By Our Correspondent,Lagos
The Southern Kaduna People’s United Association (SOKAPU), Lagos Chapter, has announced November 13 and 14, 2026, for its annual cultural festival, an event aimed at celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Southern Kaduna, promoting unity, and strengthening community bonds among its people.
The two-day event will feature a beauty pageant, cultural displays, traditional music and dance, indigenous cuisine, art exhibitions, and other activities designed to showcase the cultural diversity and traditions of Southern Kaduna.
According to the festival’s organising committee, the celebration will provide an opportunity for members of the Southern Kaduna community in Lagos and other parts of the country to reconnect with their roots, promote their cultural identity, and share their heritage with a wider audience.
The event will commence on Friday, November 13, with the Mr. and Miss SOKAPU Lagos 2026 beauty pageant at the Nigerian Air Force Resettlement Centre, Oshodi, Lagos. The programme is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m.
The beauty pageant is expected to provide a platform for showcasing the confidence, talents, cultural awareness, and creativity of participating contestants, while celebrating the values and traditions of the Southern Kaduna people.
The grand finale of the festival, featuring cultural performances and the crowning of the 2026 festival queen, will take place on Saturday, November 14, at the Police Children’s School, Obalende, Lagos. The event is scheduled to commence at 10:00 a.m.
The grand finale is expected to attract members of the Southern Kaduna community, cultural enthusiasts, invited guests, corporate organisations, and other stakeholders interested in promoting Nigeria’s cultural diversity.
The organising committee explained that the festival was conceived as more than an entertainment programme, stressing that it would serve as a platform for preserving indigenous traditions, fostering peaceful coexistence, and encouraging social interaction among people from different backgrounds.
Through traditional music, dance, indigenous delicacies, art exhibitions, and other cultural presentations, the festival will highlight the distinctive customs and traditions of Southern Kaduna’s diverse communities.
The celebration is also expected to provide an avenue for younger generations to learn about their cultural roots and appreciate the importance of preserving indigenous languages, traditional values, and artistic expressions.
For SOKAPU Lagos, the annual festival represents an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood among members of the association, particularly those living outside their ancestral communities.
The organisers noted that cultural celebrations remain an important instrument for bringing people together, promoting mutual understanding, and ensuring that the heritage of indigenous communities is not lost to changing social trends and modernisation.
Beyond its cultural significance, the festival is expected to create opportunities for networking, collaboration, and community development by bringing together individuals, organisations, and potential partners who share an interest in cultural preservation and social advancement.
The association has therefore called on members of the public, corporate organisations, sponsors, and prospective partners to support and participate in the event to ensure its success.
The planning committee also encouraged interested individuals to obtain participation forms for the Mr. and Miss SOKAPU Lagos 2026 beauty pageant and join the activities lined up for the two-day celebration.
Speaking on behalf of the organising committee, the Chairman of the 2026 SOKAPU Lagos Cultural Festival Planning Committee, Steven Bissan, invited members of the public to identify with the initiative and contribute to the promotion of Southern Kaduna’s cultural heritage.
Bissan said the festival would offer an opportunity to celebrate the community’s identity, encourage unity, and showcase its cultural richness to a broader audience.
For enquiries, sponsorship opportunities, participation, and Mr. and Miss SOKAPU Lagos 2026 forms, interested persons can contact Steven Bissan on 08056596231; Dennis Philemon on 09153254074 or 09094027400; and Briskila on 07059537085.
With activities scheduled across two days, the 2026 SOKAPU Lagos Cultural Festival is positioned as a celebration of heritage, identity, and community solidarity, bringing together people to appreciate the traditions and cultural contributions of Southern Kaduna.
The event is expected to reinforce the importance of cultural preservation while creating a platform for the younger generation to embrace their roots and contribute to the continued promotion of the community’s heritage.
