By Prisca SamDuru

The inaugural edition of Kaduna Book & Arts Festival, KABAFEST will hold at Gusau Institute, Kaduna state from 5-8 July 2017. KABAFEST will celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Northern Nigeria, harness the passion of local creativity, and bring together some of the finest contemporary writers, artists, filmmakers, poets and thinkers, to Kaduna.

KABAFEST’s Creative Director, Lola Shoneyin, hinted that the festival is aimed at creating new and exciting opportunities for social and cultural interaction, the celebration and promotion of creativity in the Northern region of Nigeria, as well as fostering tolerance and understanding through dialogue about books, culture, the arts and society.

“Our stimulating panel discussions will focus on a range of exciting topics. Matthew Kukah, Ibrahim Bello Kano and Usman Bugaje are billed to guide us in a conversation on Religious Tolerance; HRH Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Aisha Umar and Saudatu Mahdi will be talking Harnessing the Potential of Women in Northern Nigeria. Nur’din Busari, Jamila Umar Tanko, Abdullah Dona, Zakari Mohammed will talk us through the Challenges of Publishing in Northern Nigeria,” She explained.

World-famous Sudanese writer, Leila Aboulela will be joined by established and rising cultural Buhari, Kaltume B Gana, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, Aisha Umar, Toni Kan, Titilope Sonuga, Efe Azino, Aminu Waka, Hafsat Abdulwaheed, Andrew Walker, Carmen McCain, Ibrahim Bello-Kano, etc., to take guests on an intimate journey through their personal literary landscapes.

KABAFEST, organised by the Kaduna State Government in partnership with the Book Buzz Foundation and the Gusau Institute, will feature 5 booklogues with 9 authors, 9 panel discussions, 2 film screenings, an art exhibition with four Northern Nigerian artists, Food tasting, and a magical poetry performance. In order to cultivate school children’s interest in reading and creative writing, secondary schools students will participate in the poetry declamation contest. Students of tertiary institutions in Kaduna State who register before 5 July can attend for free and also apply online for a book grant of N10, 000.

The Award winning Nigerian film; Blood and Henna directed by Kenneth Gyang, starring Ali Nuhu, Sadiq Sani and Nafisat Abdullahi, will be screened, and Leila Aboulela will host a special two-day Fiction Writing Workshop for Women, to encourage women writers and give them a chance to hone their skills. There will also be performances by poets like Titilope Sonuga, Efe Paul Azino, Wana Udobang, etc.