We’re rebranding NAFEST- Obi Asika
Mr Obi Asika, Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), says the 2024 edition of National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) is currently being rebranded.
Asika said that rebranding the festival was important to focus more on capacity building for creatives and talent discovery as well as development.
He disclosed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NCAC is saddled with the responsibility of organising NAFEST and the International Arts and Craft Expo (INAC), annually.
According to him, the plan is to further bring culture to the centre of the Nigerian economy.
He said the festival, scheduled to hold from Nov. 22 to Nov.30 in Abuja, would feature programmes like: Dambe, cooking competition, Jollof rice war, Swag show, fashion show, dance-off, sing-off, traditional games competition and more.
“NAFEST this year is critical to us, we are planning on rebranding NAFEST as we have engaged development partners, private sector partners, reality show development partners and more.
“The Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy has developed specific roadmap and has discussed with states to re-key into the programme.
“Another way we are rebranding the festival is that NAFEST will be made a live event, to be showcased on DSTV channels, YouTube, Trace and all. We want to engage a lot of people.
“My over 30 years experience as a producer will be brought to the fore. I want a situation whereby kids will be able to watch NAFEST in the comfort of their homes, and they will be looking forward to subsequent editions of NAFEST,” he said.
Asika noted that he wanted Nigerians to experience real Afrobeats in the course of NAFEST, as many artistes will be engaged at the National Stadium in Abuja with over 60,000 revellers expected.
He said legendary artistes would be invited to share their music and experiences for the younger ones to learn and gain inspiration.
“I want people to see NAFEST as our Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC).
“We have a number of things that will be different about NAFEST this year, we will have eight art galleries in Abuja running exhibitions around past editions of NAFEST.
“80 per cent of the festival will be held at the Artist Village,” he said.
Asika, who disclosed the theme for the festival as “Connected Culture”, said the aim was to encourage cultural integration and diplomacy.
“Our cultures are so connected, it is just different generations and perceptions. What the younger people are doing is re-inventing what the older ones have done.
“Our main problem is our inability to translate our culture to one another.
Ogun state’s Ojude-Oba, Anambra state’s Ofala and Kano state’s Durbar are all festivals that are connected, the difference is just the manner they are celebrated.
“NAFEST is the avenue to translate this to one another so that we can celebrate our culture together, that is the essence of our theme, “Connected Culture”.”
Speaking on the International Arts and Craft Expo, Asika said the expo would run as a four-day event, to begin Nov. 18.
He urged Nigerians to look forward to these programmes to be better informed about Nigerian culture and gain inspiration.
