African Drums Festival, Ogun State

The African Drums Festival is an annual festival that takes place at the June 12 Cultural Center in Kuto, Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State every year in the month of April.

The maiden edition took place April 16, 2016. The festival lasts for 3 - 4 days and showcases various African Drums (including the tallest drum in Nigeria - 16 feet), drummers, dance troupes and singers. The opening ceremony of the maiden edition of the festival which lasted for four days, featured performances from Ara, the world renowned female talking drummer, late Hubert Ogunde Memorial Theatre Troupe, Ogun State Troupe, as well as other groups. I also had in attendance Ambassadors and High Commissioners from Benin, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, and Jamaica, among others.



The second edition had representatives of the Mayor of the city of Dallas, USA, Regina Hill, Lady Bernard Suarres from Cuba among other dignataries from Nigeria. The three-day event witnessed performances from over 50 cultural troupes, including troupes from five African countries as well as Cuba, Haiti and the United States of America (USA).

Cultural troupes that performed include Ekemini Cultural Troupe from Akwa Ibom State, Association of Kano State Troupes, Hubert Ogunde Cultural Troupe from Ogun State, Duro Ladipo Troupe, Shehu Troupe, Niger State, Oyo State Cultural Troupe and Ensemble Drums, Maliki Troupe of Borno State, Dawa Troupe from Plateau State, as well as troupes from Bayelsa, Osun, Katsina, Ondo, Edo, Lagos, Imo and Benue States.

The foreign troupes were, the Association of intersection Haiti, Association Toffondji of Togo, Leydis Bernal Suarez of Cuba, Faso Djarabi of Burkina Faso, La Campagnie N’tsamini, Afro Media, USA, Gwari troupe, Ghana, Nikki Spooner from the city of Dallas, USA.



Each edition has grown bigger with participation of more cultural troupes from within and outside Nigeria. The 3rd edition taking place April 19-21, 2018 is expecting expecting over 20 states in the federation, 70 private troupes and 14 foreign countries, including Haiti, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Benin, Senegal, Togo and others are expected to partake in this event. Also Grammy Award winning musician Angelique Kidjo will be performing.

It will also feature an endurance trek to Olumo Rock with the theme: ‘Walking for drum’.. The Moroccan National Television, would be on ground to cover the event.



African Drums Festival, Ogun State; http://africandrumfestival.com