IPADA CARNIVAL EVENTS
West Africa Event 2025
| Event | Location | Start/End Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| JANUARY | |||
| Lake of Stars Festival | Lake Volta, Ghana | 5th Jan - 7th Jan | An eclectic music and arts festival featuring international and local performances with cultural workshops. |
| Voodoo Festival | Ouidah, Benin Rep | 10th Jan | This festival celebrates the country's rich Voodoo heritage with traditional rituals, dances, and ceremonies. |
| Afropolitan Vibes Concert | Lagos, Nigeria | 20th Jan | A live music series showcasing diverse African sounds. |
| FEBRUARY | |||
| Lagos Art and Book Festival (LABAF) | Lagos, Nigeria | 15th Feb - 17th Feb | Celebration of arts, books, poetry, and music with African themes. |
| FESPACO (Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou) | Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso | 24th Feb - 2nd March | The largest film festival in Africa, celebrating the best of African cinema and its diaspora. |
| MARCH | |||
| Carnival in Bouaké | Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire | March | Côte d’Ivoire's version of Mardi Gras, with parades, music, and street performances. |
| Calabar International Festival | Calabar, Nigeria | 10th March - 15th March | Vibrant festivities featuring floats, traditional masquerades, and cultural parades. |
| Lagos International Jazz Festival | Lagos, Nigeria | 24th March - 26th March | A platform for jazz musicians worldwide to celebrate creativity through music. |
| Eyo Festival | Lagos, Nigeria | 29th March | Traditional Yoruba masquerade parade celebrating Lagos culture. |
| APRIL | |||
| Ganvié Festival | Ganvié, Benin Republic | April | A cultural event showcasing the life and traditions of the lake village community. |
| Kora Awards | Dakar, Senegal | 15th April | Africa’s prestigious music awards celebrating outstanding musicians and industry contributors. |
| Nigerian Breweries Maltina Dance Festival | Lagos, Nigeria | 20th April - 22nd April | A celebration of family, dance, and entertainment. |
| FEMUA (Urban Music Festival of Anoumabo) | Abidjan and Anoumabo, Côte d'Ivoire | 22nd April - 28th April | African music performances, youth forums, and community development activities. |
| MAY | |||
| Asun Carnival | Ondo, Nigeria | 1st May | A Carnival celebrating the traditional goat meat delicacy ‘asun’ |
| Dakar Biennale (Dak’Art) | Dakar, Senegal | 1st May - 31st May | Africa’s largest contemporary art event, featuring exhibitions, installations, and cultural discussions. |
| Saint-Louis Jazz Festival | Saint-Louis, Senegal | 10th May - 17th May | An international event celebrating jazz with performances from local and global artists. |
| Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Lagos, Nigeria | 10th May | Prestigious awards recognizing excellence in African film and TV production. |
| JUNE | |||
| Homowo Festival | Accra, Ghana | 1st June - 30th June | This harvest festival features communal feasts, traditional dances, and rituals aimed at warding off hunger. |
| Ojude Oba Festival | Ijebu Ode, Nigeria | 10th June | Yoruba cultural festival with horse parades, dances, and fashion displays. |
| JULY | |||
| Evala Traditional Wrestling Festival | Kara, Togo | 6th July - 15th July | A traditional wrestling competition with cultural dances and community gatherings, celebrating local heritage. |
| Dambe Traditional Boxing Championship | Kano, Nigeria | 10th July - 14th July | A thrilling display of Northern Nigerian combat sports and culture. |
| Festival sur le Niger | Segou, Mali | 20th July - 23rd July | Art exhibitions, traditional crafts, and live music set along the iconic Niger River. |
| AUGUST | |||
| Osun-Osogbo Festival | Osogbo, Nigeria | 7th August - 11th August | A UNESCO-recognized festival featuring spiritual rites, processions, and celebrations honoring the goddess Osun. |
| Chale Wote Street Art Festival | Accra, Ghana | 12th August - 18th August | Accra transforms into a hub for creativity with street art, performance, and film screenings. |
| International Savalou Yam Festival | Savalou, Benin | 15th August - 20th August | Celebration of the yam harvest with parades, cultural performances, and traditional rituals. |
| OCTOBER | |||
| Felabration | Lagos, Nigeria | October | Annual music festival celebrating Fela Kuti’s legacy with performances & art. |
| NOVEMBER | |||
| Fête des Masques (Festival of Masks) | Man, Cotedivoire | Nov | This famous festival honors forest spirits with colorful costumes, mask dances, and music. |
| Gorée Diaspora Festival | Goree Island, Senegal | Nov | A tribute to African roots and the diaspora, with music, art, and reflections on history. |
| The Africa International Film Festival | Lagos, Nigeria | 8th Nov - 15th Nov | Prominent film festival showcasing African and diaspora films. |
| Global Enterprenureship festival | Akure, Nigeria | 21st Nov - 23rd Nov | An annual event that brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators to celebrate and promote global entrepreneurship. |
| DECEMBER | |||
| Ipada Carnival | Lagos, Nigeria | 28th Nov - 7th Dec | Colorful Carnival procession, pool party, African buffet, and much more. |
| Calabar Carnival | Calabar, Nigeria | 1st Dec - 31st Dec | Africa’s biggest street party with colorful parades, concerts, and cuisine. |
| Experience Lagos Gospel Concert | Lagos, Nigeria | 5th Dec | One of the largest gospel music concerts in Africa, featuring global artists. |
| Eyo Festival | Lagos, Nigeria | 20th Dec | Known for its costumed masqueraders, the festival honors the ancestors and celebrates Lagos heritage. |