We need festivals to empower communities — Sede

By Prosper Okoye

Sylvester Sede, founder of the Bayelsa Food and Art Festival, says festivals should be more than entertainment — they should be used to empower local communities and create opportunities for growth.

Sede made the remark after participating in the Festival of Making in Blackburn, United Kingdom, where he joined organisers, artists, and volunteers in planning and running one of the UK’s leading cultural events.

“Festivals can help people earn a living, learn new skills, and feel proud of who they are,” Sede said. “We need to start seeing them as part of development, not just shows or parties.”

At the UK festival, Sede worked with other creatives, learning how logistics, programming, and community partnerships come together to make an event successful.

He also shared the story of the Bayelsa Food and Art Festival with the organisers, presenting a festival-branded T-shirt to Director Lauren Zawadzki as a gesture of friendship and possible collaboration.

He believes Nigerian festivals can become platforms for real impact if properly supported. “In places like Bayelsa, where jobs are hard to find, festivals can support small businesses, promote tourism, and give young people something positive to be part of.”

Sede said the experience in the UK has given him new ideas on how to improve the Bayelsa festival, especially in terms of planning, engaging different groups, and making it more sustainable.

Meanwhile, plans are now in motion to strengthen the Bayelsa Food and Art Festival and explore future collaborations with international partners.

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