LARRYBASH SPONSORS OTAFEST 2026, CHAMPIONS YOUTH CREATIVITY AND CULTURAL Heritage

The ancient town of Ota in Ogun State came alive with vibrant expressions of culture, artistic creativity and youthful talent as OtaFEST 2026 provided a platform for performers, artists and other creative talents to showcase their abilities, with Hon. Olanrewaju Bashorun, popularly known as Larrybash, lending his support to the festival.
Bashorun, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives, partnered with the festival organisers to support an initiative designed to celebrate the cultural identity of Ota while creating opportunities for young people to explore their creative potential.
The festival, which combines cultural entertainment with broader ambitions for tourism, youth engagement and economic development, reflects a growing recognition that indigenous heritage and the creative industries can contribute significantly to community development. OtaFEST 2026 has also attracted attention from the Ogun State Government, whose Ministry of Culture and Tourism expressed readiness to provide technical support for the event.
For Larrybash, however, the significance of the festival extends beyond entertainment. His involvement, according to information provided by the organisers, reflects his commitment to creating an environment where young people can discover their talents, gain recognition and explore opportunities in the creative economy.
Speaking at the event, Bashorun emphasised the growing importance of art, culture, music and creative enterprise in the modern economy, describing them as valuable tools for addressing youth unemployment, poverty and idleness.
He said, “We must accept the reality of a new age where the contribution of art, culture, music and creative concepts to the global economy is increasing dramatically on a daily basis. It is the same creativity that takes our young people out of poverty, unemployment and idleness.”
He further warned against neglecting the creative potential of young people, stressing that doing so could have negative consequences for both the community and the country.
According to him, sustainable youth development requires deliberate investment in initiatives that encourage innovation, promote indigenous culture and provide opportunities for young people to transform their talents into productive ventures.
Bashorun also pledged to remain supportive of programmes that celebrate indigenous art and preserve the cultural identity of the people, noting the importance of ensuring that local traditions and creative expressions remain visible in national and international conversations.
One of the defining features of OtaFEST 2026 was the variety of performances and creative displays that brought together different expressions of entertainment and cultural heritage.
Musical performances provided an energetic atmosphere, while Egungun displays offered a colourful reminder of the rich ancestral traditions associated with Ota and the wider Awori cultural landscape.
Art enthusiasts also had reason to celebrate, as exhibitions highlighted the creativity and artistic abilities of participants. One particularly memorable moment came when an artist produced a live portrait of Larrybash while he sat for the artwork, turning the process of artistic creation into a spectacle for the audience.
The portrait session symbolised the relationship between art and public life, demonstrating how creative expression can document personalities, celebrate community figures and bring people together through shared experiences.
From music to traditional displays and visual art, the festival provided a meeting point for culture, entertainment and community engagement.
Beyond the excitement and colourful performances, OtaFEST 2026 drew attention to an important question facing communities across Nigeria: how can young people be supported to turn their talents into sustainable livelihoods?
Across the world, the creative economy continues to create opportunities in music, film, fashion, visual arts, digital content, design and cultural tourism. For communities such as Ota, these industries offer possibilities for employment, entrepreneurship and wider recognition.
Supporting cultural festivals can help create visibility for emerging talents, connect performers with audiences and stimulate economic activity for vendors, artisans and small businesses.
It is against this background that Larrybash’s involvement in OtaFEST takes on added significance. By supporting a platform that brings creative individuals into the spotlight, he has associated his public profile with a development agenda that recognises young people as contributors to the economy rather than merely beneficiaries of government programmes.
The long-term impact of such initiatives, however, will depend on sustained support, access to professional training, opportunities for mentorship and the development of structures that enable talented young people to grow beyond festival appearances.
For Ota’s emerging artists and performers, the challenge and opportunity lie in building on the exposure provided by events such as OtaFEST to pursue further development and establish themselves within the wider creative industry.
Ota’s cultural identity remains an important part of its heritage, and festivals provide opportunities to preserve traditions while presenting them to new generations.
By bringing traditional performances together with contemporary music and visual arts, OtaFEST demonstrates how cultural heritage can coexist with modern forms of creative expression.
The event also aligns with broader efforts to position Ota and Ogun State as destinations for cultural tourism, entertainment and commercial activity. The organisers have outlined an ambition for OtaFEST to grow beyond a local celebration into a wider platform combining culture, sports, trade and entertainment.
Such an approach can create opportunities for local businesses, attract visitors and encourage greater appreciation of the area’s cultural assets.
For the festival to realise its full potential, stakeholders will need to sustain collaboration among the private sector, government institutions, community leaders, cultural practitioners and young entrepreneurs.
Participants and enthusiasts who attended the event commended Bashorun for supporting an initiative that placed youth creativity and cultural expression at the forefront.
His participation also generated political goodwill among some attendees, several of whom expressed support for his aspiration to represent the Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
While such expressions of support reflect the political dimension of the occasion, the broader significance of OtaFEST lies in its capacity to provide a platform for cultural preservation, creative expression and community engagement.
Ultimately, the value of the festival will be measured not only by the excitement it generates on the day but also by the opportunities it helps create for artists, performers, entrepreneurs and the next generation of creative talents.
With its blend of music, traditional displays and artistic exhibitions, OtaFEST 2026 offered a compelling reminder that culture is more than a link to the past. It is also a resource for innovation, economic opportunity and community development.
For Larrybash, the message from the festival was clear: when young people are given opportunities to express their talents and develop their abilities, their creativity can become a powerful asset to the community and the nation.