UNILAG Hosts Africaribbean Carnival 2024
The UNILAG Africaribbean Carnival 2024, held on July 18, showcased vibrant cultural performances from Caribbean countries and Nigeria.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) came alive on Thursday, July 18, 2024, with the exuberant Africaribbean Carnival, a festival showcasing the rich cultural heritage of six Caribbean countries and Nigeria. The event, organized by the Department of Creative Arts, marked a significant milestone as the department transitions into a full-fledged faculty.
The festival kicked off with a colorful roadshow featuring students representing the Bahamas, Brazil, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, and Jamaica, alongside Lagos State University students showcasing Nigeria. The procession paraded through key university routes, creating a vibrant carnival atmosphere as it made its way to the UNILAG Sports Complex.
At the Sports Complex, attendees enjoyed a series of captivating performances. Professor Stephen Olusoji, Head of the Creative Arts Department, dedicated the 2024 Africaribbean Festival to celebrating the department’s achievements and its transition into a faculty. He praised the students and faculty for their dedication, highlighting the festival’s role in UNILAG’s cultural and academic milestones.
The festival featured displays of arts, cuisine, costumes, and cultural elements from the represented countries. Each team presented a Mass Awareness Show (MAS) themed “Keeping the Earth Green,” addressing critical environmental issues such as deforestation, plastic waste management, and emission control. The MAS performance underscored the festival’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
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The event also recognized the contributions of teaching and non-teaching staff with plaques acknowledging their role in the department's growth. Following impressive performances, Team Brazil emerged as the winner of the 2024 Africaribbean Festival, succeeding Team Bahamas, which had won the previous year.
Initiated in 2005 by Dr. Cornel Best-Onyekaba, the Africaribbean Carnival has become a key event at UNILAG, adopted by the University’s Governing Council and Senate in 2012 to celebrate the university’s Golden Jubilee. The carnival continues to highlight the diversity of Africaribbean cultures while promoting environmental awareness and academic excellence.
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