The Lagos Boat Regatta showcases a series of traditional boat racing competitions along with a parade featuring over 200 hand-decorated boats. Organizers are hoping the regatta will boost the tourism potential of Nigeria’s most populous city.
00:00a vibrant display on the lagos waterfront the annual boat regatta attracts visitors
00:10and residents out to catch the beauty of the city's waterways
00:13i've seen the boats it's very cool they're very spectacular colorful
00:18the live performances are really nice and i love the music and the culture
00:22just the views are very nice i love the whole atmosphere the water the boats
00:27I saw a lot of local boats, Kenu, and they were well designed and colorful, and I also saw some new yachts that I've never seen before.
00:37The Lagos State Government, organizers of the event, hope that it will help boost the tourism potential of Lagos.
00:44They want the boat regatta to serve as a platform to promote a thriving hospitality sector around its waterways.
00:52This is one of the iconic natural landmarks of Lagos. Water constitutes about one third of Lagos,
01:01and we can utilize what nature has given to us, not only for transportation, but more importantly for eco-tourism.
01:11We're happy that people can see that Lagos still has a lot to offer in terms of tourism, in terms of displaying our culture,
01:18in terms of our diversity, bringing it together, and just to express the uniqueness of Lagos, to show the strength and what Lagos brings about.
01:29Also on display were boat rowing competitions and performance paddling, along with a thrilling parade with fleets of decorated canoes maneuvered by skilled paddlers.
01:39According to official records, the first Lagos Boat Regatta was staged in 1933, but as a cultural event, it dates back to the city's pre-colonial history,
01:48rooted in the heritage of its indigenous coastal people and the Bahrain communities.
01:53As the Lagos Boat Regatta draws wider attention, there are hopes it will help bridge the gap between the city's urban dwellers and local fishing communities.
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