Seki Kulture and Culture Money Africa have unveiled plans for a cultural diplomacy initiative targeting 900 festivals across nine Niger Delta states.
Known as SEKI-plomacy, the proposed programme is designed to promote the region’s cultural heritage, connect communities with international audiences and create opportunities in the creative economy.
The programme will cover Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers states.
The organisers stressed that the 900 festivals are a long-term target, not events that have already been organised or scheduled. The programme is expected to be developed in phases, with communities, cultural custodians, artists, businesses and other stakeholders involved.
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Culture As A Tool For Global Connection
According to the organisers, the initiative will draw inspiration from the SEKI–US–LACMA performance and combine music, dance, theatre, storytelling and heritage displays with creative marketplaces, tourism and cultural exchange.
Each state could host up to 100 festivals over the life of the programme, depending on local priorities and the capacity of participating communities.
The festivals are expected to reflect the identities of their host communities, with activities potentially covering indigenous languages, food, fashion, visual arts, oral history and traditional water-based practices.
Chief Executive Officer of Seki Kulture, Yibo Koko, said the initiative would provide an opportunity for people around the world to experience the Niger Delta through its culture.
“Performance allows people to encounter the Niger Delta through its voices, rhythms and stories,” Koko said.
He added that the programme would involve cultural custodians, artists and young people in developing and delivering the festivals.
Creating Economic Opportunities
The organisers said SEKI-plomacy would also create opportunities for artists, creatives, cultural businesses and other service providers.
The proposed programme targets 900 cultural marketplaces or enterprise showcases and engagement with about 9,000 creative and cultural enterprises over time.
It also proposes about 9,000 paid creative and production opportunities, based on an indicative average of 10 opportunities per festival.
The organisers clarified that these are proposed targets and not results already achieved. They said feasibility studies and pilot festivals would help determine the programme’s actual scale and impact.
Preserving Heritage And Supporting Communities
CEO of Culture Money Africa, Victor Agih, said cultural exchange could create greater value when communities are able to translate cultural visibility into income, business opportunities and lasting partnerships.
The initiative is also expected to support youth skills development, womenled businesses, heritage documentation, responsible tourism and social cohesion.
The organisers said community participation would be central to the programme, particularly in documenting and presenting traditional knowledge and cultural practices.
They also highlighted the importance of consent, proper attribution and fair compensation when cultural knowledge or creative works are used.
First Phase To Focus On Mapping And Pilots
The first phase of SEKI-plomacy is expected to focus on mapping cultural assets, consulting host communities, designing festivals and delivering pilot events.
Lessons from the pilots will guide decisions on financing, tourism planning, enterprise support and possible expansion across the nine states.
Seki Kulture and Culture Money Africa are inviting traditional institutions, artists, cultural organisations, governments, universities, tourism operators, businesses, investors, development partners and diaspora networks to contribute to the development of the programme.
The organisers said the broader goal is to build a sustainable platform that takes Niger Delta culture to wider audiences while creating opportunities for creative enterprise, employment and community-led development.
