Creative Industry

Musawa Presents UNESCO Certificate To Alaafin of Oyo At Sango World Festival

Published

1 year ago

August 17, 2025

Joel Ajayi

The Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa, has presented the UNESCO certificate recognizing the Sango Festival as a World Heritage Festival to the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade 1. Minister Musawa made the presentation at the grand finale of the 2025 World Sango Festival held over the weekend in Oyo State.

Musawa stated that the achievement marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s cultural landscape, demonstrating the Ministry’s commitment to safeguarding the country’s rich cultural heritage and promoting its powerful tool for international diplomacy and sustainable tourism.

“I heartily congratulate Your Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Abdulhakeem Owoade I, the new Sango Chief Priest, the Oyo community, and indeed the entire Yoruba nation on the grand finale of the 2025 World Sango Festival.

” We celebrate not just a festival, but a legacy. Following effective collaboration between the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy and the Oyo Community, the Sango Festival has now attained global recognition with its inscription by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This milestone firmly places Sango’s rich heritage on the world stage and underscores its importance as a shared global heritage.

“This achievement is a shining gain of the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, through our Ministry’s commitment to safeguarding our rich cultural heritage and promoting it as a powerful tool for international diplomacy and sustainable tourism. The foregoing further strengthens the foundation of our strong cultural identity, geared towards employment generation and wealth creation for sustainable development, empowerment of the host community, and Nigeria,” Musawa said.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Abdulhakeem Owoade I, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and the Ministry for their renewed commitment to expanding Nigeria’s culture and heritage, which has led to this remarkable feat. The monarch reiterated the Oyo Kingdom’s cooperation with the Administration and the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy to further promote Nigeria’s cultural identity on the global stage.

The 2025 Sango Festival, which drew dignitaries from within and outside the country, served as the backdrop for the certificate presentation, highlighting the festival’s significance as a cultural treasure and a symbol of Nigeria’s rich heritage.

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Creative Industry

CAFA Targets $500bn Fashion Economy At Canex Wknd 2026

Published

2 weeks ago

November 1, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Confederation of African Fashion (CAFA) will present its roadmap to grow Africa’s fashion economy from an estimated $30 billion to $500 billion at CANEX WKND 2026 in Lagos.

Marking its first anniversary on November 5, CAFA will unveil a joint stand with the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, formerly the National Arts Theatre, on November 5, 2026.

CAFA President, Aare (Prof.) Lai Labode, said the institution works with African governments to align sourcing, production, trade and intellectual property policies, ensuring African creativity generates greater value for African businesses and communities.

Nigeria became the first country to sign the African Fashion Industry Growth Charter on November 5, 2025, when the Honourable Minister Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa signed on behalf of the Federal Government.

Speaking ahead of the unveiling, Minister Musawa said: “Afroliganza seeks to build a structured, values-driven fashion economy rooted in African heritage, led by African institutions, and positioned for global impact.”

On employment potential, the minister emphasized that Investment in fashion will create millions of jobs, particularly for women and youth.

Registered in Rwanda, with an office in Kigali and a desk at the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, CAFA is also working with Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs towards African Union adoption of the Charter. Rwanda is progressing towards becoming its second participating country and the first in East Africa.

Its first year saw fifty nations gather at the Egbaliganza-Lisabi Festival in Abeokuta and a signed MoU with Türkiye’s ASRIAD.

CAFA’s programmes promote processing African raw materials into finished apparel locally. ‘Own What We Create’ addresses intellectual property protection, while the CAFA Certified Seal and CAFA Heritage Mark support standards and authenticity. African Global Fashion Houses are currently being established across international markets.

The African Global Fashion Games will debut in Nigeria in 2028, bringing designers together under national colours. Held every three years, the Games will alternate between African and international hosts, combining competition with investor meetings, deal signings and policy discussions. Its Instant Craft event gives competing nations identical materials and a fixed clock, placing skill at the centre of the contest.

CAFA is inviting creatives, fashion designers, artisans, diplomats, economists, investors and policymakers to its CANEX stand. Visitors can explore the roadmap, ask questions and identify opportunities to contribute through design, manufacturing, investment, research, trade and international partnerships. The stand will be open daily from November 5 to 8.

CAFA calls on the African Union to adopt the Charter, and governments to sign the Games Register and form national teams.

“Fashion has always told the world who Africa is. Now Africa will decide what fashion pays,” Aare Prof. Lai Labode said.

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