Nigeria on Friday emerged winner of the Surajkund International Arts and Crafts Festival in India.
The two- week competition is considered one of the largest arts and culture festivals in the world.
The country was represented by Ekiti State Performing Company, for performance content, and Niger State Tourism Commission, for Crafts Exhibition.
Prof Ojo Bakare, renowned professor of Choreography and Performannce Aesthetics, who is the immediate-past Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism in Ekiti State, led the delegation.
Nigeria, India – the host Country and Uganda got the VIP pick in that order for the best performances in the festival that featured over 50 countries performing daily for two weeks.
As a result of Nigeria’s exemplary performances, the leaders of delegation for all the African countries at the festival chose Prof. Bakare to lead an all-African collaboration performance at the festival. The African countries also made a declaration for an All African networking organisation that will push for the development of Arts, Culture and Heritage in the continent. Bakare was also selected as the President.
The renowned cultural scholar who hailed the Federal Government for tipping Ekiti and Niger States as her representatives at the international competition, gave kudos to the 15- member Ekiti troupe and the officials for the superlative performances at the world festival.
Before emerging Nigeria’s representative at the global festival, The Ekiti State Performing Company came second at NAFEST 2020 in Jos, first at NAFEST 2021 and took the third position at NAFEST 2022 in Lagos. It won the most consistent State at NAFEST 2022. At NAFEST 2020, 2021 and 2022, Ekiti State came first in almost all the Performing Arts categories like Dance, Choral Music and Drama. Niger State was also selected for Craft exhibition because Bida had just been named UNESCO Creative City.
