Lagos Partners British Council to Promote Nigerian Music Globally
The Lagos State Government has restated its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s music industry and empowering young creatives through global partnerships.
Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, gave this assurance during a courtesy visit by the Head of Arts and Culture, British Council Nigeria, Mr. Kesiena Harry, at her office in Alausa on Thursday.
Benson-Awoyinka highlighted challenges facing the sector, including poor royalty collection, declining streaming revenues, and limited international structures for Nigerian music. She called for the adoption of global best practices to ensure fairness, transparency, and sustainability, noting that many veteran musicians still earn little or nothing in royalties.
She revealed that Lagos State is already engaging international stakeholders such as Empire Music and Mr. Mathew Knowles, father of global superstar Beyoncé, through projects like Lost in Africa, aimed at nurturing emerging talents and spotlighting African music on global platforms.
According to her, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has supported over 200 young Lagos musicians, providing platforms to showcase their work, attract record deals, and build global visibility. She added that beyond talent development, the state invested ₦8.4 billion in sponsorships in 2024, positioning Lagos creatives as cultural ambassadors locally and abroad.
The Commissioner further announced that the popular Detty December festival, #GreaterLagosFest, will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year with a special edition tagged Hall of Fame.
In his remarks, Mr. Harry reaffirmed the British Council’s readiness to deepen its partnership with Lagos through structured collaborations, study tours, and international exchange programmes. He identified weak Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) as a barrier to effective royalty distribution and proposed a joint case study with Lagos State to reform the system.
Harry disclosed that the Music Connects Africa programme, launching in 2026, will focus on cultural exchange, artist residencies, and specialised training. He added that while film currently remains a priority through the Film Lab Africa initiative, music will soon take centre stage under Lagos State’s creative economy agenda.
He explained that the British Council’s Big Five initiative — covering fashion, music, film, visual arts, and literature — will create cross-sector opportunities, expand social inclusion, and connect Nigerian creatives to global platforms.
Harry further revealed that the Council’s Creative Economy programme will be extended to five Nigerian cities and London, linking local talents to global networks while advancing youth empowerment, women’s inclusion, and the integration of science and technology into the arts.
