Culturati tasks Aisha Buhari, others on culture appreciation

• As Aregbe Leads Africa International Music Festival

Africa’s largest cultural fusion, Culturati, has called on the First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, as well as wives of the 36 state governors to use their office to raise the bar of cultural appreciation in the country. 
   
The organisation also noted that the preservation of Africa’s rich culture demands a collective responsibility from all quarters, which he described as the “fundamental obligation of patriotic Africans.”

The Chief Executive Officer, Culturati, Aregbe Idris, said this in Lagos.

Aregbe urged them to spearhead cultural-oriented programmes that would effectively educate the younger generation on Africa’s rich cultural heritage and the gains of exploiting the business angle of our culture.”
 
Speaking on the benefits of promoting African culture, Aregbe said, “when we promote, identify and celebrate different cultures, it simply means that we appreciate the values rooted in that culture, which in a way, promotes a lifestyle of unity that could, over time, become our defining principles.”

According to him, “we can only tap the rich benefits in our culture if we initiate programmes that can appeal to the young ones, support the creative industry, encourage Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) and grow a crop of young culture lovers that will propagate the ideals of our heritage to the outside world.”
 
He said, “Culturati is a platform for activating the business aspects of our culture, exploring its hidden potential, identifying talents, promoting entrepreneurship through culture appreciation and empowerment, among other rewarding endeavours.”
    
Aregbe, however, stated that the brand, Culturati, would continue to initiate activities aimed at ensuring that youths are left with a strong and valuable heritage to preserve.”

Meanwhile, Aregbe has been appointed the chairman of the Africa International Music Festival (AIM Festival).

The inauguration, which held at The Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, also doubled as an avenue for the appointment of committee members for the highly awaited 2019 edition of the AIM Festival.

According to Aregbe, the festival is a music platform where African culture can be consciously woven into the fabrics of the society, create rich African rhythms and platforms where Africans from different backgrounds can connect to form profitable collaborations and foster economic growth in the continent.

Speaking on the achievements of the pioneer of AIM Festival, Aregbe said, “it would be a grave error if I fail to appreciate Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, the continent builder. A man, who saw opportunities in a vast and idle land, transformed it into a getaway destination for those looking to savour the beauty of nature.

“As a culture reformer, I will always do my best to put Africa first and project our heritage to the world, because Africa is home to me and there is no better treasure than the ones rooted in our rich cultural diversity.”

The new chairman will lead the delegation for three years thereby dictating the tune of the AIM Festival.

On his part, Akinboboye stressed that the festival is one of the ways Africans can begin the process of catching up with other continents.

“Africans need to form collaborations in order to better the continent through music, cuisine, fashion and the likes.

“We created this movement and here we are, handing over to younger generation to build on the foundation that we laid and I am certain, beyond doubts, that the new chairman will do the same to keep the fire of our culture burning,” Akinboboye added.

American artiste, Akon; Italian Fashion Designer, Senait Mario; international PR and Marketing guru, Madonna Momoh; ICT Consultant, Funke Banigo; Reuben Abeeb; president and CEO, Legendary Gold Limited, Lexy Mojo-Eyes; ace music producer, Wole Oni; event consultant, Jennifer Odufuwa and Funke Adu are some of the members of the AIM festival 2019 organising committee.

A festival is a weeklong event scheduled to hold in December with musicians and different entertainers from 54 African countries, 13 from the Caribbean and three from South America respectively.