Etisalat partners Eko Hotel, AAF on LagosPhoto Festival 2015

ITRealms:

The Innovative telecommunications operator, Etisalat Nigeria, is partnering with Eko Hotel and Suites as well as the African Artists Foundation (AAF) on the 2015 edition of the annual LagosPhoto Festival with the theme 'Designing Futures,' reports ITRealms.

The month-long event, ITRealms reports, opened for the public from October 24 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island is expected to come to a close by October 24, 2015.

Director, Lagos Photo Foundation, Azu Nwagbogu noted that the festival launched in 2010, is the first and only annual international photography festival in Nigeria, aimed at establishing a community for contemporary photography which will unite local and international artists through images that encapsulate individual experiences and identities from across all of Africa.

“It features exhibitions, workshops, artist presentations, discussions, screenings, and large scale outdoor exhibitions, presenting in the process a contemporary and historical visual essay of the continent to both local and global audiences,” he said.

Nwagbogu stressed that the essence is to offer Africans a platform that enables ownership of images and narratives about Africa and Africans.

He also said that LagosPhoto Festival enables affords them to create understanding why Africans have to take ownership of their own images and stories or narratives.

In the past, he said, the narratives that were made about Africa or Nigeria were given to locals by outsiders. “At Lagos Photo, we strive to take ownership of and to communicate this internationally because the world is shrinking around us. So it is very important for us to join the digital revolution and begin to communicate the more impactful vision for the country, the continent and for humanity as a whole,” he said.

Also speaking on its continued sponsorship of the Lagos Photo Festival, the Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Francesco Angelone, noted that the festival is in sync with the company’s vision of encouraging creativity and innovation through the creation of and support for credible platforms.

“Etisalat is passionate about innovation and creativity. We have also been in the forefront of promoting excellence, nurturing talent and providing platforms for people to express themselves and communicate their ideas. This is why we created the Etisalat Prize for Literature, the first ever pan-African prize aimed at recognizing and celebrating writers and other members of the literary community across Africa. We also inspire creativity and innovation with the Etisalat Prize for Innovation, also a first-of-its-kind in Africa. It is in this light also that we have sponsored the Lagos Photo Festival right from inception about 5 years ago,” he said.

Mr. Angelone also revealed that a Gala night would be hosted on October 28 in honour of the participating photographers.

This year’s Lagos Photo Festival will feature 35 photographers from 18 participating countries including Egypt, France, South Africa, Italy, Ivory Coast, UK, India, The Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Morocco, DRC, Ghana, Germany, New Zealand, USA, Switzerland, Guinea and Nigeria.

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Pix:  (L-R) Etisalat Nigeria's Head, High Value Events and Sponsorship, Modupe Thani, and Director, Brands and Experience, Enitan Denloye, Director, Lagos Photo Foundation, Azu Nwagbogu, Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Francesco Angelone and Brand Director, Lagos Photo , Wunika Mukan at the Press Conference to announce the forthcoming 2015 Lagos Photo Festival in Lagos.