, preserving heritage, creating economic opportunities and building bridges between African communities.
One of the major highlights of the event will be a special award and recognition ceremony celebrating distinguished personalities whose contributions have had significant impact on African history, literature, arts, culture, tourism and heritage. Those listed for special recognition include Prof. Jacob Ade Ajayi — the distinguished historian and scholar whose work contributed immensely to African historical scholarship and the documentation of African history.
Mrs. Nike Okundaye, CEO, Nike Art Gallery — celebrated artist, cultural entrepreneur and advocate for Nigerian traditional arts, crafts and cultural heritage. Goge Africa — recognised for its contribution to African travel storytelling, tourism promotion and destination visibility through media and Jahman Anikulapo — to be recognised for his contribution to the creative and cultural sector.
Keynote address will be delivered by Chairman of FESTAC Festival, Engr. Yinka Abioye — recognised for his contribution to cultural celebration, heritage promotion and the continuation of the FESTAC legacy. The organisers describe the recognition segment as an opportunity to celebrate personalities whose work has contributed to the preservation, promotion and advancement of Africa’s history, culture, arts, tourism and creative expression.
The event will also feature a special exhibition by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), providing visitors with an opportunity to experience Nigerian arts, crafts, cultural materials and creative expressions, thus adding an important educational dimension to the programme, students from the Fine Arts Department of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) are also expected to participate in the exhibition. Their participation will provide an opportunity for emerging artists and young creatives to display their talents while interacting with established professionals and cultural institutions.
The organisers believe that giving students a platform at such an event is essential to creating a bridge between Nigeria’s cultural heritage and the next generation of artists, storytellers and creative entrepreneurs.
The symposium and documentary showcase will also feature dramatic presentations, cultural displays, music, dance and other creative performances, bringing the programme to life through the performing arts. Personalities and practitioners from the tourism, drama, theatre, film and creative industries will participate in the event, creating a multidisciplinary platform where tourism meets arts, culture and entertainment. The performances are expected to showcase the diversity of Nigerian and African creative expression and demonstrate the important relationship between cultural heritage and tourism.
The Adventures of Valerie of Africa – 165 Days Across Africa project, spearheaded by Opia, seeks to encourage Africans to travel across the continent, discover destinations, experience different cultures and share Africa’s stories with the world. The project promotes the philosophy: Discover Africa. Experience Africa. Promote Africa! Therefore, 165 Days Across Africa project goes beyond tourism, as it seeks to create a platform for cultural exchange, education, storytelling, networking and collaboration while highlighting the enormous tourism and creative potential of the African continent.
A major objective of the symposium is to create a platform where established cultural icons, historians, tourism practitioners, artists, educators, young people and emerging creatives can interact. The participation of institutions such as NCAC, UNILAG and YABATECH, alongside tourism professionals, creative practitioners and cultural personalities is expected to create meaningful conversations between generations. The organisers are inviting government representatives, traditional institutions, tourism stakeholders, corporate organisations, diplomats, media organisations, artists, students, educators, travel enthusiasts and members of the public to attend and participate.
The 165 Days Across Africa Symposium and Documentary Showcase is expected to be more than an event, as it is envisioned as a celebration of Africa’s identity and a call for greater collaboration in using tourism, arts, culture, heritage and creativity to tell the African story.
Amb. Opia stated that the initiative is driven by a desire to see Africans take greater ownership of their stories, destinations, heritage and cultural resources while creating opportunities for the next generation. The organisers therefore call on individuals and organisations passionate about African tourism, arts, culture, heritage, education and creativity to join the movement and support initiatives that promote the continent.
