Events

Vibrant Victoria Island Carnival Lights Up Lagos

Published

1 month 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

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

Published

1 week 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.