The vibrant and historic Fanti Festival is set to make a grand return this Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, as the Lagos State Government unveils efforts to reconnect younger generations with their cultural roots and decentralize tourism activities beyond the December rush.
EpeInsights reports that the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, revealed this in an interview, describing the Fanti Festival as more than a colourful procession—it’s a cultural legacy rooted in the history of Afro-Brazilian returnees who settled on Lagos Island in the 19th century.
“Our culture, our heritage, is fast dying. And the only way we can bring it back is to make sure that we hand it over to the next generation,” she said.
The festival, traditionally observed within local communities, is now being revived and scaled into a city-wide event in partnership with the Brazilian Descendants Association.
This year’s edition will feature colour-coded processions, traditional masquerades, highlife music, and authentic Lagos Island cuisine such as crab, fried shrimp, and grilled fish.
The parade will culminate at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), where dignitaries, cultural stakeholders, and members of the diplomatic corps are expected. While pre-registration is encouraged, the event remains open to the public, with Benson-Awoyinka inviting “everyone to come out and celebrate the colours of Lagos.”
Beyond the Festival: A Structured Tourism Future
The revival of the Fanti Festival is just one part of a broader tourism overhaul. Benson-Awoyinka also revealed that Lagos is developing a comprehensive year-round tourism calendar—a strategic response to the growing challenges of “Detty December,” which she said often causes spikes in travel costs and logistical bottlenecks.
“We cannot keep concentrating everything in December. It drives up ticket prices and limits access for Nigerians in the diaspora who want to reconnect with their roots,” she noted.
The new calendar will map out cultural events across all 12 months, helping residents, tourists, and diaspora communities plan their visits in advance. Stakeholders across the creative and tourism industries have been called upon to submit fixed dates for their events as part of the initiative.
“Tourism is calendarised globally. If you don’t lock in your dates early, it becomes chaotic. The Lagos State Government is stepping in to coordinate this for a seamless experience,” Benson-Awoyinka added.
She also hinted at major plans to mark the 10th anniversary of “Detty December”, with contributions from past commissioners and industry leaders aimed at building a more globally competitive tourism ecosystem.
As Lagos prepares to celebrate the Fanti Festival and roll out its first official Lagos Tourism Calendar, the state is positioning itself not only as Nigeria’s cultural capital but also as a year-round destination for heritage, entertainment, and community pride.
