Photo: The Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, Lagos
By Oghenekevwe Kofi
Every November, Lagos becomes more than a bustling megacity. It transforms into the beating heart of Africa’s creative spirit, where cinema, theatre, art, and technology converge to celebrate storytelling in all its forms. This year, three landmark festivals—the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), the Lagos International Theatre Festival (LITF), and the Lagos Fringe Festival—return with fresh themes, global collaborations, and expanded programs that reinforce the city’s reputation as a cultural capital.
AFRIFF 2025: Stories that travel beyond borders
The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) has grown into one of the continent’s most respected film events. Founded in 2010 by Chioma Ude, the festival, which debuted in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, continues to provide a platform for African filmmakers to showcase their work, engage with global industry professionals, and participate in training that builds the next generation of storytellers.
The 2025 edition, taking place from November 2 to 8, adopts the theme “Indigenous to Global: Cultural Wealth to Global Prosperity.” It reflects AFRIFF’s renewed focus on transforming Africa’s local stories into globally competitive narratives. The festival’s structure remains multifaceted, blending screenings with business and learning opportunities through its signature Film and Content Market (AFCM), which runs from November 3 to 6.
This year’s AFRIFF features over 50 films spanning features, documentaries, and shorts, alongside panel discussions, master classes, and country showcases. Selected works like Emmanuel Adejo’s Isekonu highlight the growing diversity in African cinema. For filmmakers, AFRIFF 2025 is more than an exhibition space; it is a gateway to distribution, networking, and international recognition.
As Ude often emphasizes, AFRIFF’s mission goes beyond entertainment. It is an industry-building platform designed to connect investors, distributors, and producers. For many in the film ecosystem, the festival represents an annual opportunity to learn, collaborate, and move African content from idea to market.
LITF 2025: The Stage Comes Alive
While AFRIFF captures the power of the moving image, the Lagos International Theatre Festival (LITF) keeps the art of live performance thriving. Founded and convened by Bolanle Austen-Peters, one of Nigeria’s foremost theatre producers and cultural entrepreneurs, LITF has become a signature platform for showcasing Africa’s theatrical excellence.
The 2025 edition, set for November 10 to 16 at the Muson Centre and other performance venues across Lagos, promises a week of vibrant storytelling, global collaboration, and artistic exchange. Billed as “Africa’s Biggest International Theatre Festival,” LITF 2025 will feature 20 productions across five stages, encompassing drama, dance, and experimental performances.
The festival’s impact lies in its ability to bridge continents through performance. Past editions have included partnerships with the British Council and the U.S. Embassy, fostering dialogue between Nigerian and international artists. This year continues that tradition, with curated masterclasses and industry panels focused on performance innovation, touring, and creative sustainability.
For the theatre community, LITF remains a space to celebrate excellence while addressing challenges such as funding, infrastructure, and audience development. Beyond the stage, it is a vibrant networking arena where directors, producers, and actors meet to exchange ideas and form collaborations that extend long after the festival week.
Lagos Fringe 2025: The meeting point of art, tech, experience
Rounding off Lagos’ creative season is the Lagos Fringe Festival, taking place from November 18 to 23 at Freedom Park, Lagos Island. The Fringe represents the most experimental and inclusive of the three festivals, merging theatre, music, dance, visual arts, and creative technology into one open-access platform.
Now in its 8th edition, the 2025 festival carries the theme “Hybrid Identities: Merging Boundaries.” True to its name, it celebrates creative intersections—where performance meets innovation, and art meets entrepreneurship. Organized by PawStudios Africa, Lagos Fringe has carved out a niche as a space for emerging artists, independent creators, and creative entrepreneurs to showcase their work and connect directly with audiences.
The festival’s Fringe Market remains a key highlight. It serves as a marketplace for artisans, designers, food innovators, and wellness brands, blending commerce with creativity in a vibrant communal space. Attendance is free but requires registration, reinforcing the festival’s ethos of accessibility and inclusion.
Lagos Fringe is also known for its hands-on workshops in creative technology, performance art, and storytelling. The result is a dynamic environment where art is not confined to traditional formats. Whether it is an immersive installation, a pop-up performance, or an interactive workshop, the festival encourages risk-taking and experimentation that push the boundaries of how art is experienced in the city.
Lagos: The beating heart of African creativity
Taken together, AFRIFF, LITF, and Lagos Fringe offer a panoramic view of the continent’s creative energy. They represent three different yet complementary dimensions of the arts: film and content, live performance, and multidisciplinary innovation.
November 2025 is shaping up to be Lagos’ most culturally charged month yet. With each festival strategically spaced through the month, the city becomes a living stage where stories unfold not only in cinemas and theatres but also on streets and digital screens.
For international visitors, this convergence offers a rare opportunity to witness Africa’s creative evolution in real time. For local artists, it is a chance to engage audiences, attract collaborators, and find new markets. The three festivals together mirror Nigeria’s growing influence in the global creative economy—a sector that increasingly contributes to both GDP and national identity.
More than just events, these festivals embody Lagos’ identity as a city of stories, rhythm, and reinvention. They remind the world that creativity is not only thriving in Africa but setting the pace for global cultural conversations.
