Brief overview of the WAFI festival
Welcome to the vibrant and diverse city of Warri, where culture, creativity, and community come together at the Warri Arts Festival International (WAFI) Gidigba ’25 (standing firm). It is an empowerment tool and celebration of visual art, music, dance, theatre, films, fashion, craft display, market expo and drum performance and we come together under the theme of “Stronger Together.
– Explanation of the theme “Stronger Together” and its significance
At WAFI Gidigba ’25.
We believe that diversity is our strength and unity is our power. The theme “Stronger Together” celebrates the beauty of coming together as a community, sharing our stories, and creating art that transcends boundaries.
Through art, culture, and tourism we create the opportunity to connect, learn, grow together and building bridges that unite us in our shared humanity, which transformed into a source of inspiration and empowerment.
Festival History
Warri Arts Festival international WAFI is the brainchild of Dexodus Theatre House; a major figure in contemporary theatre, a a leading theatre company in Warri Delta state Nigeria. The journey started when Dexodus submitted its idea to the Nigeria Leadership Project as her leadership project proposal. Needless to say her proposal received great feedback and as they say, the rest is history!
The festival was first held in 2019 with the and happens annually following the last week of the 7 days of street performances. It is held at the outdoor within the great city of Nigeria most popular city Warri which brought different creative and performing artists from around the nation to convene in Warri Delta state Nigeria. Festival activities include but are not limited to performances, workshops, panels and historical memorial site visits. The festival is free and open to everybody and therefore relies on donations and sponsors for financial support
Journey so far!
WARRI ARTS FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL RETURNS, BINDING ART TO RESILIENCE
The Festival is back for the fourth edition with incredible performances from around the nation. This year, Delta state’s largest performing arts gathering for humanity, substantial human capital development, and empowerment will share the power of art in building personal and community resilience. Attendees will be taken on a journey to explore the notion of “Stronger together” with incredible performances from around the nation. This year’s festival focuses on the intersection of art and technology and how both can come together to advance a shared sense of humanity. Performances will be inclusive for attendees because we will be taking the festival to their neighbourhood and schools.
Why organise the Warri Arts Festival International (WAFI) ?
Our lives are increasingly marked and divided by borders and boundaries after the crises in Warri and riverine communities. At a time of increased hatred, ethnic crises and unequal policies, geographical borders are becoming more visible as lines that separate countries, regions and people. These borders influence, shape and limit our lives as a theatrical entity that showcases our uniqueness. that are Hidden, and sometimes invisible boundaries have the same effect
CAN ARTS HEAL A BROKEN SOCIETY?
