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Preparation in top gear for biggest Yoruba cultural week in Lagos

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Preparation in top gear for biggest Yoruba cultural week in Lagos

As part of measures to sustain cultural values across southwest, the Lagos State Government has intensified preparation to organize the largest festival through the Yoruba Week celebration, slated for September 2024.

The festival, according to the government, has been structured to give thorough narration of the Yoruba cultural heritage and inculcate same on the next generation, in order to maintain the socialization.

During the event, the government noted that the Yoruba culture would be narrated through traditional music, dance, art exhibitions, and delectable culinary that would be available at venues earmarked for the celebration in the state.

The Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Idris Aregbe, disclosed this through a statement made available to newsmen.

Aregbe added that the weeklong event has been designed with a theme: “Embracing the Yoruba Heritage, Unity, and Pride by Preserving Our Past and Inspiring Our Future.”

According to him, this will be the biggest cultural event in the Yoruba calendar in years to come and we thoroughly mean this. We will ensure Nigerians see cultural exhibition that have never seen before.

He noted that the series of events that occurred lately within the region pointed towards an unforgettable 2024 Yoruba week celebration.

“One of them is the emergence of our Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the esteemed Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum. This is an indication that this year’s Yoruba Week is destined to be a majestic celebration of unity and culture”, Aregbe added.

Leveraging on that, the special adviser disclosed that he will be embarking on a series of courtesy visits to various stakeholders, Yoruba leaders, grassroots communities, and the younger generation.

He stressed that the visit aim to foster widespread participation and engagement of all stakeholders in this cultural festivity.

This came barely two months after the Lagos State House of Assembly approved the governor’s request to dedicate the last week of September every year as “Yoruba Week” to celebrate culture.

The lawmakers noted that the approval was to preserve and promote the rich Yoruba cultural heritage.

The decision was conveyed to the Lagos State House of Assembly through a letter from the executive arm, following a resolution passed by the lawmakers on September 19, 2023, calling for the activation of Yoruba cultural heritage and the assignment of a special day as Yoruba Day.

Culture

Dexter Loko Wins Prestigious 2026 Chinua Achebe Prize

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 Dexter Loko Wins Chinua Achebe Prize for his 170,000-word fantasy novel, The Bako of Zereshé, at the 2026 ANA convention in Abuja

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Ofala festival: Obi of Onitsha marks 25 Years on throne

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 Ofala Festival 2026 celebrated Onitsha’s royal heritage as Obi Nnaemeka Achebe marked 25 years on the throne and addressed Nigeria’s economic challenges.

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Culture

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

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Abu Simbel

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.

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