Mayor LaToya Cantrell, the first black female Mayor of New Orleans hosted a party to open up the 2023 ESSENCE festival of Culture Last Thursday, 29 June and, like her exciting city of Mardi Gras, the 2023 ESSENCE festival Reception party was a fun , vibrant and tasteful, all at once.
Mayor Latoya’s reception party of the ESSENCE festival, tagged Hip Hop Sip & Shop” was flavored with distinctive music renditions, samples of Creole cuisine and a human blend of unique dialects, and dance steps from a diverse guests, to include Nollywood actors and actresses led by Richard Mofe Damijo, famously known as (RMD).
Speaking during a meeting with “The Brotherhood” a delegation of Nigerian born American business professional, led by Mr Abiodun Ogunjobi, Mayor LaToya Cantrell expressed support for initiatives for New Orleans to partner with Nollywood Movie Industry and Nigerians in the Diaspora. Nollywood initiative to take advantage of Louisiana’s successful film tax-credit, which has now been extended till 2031. ESSENCE festival is America’s largest celebration of Black culture and achievement. The tax credit has significantly boosts the hospitality and tourism sector in New Orleans.
As the fourth largest film production hub in United States, New Orleans is fast becoming a magnet to the film industry taking advantage of studio infrastructure, diverse architecture and historic neighborhoods. Fielding questions from African Metro News, Alana Harris, New Orleans Director of Arts and Culture said, the New Orleans’s vibrant and energetic live music scene as well as French Quarter, known for its French and Spanish Creole architecture and vibrant nightlife along Bourbon Street are just some of the features that make New Orleans the perfect choice for the Nigerian Nollywood and affiliated business partnerships.
