Dead Musicians At 27

The Socio-cultural and Economic Life of Festac Town

Festival Town otherwise commonly referred to as FESTAC town is the largest single housing Estate in Nigeria and perhaps the whole of West Africa. The Estate derives it name from the Second world Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) hosted in Nigeria in 1977.

The participants of this Festival were accommodated in this Estate originally built for this purpose. The developer is the federal Housing Authority (FHA) established by Decree (Act) No 40 of the Federal Government of Nigeria to help provide affordable housing accessible to Nigerians thus the mission statement of the Federal Housing Authority which is:

“To be the Leader in the provision of affordable quality housing in Nigeria and to d o everything possible to facilitate home ownership for all Nigerians”

The Federal Housing Authority is the developer of the town, the management, and maintenance is vested in them. Festac is made up of seven communities and occupies an approximate land area of 1770 ha. (4,425 acres)

Festac town is located at a distance of about 10km west of Lagos-Badagry expressway which forms the town’s southern boundary. The man-made canal that receives the Festival Town storm water and is now part of Lagoon forms the boundary between the town and the Amuwo Odofin housing scheme of the Lagos State Development and Properties Corporation (LSDPC) on the eastern side” (see Planning and Research Monograph by the Housing Department, Federal Housing Authority, 1985)

Festac Town on the west shares a common boundary with Trade Fair complex and on the north approximately 2,500 metres from Badagry Road. The town is served by major road transportation which makes the town quite easy to access; distribution of traffic is therefore well guaranteed. Infrastructural networks include sewage, storm water drainage, power supply, street lighting.

Festac Town was originally established with high regard for the social or communal life of the would-be residents. This explains the presence of FHA Staff Club, FHA Lawn Tennis Club, Baft Club etc. Festac Town Residents commune through an Association called the Festac Town Residents Association. Blocks, Closes, Roads also hold regular meetings where the welfare of residents is discussed. The Youth of the town are very vibrant and in recent times are known to organize “Carnivals” annually, the most notable being those of 22 Road, 512 Road and 721 Road amongst several others. The occupants of Festac town have set up projects as a result of self-help such as Festac Town Residents Association, digging of wells, sinking of bore-holes, security of the town etc

The method used to buffer the Festac Town along the Badagry Express way from other developments is canal though structures have begun to spring up on this buffer zone.

The description of Festac houses are as follows:

1. Low Income group

(i) One Bedroom

(iii Two Bedroom (single Balcony)

(iii) Two Bedroom (Double Balcony)

2. Medium Income Group

(i) Three Bedroom (single Balcony)

(ii) Three bedroom (Double Balcony)

(iv) Terrace House

3. High Income

(i) Semi-Detached Duplex

(ii) Detached House

(iii) Five Bedroom Detached House

Festac Town has show signs of infrastructural decay, general congestion, high population explosion, lack of strict compliance with master plan proposals, places set aside for green areas have been allocated for erections of buildings and other structures. Mr Babtunde Fashola, SAN the Governor of Lagos State recently came up with policies and suggestions on how the town would be made top regain its past glory. Other suggestions were also made by participants in a symposium to mark the 30th anniversary of the town.

Festac Town now serves as both residential and commercial centre. In the years of the military (1983-1993) lots of magnificent private houses were built by individuals in the areas now known as “Cocaine Avenue” Some of these areas are 21 Road Extension, 3rd Avenue Extension, parts of 4th Avenue, 41 Road and 400 Road.

In the entertainment arena, Festac Town has produced some of finest Hip-Hop musicians in Nigeria and even beyond some of whom are as follows:

1. Tuface Idibia

2. Faze

3. Blackface

4. Black Tribe

5. Rocksteady

6. Da Natives

7. Azadus

8. Hold Something

9. Tony Tetuila

10. Gino

11. Squeeze

12. Eunice of the Dynamic

13. Hush of the Dynamic

14. Reck

15. Willy O

16. Bush

17. Rasta by Nature

18. Undertaker

19. Deadly Underground

20. W4

21. J-Gangstar

22. solex

23. Black solo

24. short

25. Driles Sole

26. Xtreme da particular

27. Da Attitude

Some comedians are:

1. Boboyaka

2. Oxygen

The town has also produced footballers of repute some of whom are:

1. Sunday Olise

2. Jonathan Akpoborie

3. Victor Agali

4. Samuel Ayorinde

5. Azubuike Olise

6. Bimbo Fatokun

7. Kingsley Eke

8. George Eke

9. Mike Nwankwo

Major football clubs in the town are:

1 Abega FC

2 Fire II FC

3 FHA FC

4 Amuneke FC

5 Peter FC

6 Casablanca FC

7 All stars FC

8 721 Road FC

9 Kito FC

Play-ground

FHA play-ground

Casablanca field

stone field

Maracana stadium

Some major Fast food joints are:

1. Tanterlizers

2. Mr Biggs

3. Thrillers

4. Big Treats

5. Barcelors

6. Laguate

7. On the Run

8. De Simeons

9. Choicest

Some Hotels in the town are:

1. Rockview

2. One Nation

3. Sammy Suites

4. Ine suites

5. Rochester Suites

6. Comfort suites

7. Paris suites

8. Coroner suites

9. Chelsea suites

10. Mimi suites

11. Ona World

12. Providence suites

13. Premier suites

14. Festival suites

Banks are:

1. First Bank

2. Platinum Habib Bank

3. access Bank

4. United Bank for Africa

5. Union Bank

6. Oceanic Bank

7. Inter-continental Bank

8. First Inland Bank

9. ECOBANK

10. Diamond Bank

11. Guarantee Trust Bank

12. Zenith

13. Skye Bank

14. Abbey Building and society

Public Higher Institution of Learning

1. Lagos State University (Part time)

2. Lagos State Polytechnic

Public Primary schools

1. 7th avenue Pry School

2. Progress Pry School

3. Festac Pry School

4. 4th Avenue Pry school

5. 5th Avenue Pry School

6. 5th Avenue Pry School

7. Central Pry School

8. New Town Pry School

9. Ideal Pry School

Public Secondary School

1. Festac college

2. Festac Grammar School

3. Festac Girls secondary School

Some private schools

1. Early Life Nursery, Pry and Secondary

2. Saint Jude Nursery, Pry and Secondary

3. radiance Nursery, Pry and Secondary

4. Meson College

5. Dr. Soyemi Nursery, Pry and Secondary

6. Loral Nusery, Pry and Secondary

7. Ambassadors College

8. Subuola Nursery, Pry and Secondary

9. S-Tee secondary

10. Foresight Nursery, Pry and Secondary

11. Juny-Pride Pry

12. Christian council Pry Sch

13. Nazareth pry

14. Arc Bishop Olatiloye Nursery, Pry and Secondary

15. Fastrack Nursery, Pry and Secondary

16. Leads College

17. Tender tourch Nursery, Pry and Secondary

18. desoge Nursery, Pry and Secondary

Petrol stations

1. African Petroleum (AP)

2. Texaco

3. Mobil

About the Author

Emeka Esogbue hails from Ibusa, Delta State, Nigeria. He is is a Historian and International Relations Analyst with lots of tremendous published and unpublished works.

emekaesogbue@yahoo.com

DEAD AT 27 "THE 27 CLUB" TRAGIC LOSS OF MUSICIANS