LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) 鈥� Thousands of revelers flooded Nigeria’s Lagos for the annual Lagos Fanti Carnival, celebrating the Afro-Brazilian heritage of the 鈥淎guda鈥� or the formerly enslaved people who returned from Brazil in the 19th century.
The festival, usually celebrated during Eastertide in recent years, is one of West Africa鈥檚 most prominent cultural celebrations, similar to Brazil鈥檚 Rio Carnival, the world’s biggest party.
After reaching West Africa, many of the returnees settled in Lagos, building a life among the city鈥檚 Yoruba ethnic group. They retained some of the Brazilian and Portuguese cultures and infused them into music, food, architecture, religion and lifestyle, giving life to the Fanti carnival.
鈥淚f you know the history of Lagos, you will understand how this carnival is important to the city and its history,” said Ademola Oduyebo, one of the carnival revelers, on Monday. 鈥淚t is important that we preserve this so for our children.鈥�
This year鈥檚 theme, 鈥淎 Homecoming of Heritage,鈥� saw processions from across Lagos converging at the Tafawa Balewa Square, featuring communities of descendants of formerly enslaved people of different age groups.
Many wore colorful costumes, including the attendees, as they danced their way to the city center, while others rode horses. All displayed elements of their Brazilian history and identity.
Artists and performers from across Africa wore elaborate outfits, with beads and feathers, while others had their bodies covered in colorful paint, swaying along Indigenous Yoruba rhythms.
One of the revelers, Glamour Sandra, said she always looked forward to being at both the Fanti festival and Brazil鈥檚 Rio Carnival.
鈥淚 love the energy, the artistic splendor that they create,鈥� she said of the Fanti festival.
Various community associations that represent the original Aguda settlements are heavily featured in the annual festival and help organize it.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
