Photo: L-R: Akshay Jain, Director, Art of Living Foundation (Nigeria); Dare Art Alade, Creative Director, Livespot360; Dr. Kafayat ‘Kaffy’ Shafau, Founder, Imagneto Dance Company, and Professor Pat Utomi, Founder, Centre for Values in Leadership at the press conference to announce Africa’s first ever Culture Festival by the Art of Living Foundation in Lagos.
LAGOS will from August 19 through 21st hosts the first African edition of the ‘Art of Living Foundation’, a global festival brand, which explores the theme, “Vibrant Africa: The Rising Rhythm.”
A statement from the organisers said, “the Festival aims to build a compassionate and harmonious society by bringing the people of the world together in celebration. Through song, dance, meditation, and dialogue, attendees will share and explore their rich cultural diversity, while honouring the underlying spirit that connects us all as one global family.”
Set to be hosted at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, the festival will also mark the 40th anniversary of the Art of Living Foundation, described as the world’s largest educational and humanitarian organisation, “with the single motive to create a stress-free and violence-free society through fostering individual well-being and societal development.”
At a press conference in Lagos during the week, founder of the festival, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankar, said, “Today in the world, where there is so much polarity, it is time to unite everybody. We know sports can unite. We know the economy can unite – as when it comes to business, everyone forgets their nationality and culture. Faith also unites, while the first and perhaps most important, is culture. Dance and music can also foster unity and that’s what the Culture Festival 2022 seeks to achieve.”
Gurudev added: “The Festival will be like an Olympics for artists; an Olympics for culture. Without music and dance, life at times could feel so dry. If we all work harmoniously, we can envisage a better world for the coming generation and live like we are all one family.”
Added the statement, “Leveraging local initiatives like ‘I Meditate Africa’ and ‘Voice of Africa’, Art of Living has reached over 2.3 million Africans and united 22 African countries through peace campaigns. The Foundation has been teaching Happiness and Youth Leadership Training Programs in Nigeria for more than 10 years, and has impacted thousands of people in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, Kaduna, Abuja, Enugu and Delta States. In partnership with the University of Lagos, the Foundation launched the Drug Free Nigeria campaign to create awareness about drug abuse and addiction among youths.
“Past editions of the Culture Festival have brought presidents, prime ministers, diplomats, dignitaries, spiritual leaders, social activists, artists, and people of all races, religions, and political stances together in the spirit of global unity and vibrant celebration.”
Admission to the Festival is by registration, and interested attendees are encouraged to visit www.artofliving.ng.
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About Art of Living: Operating in 156 countries, The Art of Living Foundation (AOLF) is a non-profit, educational and humanitarian organisation founded in 1981 by the humanitarian and spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankar. All of AOLF’s programs are inspired by Sri Sri’s philosophy of creating world peace through a stress-free and violence-free society. AOLF has touched over 400 million lives through numerous educational and self-development programs and tools that facilitate the elimination of stress and foster deep and profound inner peace, happiness and well-being for individuals.
About Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankar: A global humanitarian and a spiritual leader who has rekindled traditions of yoga and meditation that have helped millions achieve personal and social transformation by relieving stress and discovering inner peace in daily life, Gurudev was named one of the “Seven Most Powerful People in India,” by Forbes, he has been credited in bringing opposing parties together to facilitate meditation and peace talks in Colombia, Iraq, Cote d’Ivoire, and India. He is visiting Nigeria for the first time.
