Entertainment
AYOOLA Sadare, organiser of the Global Afrobeats Kulture Festival (GAKFEST), says the 2022 edition of the festival will be a multi-city touring event to showcase the genre in cities across the globe.
Sadare, also the artistic director of the festival, in a statement on Wednesday, said that GAKFEST would kick off in Lagos from Dec.28 to Dec.29.
According to him, the festival is designed to offer visitors and residents in Lagos and other major cities like London, Paris, Amsterdam and a few U.S. cities the world-class entertainment the genre offers.
Sadare said the theme for the festival is, “Harnessing the Creative Economy for Youth Empowerment and National Development”.
”Lagos is the afrobeats capital of the world and since It is one of the fastest growing music genres currently on the global scene now, it is imperative that the city hosts a festival worthy to showcase that status.
”From a tourism point of view, people want to know where the Lagos mentioned in many afrobeats hits is and visit same.
”For example, quite recently it was part of the title of Wizkid’s global awards winning ‘MADE IN LAGOS’ album.
”Afrobeats is to Lagos, Nigeria what Kingston, Jamaica and New Orleans, Louisiana are to Reggae and Jazz aficionados respectively and are attracted to those cities,” he said.
Shadare said that December was chosen to kick off GAKFEST because it was the year end and the holiday season when a lot of travelling took place.
He added that people would have the opportunity to attend the event.
He said afrobeats’ pioneers and trailblazers were undoubtedly Nigerians with Lagos being the bastion of afrobeats, as over 80 per cent of its proponents reside in the city.
”Starting from Lagos, the music has moved to the African continent and exploded globally in places like London, the U.S. and is rapidly spreading to other parts of the globe.
”Our technical partners SloweGanzi USA led by GAKFEST Executive Vice Chairman, Mr Wole Akande, are integral to making this happen.
”Afrobeats artistes are fast gaining recognition and reshaping the sound and texture of pop music globally, winning global awards like the Grammy, BET and others,” he said. (NAN)
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Tags: Ayoola Sadare GAKFEST SloweGanzi Wizkid Wole Akande
