Unchained Vibes Africa (UVA), an advocacy group, has revealed that Kano State is responsible for 85 per cent of violations against artistic freedom in Nigeria.
The group’s Executive Producer, Ayodele Ganiu, disclosed this during a Freedom Vibes Stakeholders Forum organized by UVA in Kano. Ganiu explained that these violations manifest in forms such as license revocations, arrests, and detentions of artists.
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Ganiu criticized these practices, stating, “We came to Kano because we monitor violations of artistic freedom, how artists were being denied the right to express themselves. Licenses were being revoked, and artists were being arrested and detained. In our records, 85 per cent of these cases come from Kano.”
He further emphasized the need for engagement rather than protests, saying, “To make change happen, you have to engage with stakeholders, find common ground, and not just campaign against the Censors Board and government officials. We are here to reach out and engage the Censors Board, making them realize that artists, as responsible citizens, also have rights to express themselves.”
Ganiu also noted that many of the censorship regulations conflict with Nigeria’s constitution and international human rights obligations. “There are so many contradictions when it comes to preserving culture and religion. We need to face reality,” he added.
In response, the Chairman of the Kano State Censorship Board, Abba Al-Mustapha, stated that the board’s role is to regulate and provide a fair playing field for artists while ensuring that blasphemous and abusive content is avoided.
