Events

Vibrant Victoria Island Carnival Lights Up Lagos

Published

50 minutes ago

September 21, 2026

Vibrant Victoria Island Carnival closed its maiden week in Lagos, mixing parade, music and markets to push tourism and small business trade

On Sunday, 20 September 2026, Downtown Promotions founder and convener Abiodun Ayorinde brought the maiden Victoria Island Carnival to a close on the streets of Victoria Island, Lagos, after a week of colour, music and trade that began on 14 September under the theme “Eko’s Jewel: A Legacy Rich in Colour.”

Also read: Rechael Okonkwo’s Carnival Brings Free Healthcare to 5,000 Residents

The Victoria Island Carnival was staged as a public answer to the island’s weekday reputation for traffic, offices and noise.

A Carnival Village, street party, grand parade, fashion showcases, food fairs, exhibitions, art installations and business networking sessions ran alongside live sets, including a performance by Ola Jayce.

Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture Toke Benson-Awoyinka framed the week as more than revelry.

Toke Benson-Awoyinka said the carnival sought to “stimulate the local economy, drive domestic tourism, and create substantial opportunities for small-scale vendors, hospitality operators, and local creatives.”

Abiodun Ayorinde told a pre-event press conference that Downtown Promotions had spent more than two years on research and stakeholder talks before opening the gates. “For over two years, we have nurtured this vision of bringing people together to celebrate the history, culture and identity of Victoria Island,” Abiodun Ayorinde said. “The idea is to create an event that will bring people together across generations, cultures and backgrounds, with a fusion of entertainment, tourism, business and creativity, to tell a story about one of Lagos’ most iconic locations.”

Abiodun Ayorinde said the programme was meant to work as a marketplace as well as a party, giving designers, musicians, chefs, artists, content creators and cultural entrepreneurs a place to sell work and raise their profile.

Abiodun Ayorinde compared the ambition to the draw of Ojude Oba in Ijebu, Ogun State, and said the team wanted a Lagos fixture that could pull visitors in the same way.

Organisers also pointed to a film documentary on Lagos diversity and to the island’s architecture, hospitality and history, arguing that Victoria Island is more than a business district.

Whether the Victoria Island Carnival becomes an annual mark on the African cultural calendar will depend on what returns next year.

Also read: Gaani Festival unites resilient peoples in Nikki

For one week, the island’s usual grind gave way to parade routes, stalls and a claim that culture can pay its way.

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Culture

WAKE UP! Art Exhibition Returns for a Second Act

Published

4 weeks ago

August 27, 2026

Mariam Balogun

The contemporary art and photography exhibition “Wake Up!” is back again for a second edition.

Curated by Awele Onwordi, Wake Up! 2 exhibition pays homage to the Nigerian youth and burgeoning street culture which many of its contributing artists reference in their works.

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Titled “Young, Wild, Free”, the exhibition celebrates the creativity, resilience, freedom and cultural influence found in Nigerian youth.

Taking aim at societal issues and economic concerns, the exhibit reflects the youth and their refusal to compromise or bow despite all the challenges stacked against them while charting youth culture through art, music, fashion, skateboarding, photography and community.

The exhibition will be held, once again, at the Angel and Muse Gallery at 25 Sumbo Jibowu street off Ribadu Road off Awolowo Road in Ikoyi.

It will open on Saturday 5 September 2026 and will run until 11 September 2026
This second edition which focuses on celebrating, nurturing and exploring artistic practices rooted in youth and street culture will feature works from DENCITY and SUPERGLIDER HOUSE.

Exhibiting artists include Ajilore Kehinde – their work is deeply influenced by Nigerian street culture and works of other artists like Slawn, Peters Ejiro, etc, Chuka Onwordi – graphic designer who embodies themes of death, melancholy and beauty in his works, ZIDYEP – Abuja based creative whose works move between digital and physical spaces through art, graphic design and air brushing , Franklyn Okoye – graphic designer and artist whose works explore themes of identity and hyper-reality, Awele Onwordi – founder & curator of WAKE UP and multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans character art, creative logo design, album covers and more , Oluchi Kogolo – digital illustrator whose work explores street culture, personality and storytelling through a raw and playful visual style and Kozetuo Apeji – multidisciplinary artists who work explores experimental approaches to problem solving through both digital and traditional art forms.

Commenting on the exhibition in her curatorial statement, Awele noted that “despite economic instability, limited opportunities and socio-political challenges, Nigerian youth continue to shape culture through music, fashion, art, skateboarding, raves, photography and community.”

Also read: Five rising stars battle for 2026 Headies Next Rated

Continuing and harping on the raison d’etre of the exhibition she said, “Young, Wild and Free exists to celebrate Nigerian youth while also creating a platform that supports and amplifies them.”