Bole Festival in Port Harcourt has celebrated its 10th anniversary with a three-day programme combining food, music and culture.

The 2026 edition, held from September 4 to 6, featured performances from artists including Johnny Drille, Magixx, Timaya, Duncan Mighty, Peruzzi, 1Da Banton, Mavo, Guchi and Carter Efe.

The festival began in 2016 with about 300 people gathered around a bole seller and a fire. It has since grown into an annual event celebrating bole, a popular Rivers State dish of roasted plantain served with fish and sauce.

The festival was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but returned the following year, attracting twice the audience recorded in 2019.

Organisers say the 10th anniversary marks a new phase for the festival, with plans to attract visitors from across Nigeria and other parts of Africa while expanding its food, music and cultural experiences.