Carnival week schedule
Event Overview
The Yorùbá World Carnival is an annual global festival held in Lagos, Nigeria, each year during the iconic Detty December season. A vibrant showcase of Yoruba culture, enterprise, and innovation, the carnival merges street parades, economic summits, and educational exchange. It draws Yoruba descendants and friends from across Nigeria, the Americas, the Caribbean, and Europe.
Structured in the spirit of the Brazilian Carnival, the festival includes samba-style Yoruba parades, global concerts, real estate and trade expos, STEM and tech showcases, and cultural exhibitions. It is organized by the Center for African Citizenship and Economy (CACE) in partnership with the U.S. Ambassador to the African Union and supported by Nigerian federal and state governments, international cultural bodies, and the private sector.
Carnival Objectives
- Reimagine Yoruba heritage through a dynamic global festival format
- Foster diaspora investment, trade, tourism, and innovation through culturally immersive experiences
- Position Lagos as the annual epicenter of Afro-global cultural diplomacy and development
- Stimulate sustainable growth in key sectors: real estate, creative economy, education, and STEM
- Celebrate Detty December with a structured anchor event that enriches local and diaspora participation
DAY 1 – GRAND OPENING: GLOBAL YORÙBÁ PARADE
Sector Impact: Tourism, Fashion, Media, Security Services
- Mass procession with costumed troupes from Nigeria, Cuba, Brazil, U.S.
- Yoruba kings and queens lead the opening march through Lagos Island
- Drone light show and fireworks ceremony
- Media syndication and global streaming launch
- Positioned as Detty December’s flagship kickoff event
DAY 2 – FESTIVAL OF HERITAGE & MARKETPLACE OF CULTURE
Sector Impact: Arts & Crafts, Food & Beverage, Textile & Design
- Carnival-style street festival showcasing indigenous dances, oriki, masquerades
- Yoruba food and clothing market with diaspora participation
- Cultural runway featuring Sango, Osun, and Afro-Brazilian fusion fashion
DAY 3 – DIASPORA HOMECOMING, TRADE & REAL ESTATE FORUM
Sector Impact: Real Estate, Trade, Finance, Development Banking
- Welcome ceremony for diaspora returnees with honorary Yoruba naming rites
- Investment sessions on real estate, SME funds, and trade corridors
- Launch of Yoruba Diaspora Investment Exchange (YoDIX)
- Trade & Real Estate Pavilion with properties and projects on display
DAY 4 – DIGITAL YORUBA: TECH, STEM & FUTURE CITIES EXPO
Sector Impact: Creative Industry, Tech Innovation, Education, Urban Planning
- Interactive film screenings, gaming lounges, animation showcases
- Tech booths with AI demos, blockchain artisanship, fintech ideas
- University delegation panel on educational exchange and digital research
- Smart Yoruba Cities panel: Ibadan, Abeokuta, Lagos as innovation hubs
DAY 5 – WOMEN'S DAY: OṢUN POWER & ENTERPRISE
Sector Impact: Gender Equity, Entrepreneurship, Health & Education
- Parade of Yoruba Women Leaders across generations
- Wellness and maternal health pop-ups
- Economic empowerment workshops for young female entrepreneurs
DAY 6 – CARNIVAL OF FAITH: ORÍ, IFÁ & INTERFAITH UNITY
Sector Impact: Religious Diplomacy, Pilgrimage, Cultural Tourism
- Ancestral remembrance night with libation, song, and prayer
- Dialogue on the Yoruba spiritual legacy in Santería, Candomblé, Ifá
- Ecumenical service bringing together Muslims, Christians, and Ifá priests
DAY 7 – PAN-AFRO ENTERTAINMENT NIGHT: SOUNDS OF THE DIASPORA
Sector Impact: Music, Dance, Live Production, Broadcasting
- Afrobeats, Amapiano, Samba, Rumba fusion concert
- Features Burna Boy, Yemi Alade, Carlinhos Brown, Yoruba jazz orchestra
- Live stage aired in Times Square and Rio de Janeiro via satellite
DAY 8 – GRAND CLOSING: CARNIVAL GALA & POLICY SUMMIT
Sector Impact: Governance, Trade, Cultural Diplomacy
- Closing float parade with national and diaspora flags
- Awards Gala: Yoruba World Impact Honors
- Adoption of the Yoruba Diaspora Economic Charter
- Formal handoff to Lagos for next year’s Yorùbá World Carnival
Economic Impact
The Yorùbá World Carnival promotes growth in:
- Tourism & Hospitality
- Creative Industries
- STEM & Technology
- Real Estate
- Food & Agribusiness
- Education & Exchange
- Diaspora Finance & Investment
- Retail & Afrocentric Trade