That Lagos combines many attributes making its rush to be one of the cities to reckon with in the present global dispensation would be saying the obvious. It has grown in age with its huge array of various cultural leanings and its big commercial heritage cannot be overemphasised. Its place in the South West and its leading role within the nation stem from many fronts.
Little wonder therefore that all preparations appear to be at top gear concerning its forthcoming major event, tagged ‘Lagos Ankara Carnival.’ The 2017 edition of the carnival is expected to bring to fore one of the richly diverse sartorial heritages of the Yoruba people.
At a media parley meant to herald the event in Lagos, the chairman, Omoba Joko Okupe, spoke glowingly about the rich culture of the Yoruba people and the place of pride that their heritage occupies among the black population of the world.
“We are deeply blessed by God. Nothing compares to the varied but beautiful aspects of our culture. For far too long, people have talked down on the culture of the African people but this is not to be. The Yoruba people are particularly blessed. This is reflected in our world view, our language, our sense of culture, our food and our clothing. There are other very central parts of our culture which reflect the values that we hold dear to our hearts.
“One of such rich aspects of our culture is our dressing. If you look around today there is no part of the world where Ankara which is one of our rich sartorial heritages is not worn. This is our gift to the world. This is why we are celebrating this clothing and we are reminding ourselves of the need to harness the potentials that are therein. This is one of the core reasons we are organising the forthcoming event. We are calling on all stakeholders in the industry to partner with us with the intent of re-investing in this cultural renaissance,” he said.
In his speech, the host, Mr Olawale Oladunjoye stated “From the streets of Lagos, to countless boardrooms, to catwalks all over the world, the Ankara fabric has proven to be so versatile that it is now recognised on the global fashion scene. This Ankara trend has impacted the West African economy in a lot of ways and thus, the Nigerian economy. The rise in the demand of the fabric which was not too long ago considered to be a fabric of the poor or restricted to cultural festivals due to its brightly coloured patterns and relative low cost, has led to a corresponding rise in the production of the material. Also, aside from the lower priced brands, a lot more textile factories have started producing the Ankara fabric in more appealing and sophisticated designs.
“The Lagos Ankara carnival will hold from 2nd to 9th September 2017 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium. It is in partnership with the Lagos State government and endorsed by the Lagos State Council for Art and Culture. The event will include beauty pageant, exhibition, award presentation and the carnival itself.”
Also speaking, the Eketa Alakufo, Chief Lamidi Ololade, charged governments at various levels to ensure the uplift of Yoruba culture and tradition, saying that it had become necessary to do so.
Zonal coordinator of the Nigeria Tourism Development Commission, Mrs A.C. Ibe, spoke about the commitment of the Federal Government in harnessing the strengths of the various aspects of Nigeria’s ethnic diversity. She commended organisers of the carnival.
“When we see people who have the passion to uplift our heritage, we should all come out to encourage them. Nigeria is blessed by all standards. We are glad. People outside appear to appreciate our cultural heritage more than we do. We are gifted and we have a great cultural presence. We must ensure that we keep showcasing our rich diversities and this must not stop. The Ankara festival is indeed out to achieve this and we are most grateful for this commendable effort,” she said.
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