There was an explosion of colours and creativity on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at the Agege Stadium venue of Lagos State’s post-inauguraton culture display event.
Tagged, ‘Cultural Display and Appreciation Carretta 2023’, the event featured masqueraders, dancers, and other arts and cultural groups from the five divisions of Lagos State− Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island and Epe− who entertained guests, including Ibijoke, the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and Oluremi, the wife of the deputy governor, Obafemi Hamzat.
According to the organisers, the ‘kaleidoscope of colours and sounds encapsulated the rich diversity and cultural dynamism that define Lagos as a metropolis’.
Masqueraders and groups that performed at the event include ‘Egungun’, ‘Igunnuko’, ‘Angere’, ‘Gelede’, ‘Agbo Remireke’, ‘Agbo Orugbo’, ‘Kori’, ‘Meu Boi’, ‘Asarokulo Agere’, ‘Zangbeto’, ‘Woro’, and ‘Sato’; as well as the Footprints of David Arts Foundation, and the Brazilian Descendants Association in Lagos.
Dressed in different costumes, the troupes put the rich culture, heritage and tradition of the state on full display, to the delights of guests.
In his goodwill message at the event, Sanwo-Olu, said, “Indeed, this event is more than just a festival. It is a testament to our shared history, resilience, and ability to transform our cultural differences into a vibrant expression of unity. It mirrors the spirit of Lagos− a city that thrives on the strength of its diversity, and cherishes its unique blend of cultures.”
Other attendees at the event were the Chairman of the Inauguration Planning Committee and Chief of Staff to the Lagos governor, Tayo Ayinde; as well as traditional rulers, civil servants, and chieftains of the All Progressives Congress.
The cultural extravaganza, which was a part of the state government’s 11-day inauguration programme, culminated in a church thanksgiving service held simultaneously across the five divisions of Lagos last Sunday.
