KABAFEST’s Cancellation and Kaduna’s Fading Legacies
*When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers* — African Proverb
Last week, Lola Shoneyin, founder of the Book Buzz Foundation, which organizes the Kaduna Book and Arts Festival (KABAFEST), announced in a tweet that this year’s edition had been canceled. While she did not state the reason, she mentioned, “We also thank Uba Sani for supporting the 2024 edition of KABAFEST.
“I want to thank the people of Kaduna State for the love they have shown us over the years.” The cancellation of the 2025 Kaduna Book and Arts Festival feels like a final blow to many young people in Kaduna.
For years, the festival has been a sanctuary for writers, artists, and thinkers—a space where ideas found a voice, where creativity thrived, and where a region often overshadowed by conflict and hardship could celebrate its stories. Seeing it vanish, even for a year, is a painful reminder of how fragile such spaces are and how easily they can be lost when the forces that sustain them waver.
Beyond the books, performances, and panel discussions, KABAFEST—the only government-funded literary festival in Nigeria—has been a homecoming for many, especially young creatives hungry for inspiration and connection.
It has been a place where friendships formed, difficult conversations took place, and poetry and prose echoed the weight of lived realities. More importantly, it has played a crucial role in changing misconceptions about Northern Nigeria and Kaduna State.
It served as a reconciliatory bridge between the northern and southern parts of Kaduna, where young people shed biases and preconceived notions to truly understand one another. Its absence does not just leave an empty calendar date; it leaves a void in the hearts of those who looked forward to it as a rare moment of belonging.
This cancellation raises deeper concerns about the future of cultural and intellectual gatherings in Northern Nigeria. If a festival as impactful as KABAFEST can be put on hold without clear explanations, what does that mean for other independent creative spaces struggling to survive?
The mention of Governor Uba Sani’s support in the announcement hints at possible political or financial reasons behind the decision, but the larger question remains: Will the region continue to nurture these vital spaces, or will they gradually disappear?
Beyond KABAFEST, the new administration in Kaduna seems determined to erase the legacy of the former El-Rufai-led government. Programs like the Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship (KIF)—the only leadership fellowship in Northern Nigeria, which has produced young, vibrant leaders making waves in both the public and private sectors—appear to be facing a similar fate.
Another casualty is the Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit (KADINVEST), which, from 2016 to 2022, attracted over $4.3 billion in actual investments and pledges. Through KADINVEST, Kaduna witnessed job creation, industrial development, and an improved ease of doing business.
Projects like the Olam Poultry and Feed Mill, the Dangote Tomato Processing Plant, and various urban renewal initiatives—particularly in Millennium City—are all products of this effort. Yet, as of April 2025, the Kaduna State Government has not announced dates for the next KADINVEST.
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Historically held annually in October, the last edition, KADINVEST 7.0, took place from October 13–15, 2022. Similarly, KADSTEP (Kaduna Startup and Entrepreneurship Program), an initiative designed to support startups and small businesses, has also stalled.
The program provided training, mentorship, and funding opportunities for young entrepreneurs, fostering economic development in sectors such as agriculture, technology, and manufacturing. However, as of April 2025, the government has yet to confirm the next edition of KADSTEP.
Coincidence? I think not.
If Uba Sani is throwing out the baby with the bathwater, what is he bringing to the table that is new and fresh? Which innovative and impactful programs is he introducing to actively engage the youth of Nigeria’s fourth most populous state?
Out with the old, in with the new? New what? Beyond the forced PR on social media and paying influencers to promote his government, what is next for Kaduna State?The political clash between former Governor Nasir El-Rufai and the current Governor Uba Sani is having far-reaching implications for the state’s development.
El-Rufai’s tenure saw ambitious projects aimed at economic growth, infrastructure development, and modernization. His administration’s initiatives, such as KADINVEST and KADSTEP, positioned the state as a key player in Nigeria’s economic landscape, making it one of the leading states in investment attraction and revenue generation.
However, with Uba Sani’s administration, there appears to be a deliberate effort to distance itself from El-Rufai’s legacy—often by stalling or completely halting these programs. Road projects, bridges, policies, and even laws have suffered from this impasse.
This political rivalry, rather than fostering progress, has led to stagnation in vital projects that previously pushed the state toward growth and prosperity. The consequences of this political infighting extend beyond governance and directly impact the everyday lives of Kaduna residents.
Young entrepreneurs, creatives, and local businesses that once thrived under these programs now face uncertainty. With key initiatives such as KADSTEP and KABAFEST on hold, opportunities for economic advancement, artistic expression, and youth empowerment have been severely restricted.
KABAFEST, in particular, was not just a cultural event but a platform for bridging social and ethnic divides. Its absence, coupled with the disruption of investment and entrepreneurship programs, represents a setback for both Kaduna and the broader Northern region.
This ongoing political battle between El-Rufai and Uba Sani risks trapping Kaduna in a cycle of inconsistency and missed opportunities. Without a clear and unified vision for the state’s future, development will continue to be undermined by short-sighted political maneuvers.
The people of Kaduna deserve leadership that prioritizes long-term growth over political point-scoring. If this trend persists, the state will find itself further entrenched in political gridlock, unable to fully harness its potential for progress and stability.
For Kaduna to thrive, there must be a shift from political rivalry to collaboration. Only then can the state unlock the opportunities it needs to move forward.
Salim Yunusa wrote in from Zaria, Kaduna State. He can be reached at: [email protected].
