4.10.2026
The European Union (EU) is developing new projects and funding opportunities to support cultural events and artistes across Nigeria and Africa.
The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, disclosed this at the maiden Lagos Contemporary Circus Festival on Saturday in Lagos.
The festival, organised by the National Theatre with EU sponsorship, was held at the National Theatre with the theme, ‘Circus in Motion’.
Mignot said the world was experiencing troubled times, making increased support for culture and artists necessary.
“We need more cultural action, not less. We need more funding for culture, for the arts, for the creative economy,” he said.
He said the festival demonstrated the value of cultural partnerships, describing performances by Nigerian, Ethiopian, Ivorian and Swiss artists as international, colourful and energetic.
“It’s really very international, colourful, full of energy and very modern, very contemporary,” Mignot said.
The envoy said the EU had supported the recent Kano Creative Summit organised by the National Theatre.
He added that the EU was also partnering with film festivals across the country and would support the Lagos Biennial of Contemporary Art in November.
Mignot said the EU was developing projects aimed at empowering artists across Africa and promoting greater collaboration between European and African creatives.
He said the EU wanted to fund more co-creations through training, workshops and other forms of artistic exchange.
“What we hope is to create a dynamic because beyond these shows, there are co-creations, trainings, workshops between all these artists,” he said.
The Ethiopia-Nigeria co-creation featured dancers, gymnasts, acrobats and a contortionist, whose performances drew screams of excitement from the audience.
Swiss performer and cyclist, Jessica Arpin, also engaged spectators during her performance at the festival.
Nigerian contortionist, Samuel Udoh, and Ivorian artistes performed using African costumes, props and sounds.
The audience remained engaged late into the night, watching the performances at the debut Lagos Contemporary Circus Festival. NAN