Dancing the Diaspora

Festival Overview

The West African Afro-Latin Dance Festival (WAALD) Nigeria is a trailblazing annual cultural event founded in 2012 by Mr Buddy Agedah and led by Dance & Art Alive, Nigeria’s foremost dance organisation. Held in both Lagos and Abuja, WAALD is a hub of Afro-Latin artistic exchange, empowering dancers and creators from across Africa, Latin America, and the diaspora.

WAALD is known not only for preserving cultural heritage but also for reimagining it in bold, contemporary forms. With over 12 editions delivered, the festival features live performances, intensive dance workshops, and the Buddy Dance Cup, Nigeria’s first national partner dance competition, designed to democratise dance participation and spotlight rising talent.

WAALD Nigeria is innovative in its use of hybrid programming and cross-border artistic collaboration. The festival now incorporates digital storytelling (mini-docs, virtual rehearsals, and livestreams), multilingual delivery (Yoruba, French, English, and Ewe), and community-created content, enabling deeper cultural connections. WAALD also pioneered themed social action campaigns (e.g., breast cancer awareness through dance) that engage non-traditional audiences in meaningful ways.

Through partnerships with regional festivals such as the Benin International Dance Festival (BIDAF) in Benin and the Ghana Dance Festival, and with a growing focus on UK collaborations, WAALD Nigeria connects artists and audiences in ways that blend traditional movement, modern tech, and social purpose. WAALD Nigeria represents a new generation of African cultural festivals: rooted, resonant, and responsive to the times.

Key Activities

1. Artist Residency Labs in Nigeria, Ghana & Benin

2. Community Dance Workshops for Youth and Women

3. Co-curated Performances at Partner Festivals

4. Hybrid ‘Relay Finale’ streamed across all countries and UK partners.

5. Digital Storytelling Campaign, #DancingTheDiaspora

6. Collaborative UK Digital Showcase + Talkback

Festival Partners

1. West Africa Afro-Latin Dance Festival Nigeria (WAALD) – Nigeria (Lead Partner)

2. Benin International Dance Festival (BIDAF) – Benin Republic

3. Ghana Dance Festival – Ghana

4. Icontowers Media Ltd - United Kingdom Partner 

Target Impact

• 90+ participating artists across 4 countries

• 5,000+ local participants in workshops and shows

• 3 touring showcase works and 1 co-commissioned piece

• 1 Digital Documentary + 10 social mini-stories

• 500,000+ digital audience reach via livestreams and social media

Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Sustainability

• Gender-inclusive programming, multilingual delivery (Yoruba, French, Ewe, English)

• Free access for youth and under-represented communities

• Hybrid delivery and eco-conscious event practices

• Reusable sets, digital-first promotion, sustainable travel strategies

Project Timeline

(Sep 2025 – May 2026)

• Sep 2025 – Planning & Artist Selection

• Sep - Nov 2025 – Residency & Showcase in Ghana Dance Festival and Nigeria (WAALD Festival)

• Jan–Mar 2026 – Mini-documentary series that captures the journey, impact, and process behind the collaboration

• Apr 2026 – UK Digital Showcase and Benin International Dance Festival (BIDAF) workshops performances

• May – 2026 – Hybrid Relay Finale & Evaluation