The fifth edition of the annual Lagos Carnival held yesterday at the Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, Lagos.
Expectedly, Lagos residents were treated to scintillating, rhythmic displays and performances from participating carnival bands.
The event, which began with processions by different carnival groups from Awolowo Road, Ikoyi; Campos Square, Lagos and TBS, attracted not only Nigerians from different backgrounds, but also tourists from across the globe.
This year’s edition featured many carnival groups like Ikorodu Itunla Fanty; Ikoyi Legacy group; Emeralds; Epetedo; Oko Faaji; Olowogbowo; Campos and Ilasamaja Youths, among others.
The 2014 edition was attended by the crème de la crème in the tourism sector in Nigeria. Eminent personalities at the event include; Edem Duke, Nigeria’s minister of culture, tourism and national orientation; Governor Babatunde Fashola; his wife, Abimbola Fashola; Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Lagos State deputy governor; Erelu Abiola-Dosunmu; Molade Okoya-Thomas; Ademola Adeniji-Adele, among others.
Fashola, who relishes the patronage, described the carnival as the new spirit of Lagos.
“This carnival is the new spirit of Lagos. Over the last five years, we have organized our own carnival to showcase our rich cultural heritage. I pray that this carnival will grow from strength to strength,” he said.
For Sandra Amadio, a South African tourist, the experience was an incredible one.
“I just feel the love among Nigerians; the incredible happiness. You should be very proud as Nigerians on a day like this. In South Africa, we don’t have any cultural event that has a semblance with this,” Amadio said.
Although the event was marred by some security issues, it is one that will go down the memory lane as a display of the richness of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
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