The Lagos Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, has announced that the Lagos Fanti Carnival is set to make a comeback on April 20, 2025, after years of decline.
The festival, which celebrates afro-Brazilian heritage and cultural ties between Nigeria and Brazil, will take place at the Remembrance Arcade, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
According to Benson-Awoyinka, the carnival is more than just a spectacle of color and sound. “It is a heritage that tells the story of return, resilience, and rich cultural rebirth”, she said.
The festival, which started in the late 19th century, was established by formerly enslaved Africans, many of Yoruba descent, from Brazil and other parts of the Americas.
The returnees then established the Brazilian quarters of Lagos Island, including Campos and Isale Eko, and introduced a rich fusion of Afro-Brazilian culture.
Their heritage is rooted in samba rhythms, elaborate costumes, Catholic influences, and street performances.
In a press conference, Benson-Awoyinka described the carnival as a “heritage rooted in return and resilience” rather than just an event.
She said the revival of the carnival is not just to relive the past, but to celebrate a shared cultural identity.
She said “The Lagos Fanti Carnival is more than a spectacle of colour and sound. It is a heritage that tells the story of return, resilience, and rich cultural rebirth.
“The Lagos Fanti Carnival is being revived, not as reenactment of the past, but as a reimagined relevant celebration of our shared heritage.”
The commissioner explained that the carnival declined over the years due to urban modernisation and reduced public participation.
She said it is now making a comeback through collaborative efforts to revive its relevance and boost tourism, culture, youth involvement, and community growth.
Highlighting the strong cultural, diplomatic and economic bonds between Nigeria and Brazil, the Consul General of Brazil in Lagos, Manuel Lacerda Santos, noted that much of Brazil’s culture is rooted in Nigerian heritage, and the two nations have worked together on various bilateral agreements.
He said “Today, Brazil is home to the largest population of people of African descent outside Africa. Much of its Afro-Brazilian culture finds its roots in Nigerian heritage, from Yoruba religion and music, dance and cuisine.
“The fact is, in recent decades, these cultural connections have evolved into strong diplomatic and economic relations. Both nations have worked together on various bilateral agreements, especially in areas such as energy, agriculture, trade, and education.”
The carnival will feature a grand parade, Afro-Brazilian food showcase, and heritage art exhibition.
The parade will begin at King’s College and move through Onikan Roundabout and Moloney Roundabout before returning to the college.
