Ipada Carnival begins amidst pomp, pageantry in Lagos

By Taiye Olayemi

Diplomats throughout Africa and stakeholders within the tourism and hospitality trade on Saturday converged on the La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort in Lagos State to declare the maiden version of ‘Ipada Carnival’ open.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) stories that Ipada Carnival is a cultural celebration honouring the return of individuals of African descent and lovers of the tradition to their roots.

The carnival is holding from Nov. 29 to Dec. 8.

The nine-day carnival started in an electrifying ambiance the place the Brazilian Descendants donned of their vibrant carnival apparel carried out to the thrill of revellers.

The carnival showcased the wealthy cultural heritage of Africans that includes numerous vary of actions, together with conventional music and dance performances, elaborate costumes, and mouth-watering native cuisines.

Revellers had been handled to a stunning show of color and power. The air was stuffed with the sound of drums and laughter, as contributors and spectators alike immersed themselves within the pleasure and pleasure of the event.

Speaking, Mr Wanle Akinboboye, Convener of Ipada Carnival and Chief Executive Officer of La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, mentioned the carnival was a type of enticement for Africans within the diaspora to retrace their roots.

Akinboboye mentioned the essence of this was to allow them contribute considerably to the financial growth of Africa.

“Today is all concerning the Ipada Carnival, the idea is all about bringing again individuals of African descent again to their roots.

“We have 32 million diasporans within the Caribbean, 66 million within the United States of America, 120 million in Brazil, about 9.6 million in Europe. We have to entice them again to come back and add worth to the complete continent of Africa.

“You know no nation can develop with out the diasporans. So, Ipada is mainly presenting the complete continent of Africa in a basket. We are creating an African shopping center. The concept is to allow the diasporans to go to all of the international locations within the continent.

“There are 55 African international locations. So, we’re not solely promoting Nigeria, we’re simply saying that the diasporans can come into the continent of Africa by means of Lagos, by means of Abuja.

“And we created for those that felt that they have left on slave ships, we’ve created for them what we call ‘slave ships to cruise ships” in order that they will land right here in Lekki.

“From Lekki they can go to our airport here in Lagos and then fly to any part of Africa they want to fly to. So, basically we’re putting the entire continent of Africa in one basket,” he mentioned.

Akinboboye mentioned that an enormous variety of Africans within the diaspora had been in a position to retrace their steps already.

“This is only a celebration. This is the Ipada Carnival however we have now the Ipada Initiative that occurs every day.

“Over 40 African-American Mayors have been brought back, a platform has also been established to assist them to come to Africa, about 300 are coming next week, we have about 500 coming back in February and more,” he mentioned.

Earlier, The Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Christophe Bazivamo, lauded the Ipada Carnival and initiative.

He mentioned that the nation appeared ahead to participating the service of a DNA professional to assist in figuring out Rwandans within the diaspora.

“We discover it essential that Rwanda is current amongst different African international locations right here, and Rwanda as a pan-African nation is opening its doorways to all Africans to come back again dwelling.

“As you’ll be able to see, we’re displaying our espresso, tea, pepper, clothings and extra. We need everybody to know that Rwanda is secure for enterprise with hospitable people.

“We are second when it comes to ease of doing business,” he mentioned.

Marinho Olayemi, President of the Brazilian Descendants Association in Lagos, relayed how the Brazilian descendants had contributed to the expansion of Lagos state.

Olayemi urged all Africans within the diaspora to retrace their roots.

Also, Mrs Bolaji Mustapha, National President of the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), expressed pleasure on the final result of the carnival.

Mustapha mentioned the affiliation labored actually exhausting in advertising the carnival on the lately concluded World Travel Market in London.

She mentioned that for subsequent editions, the affiliation would look into creating extra merchandise to draw extra individuals within the diaspora.

She known as on the Nigerian youths to embrace the Artificial Intelligence (AI) workshop, within the the course of the carnival.

She mentioned this entailed empowering the youths to have the ability to market Africa as a alternative vacation spot for tourism through AI know-how.

“We are very glad to accomplice with La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort for this lovely initiative.

“We are changing the narrative, from slave ships to cruise ships,” she mentioned.

Mrs Uloma Egbuna, Managing Director of Tour Brokers International, described Ipada competition as a lofty initiative.

Mr Gbenga Sunday, a vacation spot promoter, famous that the carnival would entice numerous fortune for the African continent.