Media personality Dave of Africa has issued a strong statement praising the extraordinary resilience of Port Harcourt, describing the city’s rapid cultural and economic recovery following the six-month State of Emergency as “a phenomenon that needs to be studied.”
Dave of Africa made the commendation in a video released yesterday, Friday, November 21, 2025, highlighting the immediate return of high-energy entertainment and events that defied widespread national skepticism.
The political crisis, which culminated in the declaration of a State of Emergency on March 18, 2025, had been projected by many analysts to cause long-term, perhaps irreversible damage to the city’s vibrant social and hospitality sector.
The six-month rule, which suspended democratic structures and created severe economic uncertainty, effectively brought many activities to a halt. Dave of Africa noted that during this period, many observers genuinely feared that Port Harcourt’s renowned “groove and energy” would permanently shift to neighboring cities.
However, the findings show that as soon as the emergency rule was officially lifted on September 17, 2025, the city’s cultural engine roared back to life almost instantaneously. “As soon as the state of emergency ended, Port Harcourt bounced back to life instantly,” Dave of Africa stated, recognizing the determination of industry stakeholders and business owners to restore the city’s reputation as a cultural hub.
This revival was evidenced by the immediate succession of major, high-attendance events. The city has recently hosted the Garri Festival (a cultural extravaganza celebrating Nigeria’s staple food), and the high-profile Fashion Experience Festival (held on November 8, 2025).
Furthermore, Port Harcourt is maintaining a strong pipeline of future cultural celebrations, including the upcoming Onunu Festival and Tombo Festival, events that showcase the city’s rich ethnic diversity and festive spirit. The sheer quantity and quality of these events, which attract thousands of attendees and provide crucial platforms for local entrepreneurs, underscore the remarkable tenacity of the city’s arts and entertainment community.
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Dave of Africa was so impressed by this demonstrated resilience and the packed annual calendar that he formally proposed that Port Harcourt deserves to be crowned the “Festival City of Nigeria.” He applauded event organizers, business owners, and industry stakeholders, delivering a clear message: “Kudos to all those making it work.”
The recovery signifies more than just entertainment; it showcases the underlying strength of the local economy. The rapid return of commercial activity, supported by the massive success of culturally authentic events like the Bole Festival (which featured national stars and attracted over 35,000 attendees even while the political crisis was peaking), confirmed that the residents’ demand for entertainment and social engagement remained undiminished.
The city’s ability to defy the political instability and rapidly reactivate its social ecosystem is a powerful narrative of resilience for the entire region.
