The Oyo State Government has inaugurated a ten-man organising committee ahead of the 2024 World Sango Festival, an annual festival held in Oyo Town.
According to the Voice of Nigeria, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in the state, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, inaugurated the committee on Tuesday.
Olatubosun urged the committee to show respect to the memory of the founder of Sango promotion, Duro Ladipo, by including his family members in the planning process.
He also emphasised the importance of attracting an international audience by ensuring the festival meets international standards and counselled the committee to accord great respect to the Sango worshippers they will be interacting with and respect for their culture.
The committee, which comprises stakeholders and officials of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, is headed by the General Manager of the Cultural Center, Ibadan, Mrs Olayinka Adedeji, and co-chaired by Dr Gomez.
The commissioner tasked the committee with securing sponsorships, promoting the festival locally and within UNESCO member countries, finding a safe and appropriate venue, and identifying cost-effective solutions that will enhance the festival’s value.
The next Sango Festival in Oyo Town, which will be a week-long event, will be held in August 2024 and is expected to attract over 15,000 local and international tourists.
Some of the activities to be carried out during the festival include a symposium with a distinguished speaker, various Sango performances, entertainment and parades.
