African Drum Festival opens in Abeokuta
News & Trends •
the drum festival keys into the objective of turning the creative industry into a thriving industry one that provides jobs and promotes the economy he said1 the third edition of african drum festival has kicked off with 20 states 40 african countries haiti brazil and trinidad and tobago participating1 the minister of information and culture alhaji lai mohammed said who opened the festival disclosed that nigeria was planning to incorporate the african drum festival into the national calendar of festivals1 the drum festival an annual event organised by the ogun government started in 2016 solely as a nigerian affair1 however the festival was expanded in its second edition in 2017 to draw participants from other african and foreign countries1 mohammed also pledged support of the federal government for the festival saying that all national media platforms would be made available to create awareness for it1 muhammed who represented president muhammadu buhari at the ceremony noted that the festival had continued to grow better with each edition1 the festival started in abeokuta in ogun state in south west nigeria on thursday1 i will also appeal to the corporate world to partner with ogun and support this festival by providing the much needed resources to ensure its sustainance1 this festival is important to africa because it provides us an avenue to showcase our rich cultural heritage as well as an opportunity to preserve the culture for the future heritage1 some of the royal fathers who attended the programme emphasised the importance of drum in the african culture1 the alaafin of oyo oba lamidi adeyemi noted that drum serves as a veritable instrument of inspiration mentoring and motivation particularly in the yoruba culture1 the nobel laurette prof. wole soyinka who is the consultant to the ogun government on the festival is expected to lead legends in a drum walk from kuto to the olumo rock in abeokuta1 he is also expected to co-ordinate an international conference with the theme drum for advancement1