Excitement is building ahead of Edo Carnival 2025, as organisers confirm a star-studded lineup led by Shallipopi and HammerBoi. The week-long festival promises music, culture, and high-energy entertainment in the heart of Benin City.
Crown Uzama, widely known as Shallipopi, the Nigerian singer and rapper who shot to fame with his 2023 hit Elon Musk, will headline the highly anticipated Grand Shine Concert this December. He will be joined on stage by HammerBoi and finalists from the Dreamalive Talent Quest.
The concert, featuring fireworks, a high-tech LED stage, and surprise celebrity appearances, is expected to draw large crowds. It will serve as the grand finale of the festival, with the crowning of Miss Shinefest adding to the night’s glitz.
With the theme Illuminating Heritage, Celebrating Today, the carnival is set to spotlight the rich traditions of Edo State while embracing its modern, youthful spirit.
According to the organisers, the event will unfold in two key phases. First is the pre-festival phase, which begins with the Dreamalive Talent Quest, a talent hunt across Edo’s three senatorial districts to discover rising music stars. The selected finalists will perform at the grand finale.
The main carnival kicks off on December 14 in Benin City and will include attractions such as the Shine Beer Barn and a Christmas Grotto. The Heritage Carnival, which will run at three major venues, remains the centrepiece of the event, featuring masquerade parades, traditional wrestling, and other cultural showcases that celebrate the diversity of Edo’s communities.
In a statement, the organisers said, “EDO CARNIVAL 2025 is more than just a cultural event; it’s a bold statement about Edo’s identity, past, present, and future.”
Branded as EDO CARNIVAL 2025 SHINEfest, the celebration is being organised by Peak Rendezvous Global Limited in collaboration with the Office of the Special Adviser on Protocol to the Edo State Governor.
Other key highlights include a cultural fiesta and food festival at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, the Shine Boat Regatta, and a curated art exhibition titled Through the Eyes of Edo on Igun Street, which will spotlight local sculptors, photographers, and artisans.
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