Winners of the Goge Africa Cultural Dance Competition were honoured with a total cash prize of N600,000 on Friday, recognizing their outstanding talent and dedication to cultural expression.
The competition, held during the Goge Africa Festival in October 2024, was part of the brand’s 25th-anniversary celebration, bringing together young dancers to showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.
Angus Memorial Senior High School, Somolu, emerged as the first-place winner, receiving N200,000, while Arch Deacon Adelaja Senior High School (Bariga), Bright Hope Schools (Agege), and Fountain Heights Secondary School (Surulere) shared the second-place position, each winning N100,000. Ashafa Tijani Memorial High School, Iponri, secured third place, also taking home N100,000.
Speaking at the prize presentation held at Providus Bank, Lagos, Mr Idris Aregbe, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tourism, Arts, and Culture, praised Goge Africa’s commitment to preserving and promoting cultural heritage among young Nigerians.
“This is the Lagos that we want, and that is what we are getting. Thank you, Goge Africa, for turning these children’s passion into profit. Lagos State will continue to support creativity in all its forms. Congratulations to the winners,” Aregbe stated.
Goge Africa’s CEO, Mr. Isaac Moses, congratulated the winners and emphasized the competition’s goal of providing a platform for young dancers to showcase their skills and creativity.
“We were impressed by the level of talent and dedication displayed by the students. The competition was fierce, but these schools stood out with their exceptional performances,” he noted.
According to Mrs Chinwe Abana, Coordinator of Schools under Gthe oge Africa Foundation, 21 schools participated in the contest, with five making it to the final round. She highlighted the diversity in performances, noting that the first-place winners performed the South African Zulu dance, while other schools showcased energetic renditions of Nigeria’s traditional Atilogwu dance.
One of the winners, Emmanuel Soga from Angus Memorial Senior High School, expressed gratitude to Goge Africa for the opportunity, revealing that his team spent six months rehearsing the Zulu dance before their final performance.
“I never believed we would be rewarded in the end, but our hard work paid off,” Soga said.
The prize presentation was attended by representatives from Providus Bank, including Ayoyinka Falade, Event Officer, Brands and Corporate Communications, and Omotayo Idowu, Head of Commerce and SME.
Goge Africa continues to champion cultural awareness, ensuring that Nigeria’s rich traditions remain alive through the creativity and passion of young talents.
