Promoting Edo Cultural Preservation & Advancement

Carnivals take countless hours, volunteers, and money to execute, but the idea behind the event usually starts with one person. Ugie Edo sits down for an interview with the organizer of the Benin Carnival, Prince Omoregbe Erediauwa, where he shares details and throws light on the events that led to the birth of the Benin Carnival. Chairman/CEO, entrepreneur and investor, the Prince is also the founder of Hexagon Network Limited, a multi-faceted organization made up of subsidiaries with interest in entertainment, hospitality, real-estate, food & Beverages, arts and tourism and general investments.

UE: Tell us about yourself
OE: I am a self-employed business man. I have always had a passion for hospitality and tourism, hence my being majorly involved in the hospitality and tourism sector. I successfully started my business, Hexagon Network, since 2002. I have been able to take the business to the next level as Hexagon Networks which now runs an Art Gallery -Crowne Gallery and a hotel -Crowne Hotel. I have also delved into Real Estate. In all, I would say I thank God for a success story.

UE: What is your background in events and tourism?
OE: I have spent the last 13 years promoting and hosting events. Since 2002, we (Hexagon) have been able to organize various events: we collaborated with Guinness Plc to host Michael Powers (who was at that time the face of Guinness); we hosted a series of MTV events, Nite of a thousand laughs for about 10 years; and we also arranged and hosted a Disc Jockey (DJ) competition for several years at regional levels in the different States and the finals, in Benin City. The aim of the DJ competition was to bring and sustain recognition of the DJs in our society. They are the life wires of social gatherings and are mainly relegated to the background these days. Hexagon also had a Record Label where we signed on some recording artistes. The record label has been put on hold for now as we are trying to rebrand and take it to the next level.

UE: How was the idea of the Benin Carnival initiated?
OE: Over the years, we noticed that during the Ugie festival, very few people get involved in the ceremonies. The festival was perceived to be tied mainly to the Palace, its Chiefs, and a few of the Chiefs’ relations, which is not the intent and purpose of the festival – the festival is meant for everybody, both citizens and visitors to the Great Benin Kingdom. This prompted us to come up with various activities that will involve everyone, the old and the young, especially the youths. We also wanted to ensure a festive mood, so we introduced activities like the Street Carnival, Drama, Jazz festival, Kiddies Art club etc

UE: What was your role in kicking off the carnival?
OE: I had to play a major role to ensure the carnival came to life. I was able to get very good and experienced hands that could help make the dream a reality. We reached out to a few but necessary, people of like minds to make it happen. We also had to seek approvals from the palace and government officials like the Commissioner for Tourism and Culture, to help get the cultural center as venue for some of the activities, including the drama. We also sought approval from the Commissioner for Transport for routes where the Street Carnival would pass through.

UE: What motivated you to get on board planning the carnival?
OE: Passion, Passion, Passion. I like creating activities where people around me are engaged and happy doing the things they enjoy. I like motivating people and getting the best out of them, that is one of the main reasons I am in the hospitality business.

UE: What are the objectives of the carnival and how does the carnival benefit the community?
OE: One of the main objectives at the time we started the carnival was to get as many people as we can involved in the actual festival, Igue. We needed to ensure that youths and kids are kept busy and engaged during the Christmas holidays because as they say: the idle mind is the devil’s workshop. We also wanted to have a level playing field where kids who are from less than average home are given the opportunity to mix with others on a common ground. That is why we have rehearsals from the month of November for all the youth and kids to practice their dance and drama before the festival period. We also created an avenue to help these youths earn some money and keep them off the streets during those periods, youth that would otherwise have been a menace to the society during the festive period. This also helps create awareness what the festival is all about… us.

UE: Who is the target audience for the carnival?
OE: Our target audience for the carnival is everybody. Locally, nationally and internationally, we welcome everyone’s participation. Actually, we have had tourists visit from far and wide to witness our awe-inspiring and rich cultural heritage. They join in on the journey and in exploration of unique arts, music, and folklore and also experience the magnificence of the Benin Kingdom, people and the Oba

UE: What are the challenges you have had so far organizing the carnival?
OE: FINANCES!!! Finance is one of our major setbacks. We would like more participation from the corporate bodies doing business within and outside Edo state to assist us and give more meaning, as well as add color to our festival.

UE: How have you tackled them?
OE: (Laughs).We are still tackling them. Although positive responses are trickling in from some corporate bodies, we believe that with time, these corporates will be assured and get more comfortable with our quest to sustain the reality of the festival.

UE: What are your plans towards ensuring the carnival stays afloat ?
OE: We are trying to get the State Government and as many corporate bodies as possible to be stakeholders. We are also involving Associations within and outside Nigeria. Our citizens in diaspora are also involved. We plan to ensure that the future festivals are well attended and are ‘grander’ than previous ones.
UE: Why didn’t the carnival hold 2015?
OE: The Street carnival and Drama aspect of the Festival did not hold because of ongoing private activities at the Palace. We had to suspend these few events out of honour and respect.

UE: How have you funded the event so far?
OE: Funding of the carnival has been mostly through self-effort. We also have some assistance from a few devoted friends and relatives who strongly believe in what we are doing.

UE: Do you create opportunities for supporters and investors?
OE: Yes we do. Every year, we send out letters and brochures to many Individual and corporate organizations, companies, government bodies and associations asking them to participate and partner with us. The partnership is meant to provide a valuable platform for them and their organizations to showcase their products and services through varied media to a massive population of tourists, residents and Nigerians during the period of the festival. It also creates an opportunity for their company to identify strongly with one of the fastest growing cultural festivals in the country (having been consistently celebrated every December over the past 600 years) as well as help to support a unique, sustained culture; facilitate creativity as well as make strategic corporate social investments towards socio-cultural development of the Benin people. Though we have not received any positive response so far, we believe that with time, they will come around if they see how serious and eager we are to ensure this festival is sustained till many years to come.