UNILAG Marks 20 Years of Afro-Caribbean Carnival With Dazzling Celebration

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) came alive on Thursday, August 14, 2025, as the Afro-Caribbean Carnival marked its 20th anniversary with a breathtaking showcase of culture, music, and artistry at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Sports Centre.

This year’s milestone edition, hosted under the newly elevated Faculty of Creative Arts, featured performances representing Brazil, Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, and Africa (Nigeria, Tanzania, Egypt, and South Africa). The event blended entertainment with scholarship, as it was staged by 300-level Theatre Arts students for their final assessment in THA 344 under the coordination of Dr. Cornelius Onyekaba, whose dedication has shaped the carnival’s evolution since its inception in 2005.

When the scores were tallied, Team Bahamas emerged overall winner with 219 points, edging Team Africa in second place with 198 points and Trinidad & Tobago in third with 197 points. Their performance — rich in storytelling, vibrant costuming, and spirited choreography — captivated judges and spectators alike. Bahamas also dominated the Royalty category, producing both the King and Queen of the Carnival for a second consecutive edition. Mr. Seun Shogbade and Miss Kofo Wuraola Ayanda were crowned amidst roaring applause.

Carnival Highlights and Awards

The celebration opened with a grand campus parade, where Trinidad & Tobago claimed the Best Parade Award, Team Africa won Best Roadmap, and Team Bahamas earned Best All-Round in addition to their overall victory.

Inside the Sports Centre, the audience was treated to a spectacular “Carnival Tour” — a journey through samba-filled Brazil, the breezy Bahamas, steel pan rhythms of Trinidad & Tobago, London’s Notting Hill, the jazz spirit of New Orleans, and deep-rooted African traditions. The students fully embodied their chosen cultures through music, dance, masquerades, chants, and rituals, creating a performance both theatrical and scholarly.

Honouring Legacy and Leadership

In his welcome address, Dean of the Faculty of Creative Arts, Professor Stephen Olu-Ibukun Olusoji, reflected on the carnival’s transformation from a small cultural exercise initiated by the late Dr. Bode Osanyin into a continental spectacle. He praised the dedication of Dr. Cornelius Onyekaba, calling him “the heartbeat of the festival,” adding that his consistency and innovation ensure that students do not just perform but deeply understand the heritage they represent.

Dr. Onyekaba, in his address, described the carnival as “scholarship in motion.” He expressed gratitude to the faculty, sponsors, and alumni, with special recognition for Mrs. Iyadunni Cole, the festival’s inaugural Queen, who has remained a steadfast supporter over the years. He emphasized that each edition requires rigorous study and preparation, affirming that the event is about preserving cultural legacies as much as it is about performance.

Distinguished alumni, faculty, and supporters, including Mrs. Cole and Professor Olusoji, were honoured with medals of recognition for their contributions to the carnival’s growth over two decades.

A Legacy Renewed

As the drums quieted and the lights dimmed, the 20th Afro-Caribbean Carnival was hailed not just as an anniversary, but as a renewal of spirit. It reaffirmed UNILAG’s place as a hub of cultural preservation, creativity, and academic excellence.

With the unwavering leadership of Professor Olusoji, the vision of Dr. Onyekaba, and the talent of UNILAG’s students, the carnival’s future promises an even greater fusion of heritage, scholarship, and artistic brilliance.