There could not have been a more auspicious time than now to host the recent inaugural Goge Africa’s Cultural Dialogue and Diplomacy Series. Organised by Isaac Moses and Nneka Moses in partnership with the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), the event took place at the NIIA in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The conference, themed “Eyo, Culture and Soft Power: Driving Diplomacy, Integration and Economic Growth,” coincided with a period of dire multilateral crisis globally, rendering its focus highly relevant. Consequently, it attracted members of the diplomatic community, heads of federal and state government agencies, policymakers, leaders in the public and private sectors, stakeholders in the tourism, arts, and culture sectors, and academics. Diplomats from Brazil, China, Denmark, Germany, Britain, and Burkina Faso were in attendance. They acknowledged Goge Africa’s contributions to cultural diplomacy, a theme they believe is driving policies globally.
Discussions centred on the role of culture in diplomacy and international collaboration, the relevance of people-to-people relationships in peace building, economic prosperity, cultural exchange, and scientific and technological innovations worldwide.
Setting the tone, the Director General of NIIA, Prof. Eghosa Emmanuel Osaghae, noted that the world is rapidly globalising, with nations increasingly defined not only by economic or military strength but by their ability to project values, narratives, and cultural symbols that resonate beyond borders—the essence of soft power. Represented by Prof. Chinasa Ohiri, Prof. Osaghae stated that culture has emerged as a strategic resource through which nations, communities, and institutions articulate identity, build international partnerships, and exert influence beyond conventional political and economic instruments.
“The growing recognition of cultural diplomacy as a pillar of soft power underscores the transformative potential of heritage, traditions, and creative expressions in shaping narratives, strengthening intercultural dialogue, and advancing mutual understanding among peoples.
“As such, for Nigeria, a country richly endowed with diverse cultural traditions, festivals, and artistic expressions, the potential for cultural diplomacy is immense.
“The Eyo masquerade tradition of Lagos stands as a compelling example of this potential. Beyond its aesthetic and ceremonial significance, it embodies discipline, continuity, identity, and collective memory. It is a cultural expression that communicates meaning across generations and, when properly harnessed, across nations,” he added.
The duo of Isaac and Nneka Moses recalled that their journey began 25 years ago in Lagos, a state they acknowledged contributed immensely to their careers. According to Isaac, having visited more than 500 locations across the African continent and beyond, including producing over 500 documentaries, they discovered a gap that needed to be filled.
“But documentation, we learned, is not enough. Culture must be preserved, yes. But it must also be projected. It must enter the rooms where policy is made, where Trade is negotiated, where perception is shaped. It must be understood not only as heritage but as influence – as soft power, as economic value, as the language through which nations speak to one another,”
Isaac added.
For Nneka, the choice of ‘Eyo in Lagos’ was a payback to a state that gave them the opportunity to actualise their dreams, including an invitation by the Oba of Lagos to cover one of the Eyo Festivals—an experience she said they would forever cherish. She also affirmed her belief in soft power.
The Director General of CBAAC, Dr. Aisha Adamu Augie, stated that globally, cultural assets have become powerful instruments of diplomacy, tourism development, creative enterprise, and international cooperation. “For Africa, our heritage remains one of our greatest resources, offering opportunities to tell our own stories, amplify our voices, and foster meaningful partnerships across borders,” she noted.
Dr. Augie disclosed that CBAAC is targeting the participation of about 100 countries in activities marking the 50th anniversary of the historic Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC ’77) next year. She said the anniversary is part of efforts to strengthen cultural diplomacy and reconnect Africa with the global Black community. The event would serve as a platform to celebrate Africa’s shared cultural heritage while deepening international partnerships through arts and culture. Dr. Augie described FESTAC ’77 as one of Africa’s defining cultural moments, adding that CBAAC is determined to ensure its golden jubilee reflects its enduring relevance.
According to her, the planned celebration would bring together governments, cultural institutions, creatives, and members of the African diaspora to promote dialogue, collaboration, and cultural exchange. She assured that several countries she has contacted have pledged to attend.
The Director General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Mr. Ola Awakan, a panelist, said the creative economy and cultural tourism are mutually reinforcing sectors capable of driving sustainable growth, preserving heritage, and building competitive destinations.
“Nigeria, with its extraordinary cultural wealth, its 250 ethnic groups, its living festivals, its Nollywood, its fashion, its music, has everything it needs to lead this transformation on the continent. What is required now is not more evidence, but the will to act.”
His counterpart at the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Mr. Obi Asika, said Nigeria is blessed with enormous resources that should be marketed globally. “If Africa’s cultural IP captures just one per cent of the global market, that is worth $23 billion annually; at five per cent, $71 billion. The mathematics is not the obstacle. The obstacle is the mirror and what we have been taught not to see when we look into it,” he said. Mr. Asika disclosed that the federal government created a new Intellectual Property (IP) framework last year, which is good news for creators, creatives, and Startups. He said the framework concerns music, film, literary stories, and visual arts. “The IP framework was an inter-ministerial project across five ministries and it’s going into implementation and will be…” [text ends abruptly in source].
