The Lagos State Government has announced a strategic partnership with the African Cultural Festival (ACF) as part of efforts to deepen diaspora ties, drive tourism and expand the state’s global cultural influence.
EpeInsights learnt that the 2025 edition of the festival, themed “Africa to the World: Culture, Creativity, and Collaboration,” will begin with countdown activities across Lagos in July and culminate in a major two-day event in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on September 19 and 20.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has endorsed the initiative, describing it as a catalyst for economic growth and cultural diplomacy.
His Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Idris Aregbe, said the collaboration aligns with the administration’s THEMES+ agenda, particularly its emphasis on economic diversification and leveraging culture as a tool for development.
Aregbe noted that while the event may appear to be a colourful celebration of culture, it represents much more—a platform for showcasing Lagos’ creative potential, telling African stories on a global stage, and forging stronger bonds with the diaspora.
He said the festival is seen as a means to drive long-term socio-economic transformation, adding that Lagos is committed to strengthening diaspora participation in building the Africa of the future.
Lagos will be represented at the festival by a delegation of creatives, entrepreneurs, and innovators passionate about culture and its global relevance.
The 2025 edition is expected to attract African and diaspora leaders, United States legislators, creatives from around the world, and stakeholders across the cultural, media, and enterprise sectors.
Highlights of the festival include the Africa Arise Leadership Summit, ACF Marketplace, Taste of Africa, the African I-D-E-N-T-I-T-Y Exhibition, the NextGen Connect Youth Forum, the African Diaspora Summit, the ACF Runway, and the official launch of Duduplugs—a new innovation hub designed to connect Africa’s creative and economic sectors to global opportunities.
The African I-D-E-N-T-I-T-Y Exhibition will spotlight African heritage through storytelling, visual arts, and film, celebrating identity and cultural pride.
The festival will also honour cultural icons such as Nike Okundaye of Nike Art Gallery and Miss Phipps during the ‘Celebrating African Elders’ event, recognising them as living embodiments of African wisdom and artistry.
The Duduplugs platform is expected to boost tourism interest in Lagos from 2026, offering a digital gateway to connect the city’s creative economy with a global audience.
The African Cultural Festival is spearheaded by ACI Entertainment, a cross-continental organization with operations in Lagos and Pennsylvania, committed to showcasing and elevating Africa’s creative economy on the world stage.
With this partnership, Lagos continues to reinforce its position as a vibrant cultural and economic hub, using creativity, collaboration, and culture as tools for global engagement and development.
