It was an unforgettable evening of music, film, fashion and art at the Lagos Canvas when the Chief Executive Officer of the EbonyLife Group, Mo Abudu, hosted Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, in Lagos.
The ambience at Ebony Life Place, Victoria Island, was inviting, bringing elegance and energy to an evening that spotlighted Africa’s creativity and global collaboration.
The reception was a testament to the status of Lagos and London as global powerhouses in the creative industries, with a clear intent to foster even greater ties between the creative ecosystems of both cities.
The Mayor, who led a trade delegation of London-based companies to Nigeria, said, “I am a proud honorary Nigerian. I have been in Lagos for two days. I am proud to be the first Mayor of London leading trade delegation to Africa. How wonderful it is to be hosted by Mo Abudu. She is one of the most powerful women in Africa. Lagos is not just the Tech capital of Africa, but the culture capital of Africa. I want us to build bridges between Lagos and London.”
In her welcome remarks, Abudu noted, “it is important that we are heard, seen, appreciated, and that we are respected for who we are all over the world. And one of the ways of achieving that is through our music, art and film. I love Nigeria, but this is about Lagos. Tonight is about showing you the best of culture from our continent.”
On her part, Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, noted, “Lagos Canvas is surely going places.”
To her, “it was nice and very refreshing to see the Mayor. The Governor was supposed to come but because of former President Muhammed Buhari’s state funeral at Katsina. Lagos is the place to be: Kudos to Mo Abudu for showcasing our arts, fashion and music. Lagos will continue to support all other creatives. We welcome the Mayor and hope to see more of him. He told us he is going to come back for Detty December and we are expecting him.”
Aside from the fashion runway, where indigenous fabrics were showcased, guests were serenaded to soulful tunes by Konstance.