By Namse Udosen
The strings of conversations provide a melody for the dance of society. The Kaduna Book and Arts Festival (KABAFEST) was a platform for strumming those chords. The rhythms of the festival were orchestrated by the indefatigable Lola Shoneyin and her Book Buzz crew.
Our voices waxed lyrical on education, security and arts.
Cynics would question the gathering of intellectuals. Some would be deliberately anti-intellectual and scorn the thought of having any conversation that puts pressure on pedestrian thinking.
It’s difficult to convince people that conversations around books, arts and culture are an elixir to galvanize public thinking. How do you get them to understand that a nation is a product of its collective thinking? What words would explain that KABAFEST is not a jamboree but a melting of thinkers and artists? A canvas for the splashing colours of different shades of life and society.
For those that attended, the book chats beamed lights into the crevices of society. Without KABAFEST many young people would not listen to Audee T Giwa preach about “Love in the Afternoon”. The book chat was not just about literature, it was a penetration into the part of the society hypocrisy has hidden from us. Where else would young Arewa girls and guys freely discuss relationships and sex without fear of judgment?
Where else would young ladies in Kaduna get the energy and confidence to face sexual abusers? It was a rare privilege for most of us to feel the heat of Mona Elthahawy’s fire. I doubt if any Kaduna mother would inspire their daughter to self-confidence like Mona did while discussing the “Seven Necessary Sins”. I saw a silent revolution in the eyes of many girls as Mona without relenting smashed patriarchy over and over again. Only a gathering of intellectuals, and thinkers can give young people such a platform for bold, open and fearless conversations.
Where could people discuss sex and the extra spices it comes with without shame? How else could unlearn the myths of sexual performance if not from a panel with Joe a seasoned psychotherapist and Fatima a ‘Kayan Mata vendor. Unfortunately, the ones who despise these events toll the bells of ignorance loudly and without shame.
How do we convince naysayers, of how KABAFEST has provided a springboard for the Critics Company, Mud Art, and Stringz Shady to grow their art? Didn’t Jordan Bangoji meet Mavin Records rapper Ladipoe at KABAFEST? Ladipoe and other first-timers in Kaduna saw the finest version of Kaduna at KABAFEST. They didn’t meet Almajiri, rather they meet people like Maryam Augie, Abdulrahaman and Abdulaziz who are doing extensive work to improve them. They saw a governor’s wife groove live for the first time. They saw Hausa ladies in hijabs kill Simi’s verse on “Know You”. They saw Salim Yunusa, Hauwa Saleh, and Abdulbasit Abubakar make a salad with words. This is not the North they are used to.
KABAFEST was a leveller. How could a simple man like Namse be on a panel with the First Lady of Kaduna state talking about literacy development? I have been advocating for a literacy development plan for years but KABAFEST allowed me to preach directly to the government. Where else could students and everyday people like me have a chance to speak to Dattijo, Sam Aruwan, and Hafiz Bayero and have them respond to our questions? How else would we have known that the major problem with literacy in Nigeria is not out-of-school children but children found in school and not developing literacy skills?
Without KABAFEST how would we inspire a community of readers? How do we feel the connection with other people who enjoy reading and gain insight into what they think about books? In addition to connecting with other readers, we got to meet renowned authors like Bisi Adjapon, Abubakar Adam, and TJ Benson and hear them speak about their work. I believe that these opportunities are invaluable and should not be missed out on. I hope KABAFEST is continued by the next government in Kaduna State.
