The traditional sound of the Korean Janggu drum will resonate across Lagos from August 20 to 22 as Janggu Festival 2026 brings together performers, cultural enthusiasts and music lovers in a celebration of artistic excellence and cultural exchange between Nigeria and the Republic of Korea.

Organised by Drumsview Concept and sponsored by the Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria (KCCN), the three-day festival marks more than a decade of promoting Korean traditional drumming in Nigeria while strengthening cultural ties between both countries.

The festival begins with workshops, masterclasses and refresher sessions for Janggu players at the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Artists Village, National Theatre, Iganmu, for participants from Surulere, Apapa and Ajegunle. Training will continue on August 21 at the Bariga Arts and Crafts Centre (BACC) for participants from Bariga, Akoka, the University of Lagos and Shomolu.

Activities will climax on August 22 at the J. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History with cultural performances, exhibitions and the Janggu Drumming Competition, regarded as the festival’s major highlight.

The competition will feature contestants in different categories, reflecting the growing popularity of Janggu performance in Nigeria.

The Best Child Janggu Player will receive N100,000, while the Best Adult Male and Best Adult Female Janggu Players will each win N200,000.

The winning group will receive N250,000, while the second and third-placed teams will receive N150,000 and N100,000 respectively. The competition will be judged by Faith Eki Eboigbe, Kenneth Uphopho and Prof. Délé A. Ṣónúbi.

The grand finale will also feature performances by Sights and Sounds de l’Afrique, founded by renowned percussionist Isioma Williams; Footprints of David Academy with an all-female Duma drum ensemble; the Guild of Theatre Arts Drummers (GOTHAD) performing an Ekwe Ensemble; Odidere Art of Africa presenting a Sakara Ensemble; and Jojo Bodybeats. A Drum Circle involving performers and members of the audience will also take place.

According to the organisers, the festival is the culmination of the #JangguWithPapa initiative led by Isioma Williams, popularly known as Papa. The initiative began after his training at Kyung Hee University and the National Theatre of Korea in Seoul in 2013 and has introduced hundreds of Nigerians to the techniques and performance traditions of the Korean Janggu through structured training, mentorship and public performances.

The organisers said the movement gained further momentum in 2016 when the Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria partnered Drumsview Concept to establish formal Janggu classes.

Creating one of Africa’s earliest sustained programmes dedicated to Korean traditional drumming. Since then, the instrument has become a symbol of friendship between Nigeria and the Republic of Korea while inspiring collaborations between Korean and Nigerian drumming traditions.

Speaking ahead of the festival, KCCN Director, Mr. Jeon Juho, thanked participants, partners and supporters, expressing hope that the inaugural Janggu Festival would become the first of many cultural celebrations that would further strengthen relations between both countries.

The organisers described Janggu Festival 2026 as more than a celebration of drumming, saying it demonstrates how cultural exchange can preserve heritage, empower young people, promote creativity and create opportunities for international collaboration. They also invited members of the public, schools, cultural organisations and music lovers to attend the grand finale on August 22 in Lagos.