Diplomats, Stakeholders Advocate Cultural Diplomacy to Promote Peace

Lagos recently hosted the first Goge Africa Cultural Dialogue and Diplomacy Series, an event that brought together a diverse group of participants including members of the diplomatic community, heads of government agencies, policymakers, and leaders from the public and private sectors. The gathering also included stakeholders in tourism, arts and culture, as well as academics and students.

The central theme of the conversations revolved around the significant role culture plays in diplomacy and international collaboration. The discussions aimed to explore how cultural exchange can foster people-to-people connections, contribute to peacebuilding efforts, drive economic prosperity, and facilitate scientific and technological innovations globally.

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adding, “we live in a rapidly globalising world, where nations are increasingly defined not only by their economic or military strength, but also by their ability to project values, narratives, and cultural symbols that resonate beyond borders. This is the essence of soft power “

The event, co-hosted by Goge Africa's Isaac Moses and Nneka Moses in partnership with the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), showcased Nigeria's vibrant cultural heritage. Displays of books, sculptures, and cultural artifacts were featured, highlighting the nation's rich traditions.

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Culture, for one, has increasingly emerged as a strategic resource through which nations, communities, and institutions articulate identity, build international partnerships, and exert influence beyond conventional political and economic instrument.

Prof. Eghosa Emmanuel Osaghae, Director General of NIIA, emphasized in his welcome address that the series' theme, 'Eyo, Culture and Soft Power,' is particularly relevant in a world facing multilateral crises. He stated that in today's globalized world, nations are increasingly defined not just by their economic or military might, but by their capacity to project values, narratives, and cultural symbols that resonate across borders – the essence of soft power.

Represented by Prof. Chinasa Ohiri, Osaghae further elaborated that culture has become a strategic resource for nations to articulate identity, build international partnerships, and exert influence beyond traditional political and economic means. He noted the growing recognition of cultural diplomacy as a pillar of soft power, underscoring its potential to shape narratives, strengthen intercultural dialogue, and advance mutual understanding. Osaghae specifically pointed to Lagos' Eyo masquerade tradition as a compelling example of this potential, representing discipline, continuity, identity, and collective memory, capable of communicating meaning across generations and nations when effectively harnessed.

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The Eyo masquerade tradition of Lagos stands as a compelling example of this potential. Beyond its aesthetic and ceremonial significance, it embodies discipline, continuity, identity, and collective memory. It is a cultural expression that communicates meaning across generations and, when properly harnessed, across nations.