What do you get when you mix tradition, games, great vibes, and the rich taste of Malta Guinness? A celebration like no other! That’s exactly what went down at the Iriji Festival in Festac on the 28th!
From the moment you stepped into the festival grounds, it was a full-blown sensory party. The air was alive with the rhythms of traditional drummers, dancers in colorful attire twirled through the crowd, and majestic masquerades added that touch of cultural magic that makes Iriji so special. But it wasn’t just about soaking in the sights, it was about diving into the action, and Malta Guinness made sure of that.
First up, the games! Whether you are an Ayo board master or a Ludo champ, there was a game with your name on it. The eating competition had everyone cheering (and drooling a little), with winners walking away with cash prizes and free Malta Guinness drinks — now that’s a win-win! The photo booth kept the vibes fresh, with guests striking their best poses against a backdrop of tradition and fun.
Thirsty? Of course you were! Good thing there was a mixologist whipping up Malta Guinness-infused mocktails so delicious they had people coming back for their second (and third…we’re not judging). It was refreshment, reimagined and trust us, your taste buds would’ve danced too.
The festival also brought out the foodies! Popular influencer chefs like Daniel Ochuko and Tife Pereao were on ground, soaking in the beauty of culture and cuisine. They tasted, toasted, and celebrated the rich blend of heritage, all with Malta Guinness at the heart of it.In the end, the Iriji Festival wasn’t just a celebration of the harvest, it was a celebration of culture, community, and that unmistakable Malta Guinness energy. Here’s to fueling more moments of goodness — one festival at a time!
[ad][/ad]
Sports don’t wait. Neither does the audience.
With fans accustomed to instant replays, highlight reels, and behind-the-scenes footage even as the game is unfolding, content teams have gargantuan pressure weighing over them. But here’s the piece of good news: Pippit AI finally joins the field, and it’s a game-changer.
Nowadays, the days of spending hours scrubbing over match action to catch that one clutch goal or that lightning-quick crowd reaction are over. Brands and broadcasters can now automatically detect the action and upload to highlight edits in near real-time with the right tools. The end result? Sports content that hits home on all platforms—without an entire production team.
When seconds count, speed is strategy
There ain’t no “later” in sports marketing. Be it a league match, local derby, or even a junior tournament, the moment that big play is made your audience is already waiting to see it go online. Whoever posts the highlight first tends to get the engagement. But manually finding key moments, particularly during live broadcasts, can hamper teams and miss the opportunity when that moment is fresh.
This is where AI turns the tables. Intelligent systems are now taught to recognize action—such as goals, penalties, crowd rushes, even emotional facial expressions by players or coaches, and offer clip-worthy timestamps while the footage continues to roll.
Real-time highlights without the hassle
Imagine this: your striker scores a gem in the 34th minute. On the 36th, a quick cut with on-screen text and motion graphics is already up on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), tagged and trending.
Pippit AI-powered systems are designed to recognize not only visuals, but context: increased crowd size, celebration triggers, scoreboard updates. All of these cues assist AI in identifying the optimal moments with uncanny precision. Editors then have the ability to polish, caption, and style those clips for various platforms in minutes.
And not just goals or victories. AI can capture reaction shots, coach intensity, player letdown, or fan sentiment as easily as easily as easily—things that resonate on a human level and fuel social engagement.
One play, five stories
You’re covering a game of basketball. Your leading player dunks with two minutes remaining on the clock. You now have choices instead of one highlight:
A slo-mo version of Instagram Stories
A quick TikTok reel with graphics and sound
A raw sideline cam for Twitter/X
A coach’s jaw-dropping reaction to YouTube Shorts
A behind-the-scenes reaction from teammates for Snapchat
Here, magic isn’t all about editing, it’s about seeing the layers of a moment. AI equips you to see those layers quicker and sets content specifically for each platform’s vibe and format.
Training AI to understand the game
You may ask yourself, how does AI learn what a key moment is?
These systems are trained on an enormous amount of previous sports footage, in addition to tagged data: expressions, fouls, goals, crowd spikes, and more. They learn to anticipate emotional and story peaks, as well as technical plays, over time. And because AI isn’t merely cutting on timecodes, but on emotion, it’s quite excellent at capturing the drama of the game, not merely the stats.
It’s like having an editor who never blinks, never misses a play, and never requires overtime.
Beyond the pitch: AI for events and live shows
This technology isn’t reserved for sports teams and broadcasters alone. Event marketers, concert producers, and even conferences are using AI-generated highlights.
Imagine a product launch: the moment the CEO unveils the new product, crowd gasps, claps — it’s all recorded and edited within minutes for sharing. Or a concert where a surprise guest drops in mid-set. With AI monitoring for audio spikes, crowd energy, and visual triggers, you have a shareable reel before the encore is even over.
Wherever emotion occurs in real time, AI can assist in bottling it and publishing it quickly.
Clean cuts without the crew
Even the greatest highlight requires finesse. That’s where features like the native video cutter are useful. After AI pinpoints the critical moment, you can cut the start and end on the fly, tighten the flow, and add overlays or callouts without loading bulky software or exporting enormous files.
This is a massive advantage for lean content teams. They can remain nimble, work out of the venue, and publish quickly without sacrificing quality.
And it also enables non-video experts to join in. A sidelines social media manager can now create pro-level videos with the touch of a few buttons.
Enhance the fan experience, not the feed
Audi highlights aren’t just for show—they’re part of the new fan experience.
Viewers crave to replay the game from every perspective, get close-up on their heroes, and react in real-time. When your brand is first to bring that experience, you’re part of the party. You build memories in the moment, not in post-game.
And in a content economy where relevance is defined by seconds, that urgency can directly convert into reach, retention, and revenue.
Metrics that matter
When highlights expire quickly, analytics shoot up just as fast. Sports edits with AI support usually experience:
Increased engagement (likes, shares, saves) through relevance
Watch-throughs at a quicker rate, particularly when edited for mobile-first content
Better platform performance from algorithm-friendly timing
Brand value boosts, since fans connect you to high-quality, timely content
It’s not merely about appearances, it’s about being where the action is, right when your audience is looking.
Last whistle: speed is the new strategy
There is no pause button on content in sports and events. The fans demand highlights immediately, and with AI-powered video solutions, you can finally do it. You’re using content for a top league team, an amateur tournament, or a world conference. Whatever it is, don’t forget: moments create memory, but speed creates the impact.
So, let your video roll, let AI do the looking for gold, and apply software like Pippit and an intelligent video trimmer to put your story out—before the buzzer rings.
The countdown has begun for the most anticipated event of the year, as the organisers of Sneakerfest proudly present Sneakerfest 2023: a spectacular celebration of sneaker culture, fashion, art, music, sports, and empowerment.
Sneakerfest 2023 is also thrilled to announce its partnership with the global sportswear and footwear giant, Nike, as the official sponsor of this year’s event.
The event set to take place on December 9, 2023, at Lagos Oriental Hotel, aims to empower youth and sneaker enthusiasts alike, showcasing the undeniable influence of sneakers in the modern world. With Nike as the official sponsor, the event is set to be a memorable gathering of like-minded individuals who share a passion for creativity, self-expression, and, of course, sneakers.
Sneakerfest 2023 is not just an event; it’s an immersive journey into the heart of sneaker culture. Attendees can look forward to:
Basketball Slam Dunk Contests: Witness gravity-defying dunks that will leave you in awe, where the best dunk goes home with ₦300k cash prize
3-Point Shootout: Brace up to see the women battle it out at the Basket 3-point shootout with ₦200k cash prize
Rap Battle Extravaganza: The hottest upcoming rappers will go head-to-head for a chance to win an incredible ₦300k cash prize.
Dance Battle Showdown: Get ready to move and groove as dancers battle it out for a chance to win ₦300k cash at the NIKE OWN THE FLOOR dance challenge
Fashion Runway: Strut your pieces and showcase your style on the runway, where individuality takes center stage.
Raffle Draw and Giveaways: Exciting prizes await lucky attendees, including exclusive sneaker giveaways.
According to the convener of SneakerFest, Ikemesit Nkereuwem-Tim, also known as BaadBlood28,
“Nike’s involvement in SneakerFest, a movement created in 2020 is a major feat for all Nigerians at large and exhibits the level of growth and potential this somewhat unpopular sector holds. This further proves that Nigeria is a potential power player in the global sneaker culture and in no time we should see Nigerians creating for the global Sportswear giant, thanks to SneakerFest and also Nike’s presence in the Country through its flagship and value stores in Ikeja City Mall and Circle Mall at Ikeja and Lekki respectively”
[ad]
Nike’s Country General Manager, Kieran Murphy also stated that Nike’s sponsorship of the event further reflects both Nike and SneakerFest’s dedication to youth empowerment via direct consumer engagement activities and their role in fostering creativity amongst the Nigerian youths.
SneakerFest 2023 promises to be an exceptional celebration of the sneaker culture, where attendees can discover, learn, and engage with their favourite sneaker brands and like-minded individuals with a shared passion for creativity, self-expression, and Sneakers ultimately
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this epic celebration! Tickets for Sneakerfest 2023 are available now at www.sneakerfest.ng, you can also grab your physical tickets at Nike Stores, located at Ikeja City Mall or Circle Mall, Lagos, and also at Urban Jungle store.
Follow Sneakerfest on social media @Sneakerfestng for the latest updates, behind-the-scenes content, and chances to win exclusive prizes leading up to the event.
Join us as we embark on a journey into the heart and soul of sneaker culture at Sneakerfest 2023. This is an event like no other: where Sneaker Dreams Come True!
It was a sunny Saturday on November 11, 2023. The premises of La Madison Place, Lagos, was buzzing with meat and party lovers who came together to experience the first ever Burning Ram by Zikoko.
In case you missed it, or you knew about it and thought it was all hype — people hyped it because they trust Zikoko to deliver — everyone had fun. We didn’t want to go home. Just ask DJ Kiss, who played for us.
These are the things you missed and how to fix up in 2024.
Games
People got into ludo, chess, jenga, table football, mini basketball and more.
The vendor stands had people enjoy suya and barbeque of all kinds, asun meat pie (and burger), nkwobi, small chops and a whole range of cocktails. The atmosphere was all delicious meat aroma and smoke.
While people took pictures and made videos, patronised vendors and ate good food, others sat in a chilled tent and watched Avatar: The Way of Water, courtesy of FilmHouse Cinema and FilmOne Nigeria.
We made friends, exchanged compliments, contacts and IG handles, and could finally put faces to some of our online friends and internet neighbours. We met popular jingos like Joey Akan, Fu’ad Lawal, Emeneks, Dammy B, Hauwa L, Dwin the Stoic, Renike, Chigozie and many more.
It was a golden moment when Adeyinka paraded Ramsey, Burning Ram’s prized ram, as Blossom and Dammy (AKA the Dorime Sisters) followed, raising Jack Daniel’s bottles in the air.
It wasn’t a play-play thing when we announced that one lucky guest will win a live ram. The big grill drum of raffle tickets was spun, and Chioma Katherine won our Ramsey. Imagine the joy of coming to Burning Ram and returning home with a ram. It’s equivalent to J Hus’ “came in a black Benz, left in a white one” lyrics.
Fire breathers
You might’ve seen fire dancers many times or even been one yourself, but have you seen fire dancers perform while tossing and spinning actual fire? These guys at Burning Ram danced all the legwork known and unknown while spitting flames out of their mouths. It was like Daenerys was in one corner whispering, “dracarys”.
When it was time to see who really brought an appetite to Burning Ram, fine guys and babes nominated themselves. With bowls of jollof rice and plenty meat before them, and a large, vocal audience around, they sat and devoured their plates. Others ate hot chicken wings while singing the Nigerian national anthem. Winners emerged and received stuffed bags of Burning Ram souvenirs.
DJ Kiss’ set buzzed loudly and N.A.T.E (Nathan Good luck) hyped us into party mode with a mix of afrobeats hits, classics like Konko Below and American pop that took us back to our younger years. We moved our bodies, jumped, screamed out lyrics and had maximum fun.
Zikoko is alive on all social media platforms. Follow us and click the notification buttons to get all the updates. Subscribe to our newsletter, join our WhatsApp community, just be our best friends, and you’ll be first to know about our events as they roll out.
Get your tickets ASAP
Secure your ticket before people rush it. You know how the saying goes; you snooze, you lose.
Image Source: Prince Mazani
Leave home on time
You’ve followed us, gotten the gist about our next event and your tickets as soon as they drop, don’t wait till it’s ten minutes to party time before you leave the house on the day of the event. Well, except you like attending parties when they’re over or you’ve missed the major activities.
Burning Ram is over, but this meaty playlist can still keep you going this week:
