Institute To Host 3-day Inaugural Festival In Lagos

Nsibidi Institute will host a three-day inaugural festival on popular Nigerian culture from today to Sunday, September 28.

The institute disclosed that the event, with the theme “The Past in the Present Around Us: A Retrospective Celebration of Nigerian Popular Culture,” is taking place in Lagos.

According to the Nsibidi Institute, participants will participate in a symposium, exhibition, film screening, and photo exhibition, among other activities.

The director of the Nsibidi Institute, Mr Ed Keazor, said, „The festival looks to explore the strong affinities between Nigerian contemporary and historical popular cultures. The objective is to demonstrate the vibrant continuity of our social history. We shall explore this through film, photo, art exhibitions, performance, and interactive conversations.”

According to the institute, “the opening day keynote address, titled ‚Heritage and Future in the Past,‘ is expected to be delivered by the National Council for Arts and Culture director-general, Ojinnaka Obi Asika.

“The symposium titled ‘The Nigerian Popular Press: A Driver of Heritage and Social Culture’ will be moderated by Aduke Gomez, with panellists including Jahman Anikulapo, C. Don Adinuba, Freda Olatunbosun, and Michael Effiong James. “Part of the exhibition for the opening day is on the first century of newspaper advertising (1863–1963) and a film screening based on Lagos: The Birth of a City Style (1861–1967) by Muni and Ed Keazor. Hubris: A Brief Political History of the Nigerian Army, with the theme

“Military Rule and Social Impact,” will be the centre of the book discussion. The author of the book, Major-General Tunde Akinkunmi (rtd), will be conversing with Mr Yemi Candide-Johnson, SAN,’’ the statement read.

The Nsibidi Institute is an independent research and cultural organisation based in Lagos, Nigeria. Its work centres on preserving, exploring, and reimagining indigenous knowledge systems, particularly those rooted in Nigerian history, language, and identity.