The African Craft Expo is organized by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) every year and this year wasn’t different. The African Craft Expo 2017 edition was announced as the 10th edition and was to be held between August 27th and September 17th in Abuja at the National Council for Arts and Culture permanent site known popularly as the Arts and Crafts Center. An arts and culture event with performances from both local and global talents promoting and celebrating African arts. The event held at the Art and craft village in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The African Craft Expo is a yearly event organized by the National Council for Arts and Culture to showcase art and culture of Africa in all its beauty and glory and each year efforts are made to make the next better than the last in aspects of exposure, participation, media coverage and so on. The director of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Director General Otunba Olusegun promised that the Expo will give a lift to tourism sector in Nigeria. No stone was left unturned during the preparations leading to this event as a whole lot of innovation and creativity were being put in towards making this event an ultimate success. Preparations for these series of events begun in August and a lot of time and effort were put into the planning of this event.
The 2017 theme for this year’s expo was “OUR CULTURE NIGERIA CRAFT: THE UNTAPPED TREASURE” this was said to be carefully selected to draw attention to the vast opportunities in the sector of art and craft and mobilize Nigerians to take advantage of the opportunities for empowerment, personal and economic development in Nigeria. The NCAC claimed the expo will reposition arts and culture sector in Africa as a continent and to strategically drive the process of economic diversification as 17 countries and 20 states in Nigeria took part in exhibitions.
The expo begun exhibitions formally on September 5th and ended on the 17th. For three weeks doors were open to all as showcasing art from all over the country and beyond. A new look was given to the arts and craft village. Information stands, mobile toilets, 24 hour security coverage and so on were put in place. Also free medical test and treatments for the public with a number of healthcare providers put up a service that benefited over 2,000 persons based on statics as people had clinical eye tests performed on them, dental care was also available.
Some of the participating African countries such as Cameroon, Senegal, Mali and Ghana mounted their stands at the African Arts and Crafts (AFAC) Expo displaying works of art for patronizing art enthusiasts who visited the stands purchasing throughout the days of the event. Also a number of entertainers, musical acts and cultural groups entertained the people with culinary tourism alongside as a wide variety of delicious dishes both local and foreign available for purchase. On the last day of the Expo a lively atmosphere likened to that of a festival or carnival which ushered a lot of people from different sectors coming out to interact and support the art scene. Governors and Chair persons of different states and organizations were present enjoying themselves making them look forward to another opportunity to express art and culture.
The African Craft Expo 2017 organized by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), was hugely successful as many testified to it, it served as a benchmark as both participators, tourists, media houses, art vendors and so on both locally and internationally benefited positively and left well satisfied looking to next year’s expo.
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