Media and Lifestyle entrepreneur, Familusi Akin Babajide popularly known as Mr. FAB has stressed on the need for Nigerian creatives to focus more on telling the Nigerian stories through their campaigns, if they hope to get more recognition from the organisers of the annual Cannes Lions International Festival of creativity.
FAB’s comment came against the backdrop of the continued failure of Nigerian agencies to get honours at Cannes. In the over 60 years of the Cannes Lion award show, no Nigerian agency has yet been able to win a Lion, even though some of them have consistently made entries, especially in the last two decades.
“The more we tell our stories, the more they will appreciate the context of our work and maybe then they will take note and we may begin to win the coveted Cannes Lions Awards,” Fab said.
FAB who first featured on the Cannes Lions stage in 2016, played a prominent role at the 2018 Cannes Lions, following his appointment as the first and only African Festival MC at the iconic festival and award show. During the event, he was tasked with running the second biggest stage at the festival – the Debussy Theatre, where he hosted a total of 30 sessions over five days.
FAB runs the FAB Group, comprising Media, Fashion and Hospitality interests and has often been described as a premium host having hosted FAB Radio, a syndicated lifestyle radio show for over 5 years and for 3 years has hosted Under 40 CEOs, a television series which has featured young African business leaders from across the continent. He has also hosted numerous high-profile events across the country and globally.
His performance at the 2018 Cannes Lions drew commendation from top executives of Cannes Lions, that subsequently opened the doors for other Africans to play major roles at the 2019 Cannes.
In this year’s Cannes Lion Festival, FAB as the appointed curator of African content to the festival will be leading a delegation of Nigerians to the event. The delegation includes Steve Babaeko, CEO X3M Ideas, who will be making his speaking debut at the global event. Others are Tiwa Savage, Femi Kuti and eLDee the Don, Anant Singh of the Mandelas Long Walk to Freedom fame and Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde.
FAB, will be playing a dual role of MC and also Cannes Lions TV host at the glamorous event, while the other Nigerians have been called upon to speak on various topics intended to inject the African flavor into the event.
The 2019 Cannes Lions will evidently be the biggest thus far for Africa, because besides having African celebs and creatives speak at the renowned event, FAB in conjunction with the organisers will also be holding the first what has been called the AfriCannes Party into the event. This party is intended to give the world a taste of Africa.