Celebrating Lagos Island’s Afro-Brazilian carnival spirit with vibrant costumes and energetic dance performances.
Lagos Island came alive this week with its annual Fanti Carnival, a vibrant explosion of color and sound that has lit up Nigeria’s largest city for over two centuries. Rooted in the 19th-century return of formerly enslaved Africans from Brazil and Cuba, the festival blends their traditions with Yoruba culture to create a unique cultural showcase. This year’s event featured dazzling costumes, stilt dancers, decorated horses, and lively music, drawing crowds of all ages. Importantly, younger generations are actively participating, helping preserve the legacy for the future. Organized by seven historic community groups, the carnival continues to honor a shared history while evolving into a vibrant symbol of Lagos’s cultural identity and enduring creativity.
BBC