LASG affirms commitment to Afro-Brazillian fanti carnival

By Adeola Ogunrinde

Lagos State Government on Tuesday affirmed its commitment to cultural preservation and community of the Fanti Carnival.

Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, made this known at a press conference in Ikeja.

The commissioner noted that the carnival, would hold on April 20, noting that it is history rooted in the late 19th-century.

Benson -Awoyinka said the returnees established the Brazilian quarters of Lagos Island, including Campos and Isale Eko, and birthed a vibrant fusion of Afro-Brazilian culture.

She said the culture was expressed through samba rhythms, elaborate costumes, Catholic influences and the spirit of the street performance.

Meanwhile, Consul General of Brazil in Lagos, Mr Manuel Lacerda Santos said the deep-rooted cultural, diplomatic and economic bonds between Nigeria and Brazil had lasted for centuries.

Recalling how millions of Africans, primarily from ethnic groups such as Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa were taken to Brazil during the transatlantic slave trade between the 16th and 19th centuries, the Consul General said these migrations forged strong cultural connections that persist to this day.

General-Secretary of the Brazilian Descendants Association, Mr Oluremi Da-Costa said the carnival was a cultural heritage still celebrated in Brazil, and kept alive in Lagos.

The Lagos Fanti Carnival will be held at the Remembrance Arcade of the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) between 10.00 a.m. and 10.00 p.m.