Events

AFROPOLIS Lagos 2024: tourism ministry to host pre-event town hall meeting

Published

2 years ago

July 9, 2024

AFROPOLIS Lagos 2024: tourism ministry to host pre-event town hall meeting

In preparation for AFROPOLIS Lagos 2024, a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture and QDance Centre, a town hall meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 10th, 2024, at the J Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History.

The meeting seeks to engage the community and stakeholders in discussions about the upcoming Pan-African gathering.

The Honourable Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka stated that the event seeks to celebrate creativity, innovation, and community, transforming Lagos into a vibrant hub of artistic and technological excellence.

The town hall meeting will provide the Ministry of Tourism and the event co-organiser, QDance Centre, an opportunity to share insights about AFROPOLIS, its goals, and the exciting activities planned. Attendees will have the chance to ask questions, share their perspectives, and learn how they can participate in this groundbreaking event.

AFROPOLIS Lagos 2024, scheduled to take place towards the end of October through to early November 2024, will transform Onikan’s main street, JK Randle Road, into a lively arts and tech assembly. The nine-day festival will culminate in a curated marketplace over the weekend, where participants will showcase their local and international innovations and works.

Mrs. Benson-Awoyinka emphasised that the event aims to foster collaboration, inspire innovation, and celebrate Africa’s rich cultural diversity. She noted that AFROPOLIS is not just an event but a movement, bringing together creatives from diverse backgrounds to collaborate and create.

Her words, “The town hall meeting is a crucial step in ensuring that the community is fully engaged and prepared to be part of this unique celebration of African creativity and innovation.

“It will provide detailed information about the planned activities and how they aim to promote unity and community engagement. Additionally, it will offer a platform for stakeholders to discuss the potential impacts and benefits of the AFROPOLIS event for the local community”, she added.

Lagos, known as the largest black cultural melting pot in the world, is currently undergoing an authentic cultural revolution. The city’s creative scene spans music, fashion, gaming, tech, design, film, dance, AI, and research. It is a hotbed of young talent staking their claims on the world stage and influencing global cultural trends.

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Culture

Crowds Gather for Rare Sunrise at Egypt’s Abu Simbel Temple

Published

2 weeks ago

October 23, 2026

David Ogunjobi

Hundreds of tourists gathered at Egypt’s Abu Simbel temple to witness the twice-yearly sunrise ceremony illuminating Pharaoh Ramses II’s statue

Hundreds of tourists gathered at Egypt’s Abu Simbel temple on Thursday to witness a spectacular sunrise phenomenon in which sunlight illuminated the face of the statue of Pharaoh Ramses II, an event that occurs only twice a year.

Also read: 16 Famous Cultural Festivals That Define India

The ancient astronomical ceremony drew visitors from different parts of the world to the archaeological site in southern Egypt on October 22, one of two dates associated with the phenomenon.

The second occurrence takes place on February 22, when the rising sun illuminates the temple’s interior.

Egyptian tour guide Yasser Fouad described the occasion as extraordinary, saying some visitors had stayed overnight to secure the opportunity to witness the event.

“Today is an extraordinary day, everyone is keen, there are people who stayed over the night, foreigners who actually spent the night in Abu Simbel to see this phenomenon,” Fouad said.

The Great Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel dates back to the 13th century BC and is among Egypt’s most prominent archaeological attractions.

Built during the reign of Ramses II, one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful pharaohs, the temple is renowned for its monumental statues and sophisticated architectural design.

The twice-yearly sunrise phenomenon is a major attraction, drawing visitors eager to witness the interaction between sunlight and the temple’s ancient structure.

The dates have traditionally been associated with significant moments in Ramses II’s life.

October 22 is commonly linked to his birthday, while February 22 is associated with his accession to the throne.

However, the precise historical reasons behind the dates remain debated.

Some archaeologists have proposed alternative explanations, including that they may have marked the pharaoh’s coronation and birthday.

Abu Simbel underwent a major international rescue operation in the 1960s, when archaeologists and engineers relocated the temples to protect them from flooding caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam.

The monumental structures were cut into large blocks and reassembled at a higher location, preserving the site for future generations.

The relocation was one of the most significant archaeological preservation projects of the 20th century.

Despite the move, the temple continues to attract visitors for its ancient Egyptian art, monumental architecture and remarkable alignment with the rising sun.

Also read: 16 Famous Cultural Festivals That Define India

The annual gatherings highlight the enduring appeal of Egypt’s archaeological heritage and the continuing fascination with the astronomical knowledge and engineering achievements of its ancient civilisation.