A day at the Embassy of Brazil: Festivals, Podcasts and much more!

Early September 2023 saw the Brazilian Government opening its doors to Abuja by joining forces with two festivals to celebrate culture.

The first was the I BRAS9JA festival with the theme “unity in diversity” and the second was Abuja Literary & Art festival (Alitfest) for a Book & Art Fair.

Simultaneously they hosted a live podcast listening session, a collaborative effort with ‘the young God’ pod. The theme; Abuja to the world: Culture, Class & Creativity.

The live session was of conversations between Rodney Omeokachie (podcast host), Jacqueline Suowari(visual artist) & Tomi Obanure(rapper) which focused on the creative space in Abuja, some of the key challenges of creatives and how competitiveness and ambition can be positive to the cultural landscape and improve the quality from this region.

The final add-on was the Special Art Exhibition; The Art of Yoruba Spirituality (A Pantheon of ‘Orishas’ in Nigerian & Brazilian Cultures).

This exhibition was curated in collaboration with the Afro-Brasilian Museum of Bahia, Professor Marcelo Cunha, Priestess “Marta de Sango” and the Orisun Art Source.

Femi Coker (A curator at the Orisun Gallery) provided in detail the cultural significance of ancestral worship in Yoruba traditions and the difference which exists between this practice and deity based spirituality.

Inside the embassy compound was filled with Tofu vendors, local artisans, vintage items, textiles and grills.

Attendees could wander from stall to stall, interacting with different vendors after which they could progress into the main building.

The walls of its corridors contained ancient maps and travel routes which make up present day Brazil. They led to halls, the left wing housed exhibitions and the right conferences.

As such the exhibition and podcast happened opposite each other, with the Alitfest fair just outside, this provided an array of options to attendees.

This was a rare glimpse into the cultural powerhouse located at the Diplomatic drive in Abuja.

It was a rich blend of culture, which fleshed out the Afro-Brasilian strong ties.

Yonki here provides you with a loose assemblage from the Brazilian Embassy this September.

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