KANFEST 2025: Governor Yusuf Directs Emirs to Uphold Annual Durbar Celebration
Governor Yusuf Reaffirms Commitment to Preserving Kano’s Cultural Heritage
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has directed all Emirs across Kano State to uphold the annual Durbar Festival, a traditional horse-riding celebration that symbolizes the state’s history, pride, and cultural unity.
He reaffirmed the Kano State Government’s full support for the Emirates to preserve and globally promote this centuries-old tradition, describing it as a “vital link between the past and the promise of a greater cultural future.”
KANFEST 2025 Opens with Focus on Creativity, Diversity, and Global Partnerships
In a statement released by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Yusuf made the directive during the opening ceremony of KANFEST (Kalankuwa) 2025 — an annual festival that celebrates Kano’s cultural diversity, empowers creatives, engages youth and women, and builds international cultural partnerships that spotlight the state on the global cultural map.
Governor Yusuf emphasized his administration’s resolve to continue investing in arts, culture, and tourism as tools for social cohesion, youth empowerment, and economic diversification.
Emir Sanusi II Commends Cultural Revival Initiative
The Emir of Kano and Chairman of the State Council of Emirates, His Highness Dr. Muhammadu Sanusi II, lauded the government’s vision in restoring and promoting the valuable traditions of the Kano people.
He described the initiative as “a reaffirmation of Kano’s status as a cradle of culture, scholarship, and civilization.”
Festival Highlights
The three-day KANFEST 2025 showcases a blend of heritage and modern creativity through:
- Traditional Durbar processions and cultural performances
- Local cuisine exhibitions and food fairs
- Drama, arts, and crafts displays
- Textile, fabric, and pottery showcases
- Paper presentations by cultural scholars and industry experts
The event attracted traditional title holders, members of the diplomatic corps, investors, artisans, youth, artists, and cultural groups, highlighting Kano’s leadership role in Nigeria’s cultural and creative economy.\
