Why Nigeria needs its own celebration of young people

All over the green field, there are several activities going on. There are several stalls where people can buy cultural artifacts, play computer games and buy food. There are pop-up shops and mobile cinemas.

Welcome to a youth festival in Nigeria devoid of societal rules and constraints, where young people can have fun and interact with like minds. In this festival, it will all be about love, peace, harmony and good vibes.

A youth festival like this does not exist in Nigeria. There are two jazz festivals in Lagos annually, and the Lights, Camera, Africa!!! Film Festival kicked off on September 30, 2016.

Lagos Comic Con which prides itself as Nigeria's first pop culture convention took place at NECA House, Alausa, Ikeja on September 17, 2016. The One Lagos Festival also celebrates the culture of the city.

The film, music and comic industries have events and gatherings. Now will be the perfect time to create a youth festival that will involve all the creative arts. The Afropunk festival which originally started in New York now takes place in London and Paris. The popular festival is more than a music event. It is more designed to create a cultural experience for black people.

The Burning Man has increased in profile within the last few years. The annual festival has been described as an experiment in art and community. Marvellous photos from Burning Man pop up every year. It looks like a scene from Mad Men if the post-apocalyptic humans were hipsters rather than scavengers.

Having a youth festival in Nigeria would be totally cool and educational. Young people are slipping into the same pits the previous generation fell into- prejudice, and tribalism. A gathering where these vices are burnt and love and tolerance are preached should be created.

It should be a celebration of the now and the future. This festival will also forge a cultural identity for young people. The cultural identity right is now is loose, a youth festival will mould them into one powerful identity.

We have the people and the talent. The time is now for young Nigerian people to come together and a forge a new way. We are the ones we have been waiting for.