The Government of Kano State has announced the maiden edition of KANFEST (Kalankuwa), a grand festival of arts and culture designed to celebrate the state’s rich heritage, creativity, and identity.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, who said the festival will take place from October 25th to 27th, 2025, at the Kano Trade Fair Complex, under the coordination of the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam.
According to the statement, the event will serve as a melting pot of tradition and creativity, bringing together artists, cultural groups, investors, and visitors from across Nigeria and around the world.
Read Also:
Waiya Celebrates Sen. Kwankwaso, Describes Him as a Visionary Leader and Builder of Men
Themed “Preserving the Past, Inspiring the Future,” KANFEST represents the state government’s firm commitment to preserving cultural values, promoting creative innovation, and building bridges between the past and the future. The festival, Waiya said, is part of the government’s broader strategy to use culture as a tool for peace, unity, tourism, and economic growth.
The people of Kano are proud custodians of history, and during these three days, history will come alive in Kano. Guests will have the unique opportunity to see, taste, and feel Kano’s soil, and to experience the state’s finest cultural traditions on one stage.
Highlights of the festival will include wrestling the old Kano way, showcasing traditional strength and valor; Majema tanning artistry revealed, celebrating Kano’s global reputation for leather craft; Dukawa leather craftsmanship, where innovation meets tradition; and the feature, all tribes, one stage, reflecting unity in diversity.
Waiya described KANFEST as more than just entertainment, noting that it represents a cultural rebirth that honours heritage while empowering the future.
He added that the festival aims to revive Kano’s cultural identity, create opportunities for cultural industries, and attract investment into the state, transforming it from festival to foreign direct investment.
As we open our doors to the world, I call on everyone within and outside Kano to join us in this cultural movement, the statement added. Let us show the world that Kano remains the cradle of Hausa civilization, a land of proud people and proud heritage, where culture connects communities and inspires tomorrow.
He concluded by affirming that indeed, the world is coming to Kano through culture.
