Lagos Fringe Festival 2024: Empowering Creatives, Nurturing New Voices

Yinka Olatunbosun

Lagos Fringe is returning for its seventh edition. An initiative of Pawstudios Africa, this multidisciplinary arts festival will run from November 19 to 24, 2024. This year’s festival explores the intersection of technology and creativity, positioning itself as a key incubator for artistic innovation in Nigeria and beyond.

With over 150 performances and exhibitions spread across 14 venues, Lagos Fringe 2024 is set to offer an unforgettable experience, with a potpourri of theatre, music, dance, visual arts, film screenings, and interactive workshops. On the heels of the success of last year’s collaborations with Soho Playhouse New York and the Brighton Fringe UK, Lagos Fringe 2024 promises a more dynamic program with international partnerships and collaborations from Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the United Kingdom, further expanding its global reach.

The Festival Director, Kenneth Uphopho shared his vision for this year’s festival: “We are proud to continue growing Lagos Fringe as a platform for creative incubation and innovation. Our workshops, mentorship sessions, and international partnerships are aimed at building lasting connections and developing new voices in the African creative ecosystem.”

This year, the festival will host a range of special programs that emphasize professional development, collaboration, and mentorship for creatives of all levels. One of them is GiveMeTha’MoneySeries which is a series of workshops focused on monetising creative content, including sessions on grant writing, elevator pitching, and navigating contracts.

Another section of the festival tagged ‘Women in the Arts Initiative’ empowers female creatives through equitable storytelling workshops and grant-funded productions, including the Equitable Gender Storytelling Workshop.

Young Critics and Reviewers Program is another segment designed to nurture the next generation of art critics, this program offers peer-to-peer mentorship and guidance on monetising review content.

The fringe also introduced ‘AI Tools Workshop’ which is an interactive workshop exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming the creative process.

A key highlight of Lagos Fringe 2024 is the Festival Gathering, a hybrid program presented in collaboration with the British Council. This initiative provides African arts and culture leaders with practical skills in festival management, focusing on sustainability, funding, and festival programming. The Festival Management Residency kicked off virtually in September 2024, drawing participation from over 50 festival managers from across Africa and Europe, including countries like Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom.

Tope Sanni, Head of Operations at Pawstudios Africa, highlighted the importance of this program: “The Festival Gathering is a groundbreaking initiative that equips African festival managers with the tools to create impactful, sustainable events that resonate globally.”

The festival will also feature numerous fun and engaging events for participants and festival-goers alike: Y2K Party & Participants’ Party which is a nostalgic throwback party filled with music, dance, and exciting surprises;
rave/DJ Battle featuring a high-energy DJ competition where the audience can vote for their favorite DJ, with prizes up for grabs.

Others include ‘Fringe After Dark’ which is a late-night gathering that brings together performers and attendees for an unforgettable night of entertainment.

Also, ‘Creative Hustle: The Filmmaker’s Guide to Global Audience’ which is dedicated to filmmakers looking to break into global markets, offering tips on international distribution and audience engagement.

Participants at the Lagos Fringe can also compete for exciting cash prizes, festival awards, and exclusive mentorship opportunities.

This year, the festival will be held in collaboration with Women in the Arts Festival, Freedom Park, British Council, PACE, Temple Productions, Abuja Fringe, Total Consult & TheatreNaija.