SPAN Organises FAMFest in Lagos

Iyke Bede 

As part of this year’s ‘Cheering You On’ performing arts theme, the Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN) is preparing to host FAMFest, a two-day event celebrating Nigerian legends, diversity, family values, and inspiring the younger generation through the performing arts.

The family-friendly festival will make its debut outside the confines of SPAN, located on Bourdillon Road, Lagos, and will move to Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island.  According to Sarah Boulos, the founder of the creative platform, the program’s growth each year has led to the need for a larger venue.

Split into two separate event scopes, some of the highlights of the festival will include an enthralling dance production titled Legendary – a captivating one-hour dance show that celebrates contemporary legends in their various fields as they impact their communities. Legendary will be on stage on Saturday, October 28, 2023, with three show time slots. 

FallFest, a fun family day where families will be entertained with live music, delicious treats, and interactive games takes place on Sunday, October 29 2023. 

“We realise that a lot of our legends in Nigeria, and also some of them abroad, are not well known to our young people. They don’t interact with them. They don’t have the capacity to be interviewed by them. So throughout this year, starting from the festival, we’ll be doing online interviews with people that have a certain capacity, that have succeeded, and we’re going to connect them,” Boulos disclosed an aspect of the festival. 

Creative Director, SPAN, Agocha Davies further noted the significance of the festival, as it concerns the Legendary dance show, is to ignite lofty aspirations in young people. 

“We’re also focusing on the underdogs. People doing amazing things in the background. The dance production will highlight their journeys and their experiences. And also, it is a production that’s been created for young people to be able to learn from and be able to question their current state and see how they can forge further in their career in whatever space.”

Boulos also noted that all proceeds realised from the festival will be channelled into SPAN on the Road, an outreach workshop to mentor underprivileged children to develop their creative talents.