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Lagos State Government has released a calendar containing over 70 arts and culture programmes for 2018 aimed at to promoting its tourism potential.
The list contains state-sponsored and state-endorsed events.
The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Steve Ayorinde, in a statement on Thursday, said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode kick-started the year with his attendance at Ali Baba’s Jan 1st comedy concert at Eko Hotel.
Other arts and culture events held in January and February according to the calendar, were Angel and Muse, an art exhibition by a Lagos-trained world renowned artist; Eebi.
The major events also listed in the calendar include: Gidi Fest, Lagos Water Regatta and Fanti Carnival around the Easter Period.
Others are:
- The International Jazz Day celebration to be dedicated to the South-African Jazz legend, Huge Masekela – April 30
- Lagos Comedy Festival (incorporating Lagos Laughs on World Laughter Day) – May 6
- Eko Art Expo – last weekend in May
- Lagos Golf Funfair – June
- Lagos Cinefest (designed to take cinema-going experience to all the five divisions of the state) – June
- Indigenous Cultural Festival in Epe
- Wazobia FM Carnival
- Lagos City Marathon
- Lagos Festival of Plays
- Lagos Fishing Festival (Oshoroko) in Ibeju-Lekki
- Akwaaba Travel Market
- Faaji Agba – a special concert for the elderly to mark World Elders Day.
According to Ayorinde, “although not exhaustive, the calendar contains most of the well-known indigenous cultural festivals across the state, entertainment events; concerts; visual and performing arts as well as fashion and culinary events.
He said the idea of creating a calendar of events for state-sponsored and state-endorsed programmes is to make events planning, tour bookings and business decisions easier for tour operators and the general public.