Lagos Seafood Festival
Nigerian food festivals are elaborate walk-around events featuring the creative display of various cuisines. They are cultural expressions of our indigenous reserve and a showcase of the rich agricultural traditions in Nigeria. On today’s Saturday Small Chops, we celebrate the Lagos Seafood Festival.
The Lagos Seafood Festival is a highly anticipated annual event, usually preceded by an exciting countdown by tourists and typical Eko (Lagos) residents. The festival marks the end of a fruitful year and ushers in a new one. The event welcomes over 3000 participants yearly, including Lagos State officials, tourists, stakeholders in the aquaculture value chain, local fishermen, marketers, vendors and exporters.
Read Also: The Nkwa Umu Agbogho (Maiden Dance)
The festival is aimed at promoting seafood cultivation, local fish production and to enable investment opportunities in aquaculture. The first-ever Lagos Seafood Festival was launched by the Former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola in 2012 to showcase the abundance of the state as well as entrepreneurship, hard work and resourcefulness of residents around the coastal areas. The festival is usually hosted by Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority.
Lagos Seafood Festival unlocks the treasure box of 180 kilometers of the Atlantic water in Lagos. The festival further celebrates the indigenous people around coastal areas like Ibeju-Lekki, Epe, Eti Osa and Badagry, who have through their profession depended on the natural resources provided by the water.
During the festival, creatives leverage technology to showcase the best seafood cuisine to Africa and the world; from gigantic fishes to crabs, smoked/dried fish, tiger prawns and rare breeds like the goldfish. The festival usually features exhibitions of creatively made seafood delicacies. The event venue is expectedly filled with seafood lovers enjoying the rare scenery whilst eating foods prepared on the spot. Beyond the exhibition of well-prepared seafood, the event is a great opportunity for participants, exhibitors and visitors to network and expand the reach of their businesses. The rich seafood diversity of the state is projected through the display of fresh, processed and enticing seafood delicacies by exhibitors.
At the event, fishermen take their stands to display fresh fish, smoked fish, shrimps and more to the interest of participants as sponsor brands champion several interesting performances to wow the audience. It also features shows like the pepper soup competition in which contestants could be awarded a cash prize or other consolation prizes. With a lot of seafood to feast on, drinks, music and interactions with guests, the Lagos Seafood Festival is unarguably one of the best in Africa.
Expectations are high as seafood lovers, tourists and culture enthusiasts anticipate this year’s event which is scheduled for the 13th of December at the Muri Okunola Park, Lagos State.
Have you ever attended the Lagos Seafood Festival? You are welcome to share with us.