Igniting African Culture With Civilization, Ajidans Studios Presents “Ajifest 2019” (Update)

In an effort to restoring African cultural heritage, creative hub ‘Ajidans Studios Productions presented a colourful theatrical display tagged “Ajifest” at popular Shodex Garden, Anthony Village -Lagos, Nigeria.

The festival which started on Tuesday the 5th had her grand finale lighting up Shodex Guarden on Sunday, 10th November, 2019. Unlike other events, Ajidans Cultural Festival is branded to promote indigenous languages and cultures of the black race with her birth in Nigeria.

There was never a dull moment with the kids, this as the crowd received quite energetic perofermances from Destiny Builders School-Ifako, Mansfield School Sawmill-Gbagada, Shinning Stars School-Sholuyi alongside Abata Group by Ajidans Studios.

The performance from Abata group was storylined to the claim by different geopolitical zones as the sole owner of the country “Nigeria”. This as shown live on stage featuring dance characters across the nation, though a call for national unity remained the order of the day.

The Director/Sole Convener of Ajifest, Ajide Olamilekan Adeyemi said he is always triggered seeing children and the need to restore African cultural heritage though hedging from Nigeria. This he made known in an exclusive discussion with Legit9ja;

“The idea started from when I thought about the theme which is “Igniting Culture with Civilization”. I noticed that children of nowadays do not speak their culture, they do nolonger dress in their cultural attires anymore. So we are losing both the culture and value, that prompted me to organize an event like this and this is the fourth edition.

The first edition was in 2014 at University of Lagos and other parts of Nigeria. Last year we were in Osun State to organize this same event. So it is just to bring back our culture, to educate the children, to orientate them on the values, morals and ethics embedded in African culture, language, civilization and our mode of dressing.

This year’s edition which took place in popular Shodex Garden, Anthony Village had performances from different schools under Kosofe Local Government. Though featured just children from private schools, the convener narrated the difficulty in involving public school children.

According to him; “I try to work with Government Schools but it did not really workout because of their heads, you have to write letter here and there but you know Private Schools, you have direct link to the owners. It is actually for Kosofe Local Government here, that is what we are doing for this year. Next year we are moving to Etiosa Local Government Area. Our calling is with Government Schools, if we have the opportunity. Ajide told Legit9ja.

Appreciating the effort and support from Kosofe Local Government via the office of Hon. Afolabi Sofola on the success, Ajide remained grateful.

“I want to thank and of course beg the Chairman, Hon. Sofola to please help us talk to SUBEB that when we submit proposals involving pupils, they should please give us the room.”

The Supervisor for Agric, Social, Youth and Sports, Hon. Oyetayo Oyeyemi representing the Executive Chairman of Kosofe Local Government expressed joy as entertained by different interesting performances from children live on stage.

In his address; “This is a very good event to attend, many children here today could see the limelight and turn great tomorrow. It is high time we paid keen attention into things that amuse our children. If asked, so many of them here today will reveal individual interests to become good actors, musicians, dancers and so on but they have to start from somewhere.”

“I want to use this privilege in thanking the sole founder of this occasion with the aim to encourage our children. Because Rome was not built in a day, we have to start from somewhere. So many people came out as graduates but are known by their crafts, so let us encourage our children from the scratch.

“The chairman has sent his good will to you all, our government has a very big heart for children. We are doing so much to make them proud and confident in whatever they wish to do.”