Carnival of stories to showcase Nigeria’s cultural heritage

A new cultural festival, Carnival of Stories, is set to showcase Nigeria’s rich heritage through architecture, history, art, cuisine, spirituality, and tradition from December 1 to 5 in Abuja.

The event, organised by JT Agency under the theme: ‘This is Nigeria: Chapter By Chapter,’ aims to expose Nigerians, especially younger generations, to cultural practices beyond their immediate environments. It will also examine the contemporary relevance of traditional heritage and offer a shared space for diverse artistic expressions.

A key highlight of the festival is a hand-built clay city modeled after traditional Nigerian architectural methods.

The JT Agency CEO, Executive Producer, and Lead Curator, Bayo Omoboriowo, explained that the initiative explores innovative approaches to storytelling.

“We have never been interested in simply telling Nigerian stories conventionally. We keep asking: what else can this story become? How else can it be told?” he said.

He noted that the clay city would make history tactile, while listing eco-friendly traditional construction methods relevant to modern environmental concerns. The festival experience is expected to begin at the Zaure, a traditional reception space symbolising hospitality, before guiding visitors through cultural installations, like the Grove of Ancestors, Durbar Court, and Court of Masks. It would culminate at the Impluvium, a designated space for quiet reflection.

Co-Lead Curator and Founder of the International Institute for Creative Development (IICD), Nduwhite Ndubuisi Ahanonu, stressed that cultural knowledge is an inherited legacy.

“Every Nigerian carries a story they did not write alone; handed down at a doorway, sung over a drum, or told under the moonlight,” Ahanonu said.

He added that bringing the narratives together would encourage citizens to reconnect with their roots. The showcases, he stated, would feature traditional custodians and practitioners. Project Lead and Creative Director, Adeorike Aderibigbe, noted that Nigeria’s diversity shines through its craftsmanship and arts.

“We are not one story told one way; we are hundreds of expressions of the same spirit,” she stated.

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