Enugu is set to experience a major economic and cultural boost as the 2025 New Yam Music Festival (NYMF) brings together thousands of visitors, investors, and cultural enthusiasts from across the world this December.

Organisers of the festival announced that the grand finale will hold on December 14 and 15 at the Amadeo Event Centre, positioning Enugu as a growing hub for culture-driven tourism and creative industry investment.

In a statement on Monday, the organisers said the event—supported by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and the Enugu State Ministries of Culture, Tourism and Agriculture—is not merely a cultural celebration but a catalyst for local economic growth, hospitality development, and global creative exchange.

The festival, which celebrates the end of the Igbo farming season and the start of new harvests, is projected to attract thousands of tourists, cultural entrepreneurs, and business leaders from Nigeria and the diaspora. With attendees expected from countries such as the United Kingdom, China, Portugal, and Qatar—where the festival has previously toured—the event is set to generate significant revenue for the local economy through hotel bookings, transport, crafts, and food sales.

According to Mr Big Sea, co-founder of the festival and key stakeholder in Heritage and Culture, the parent company of NYMF, “The festival was conceived as more than a celebration; it is an economic and cultural movement that reconnects people to their roots while opening doors for global engagement in African culture.”

Beyond music and dance, the 2025 edition will spotlight agricultural innovation, creative enterprise, and business partnerships, showcasing the economic potential embedded in Nigeria’s cultural and farming heritage. The festival’s highlight events will include a yam pyramid exhibition, indigenous art markets, masquerade displays, and performances by top Igbo artists blending traditional rhythms with contemporary sound.

Last year’s edition drew over 3,000 participants, including government officials, royal fathers, celebrities, and cultural icons. Organisers project a larger turnout this year, with Enugu’s hospitality and tourism sectors expected to record increased patronage during the period.

Ahead of the Enugu grand finale, the festival will host exclusive showcases in Lagos, aimed at connecting investors, business icons, and cultural leaders to opportunities within Nigeria’s growing creative economy.

With its blend of agriculture, art, and enterprise, the New Yam Music Festival 2025 seeks to strengthen cultural diplomacy, foster creative industry growth, and position Enugu as a gateway to global cultural tourism and economic expansion.