How Borno reimagined a better tomorrow in 2nd Book and Arts Festival
* Alao Dam flood disaster… seeped into my spirit, says festival curator, Jimeh
By Aliyu Danladi
THE 2nd edition of Borno Book and Arts Festival took place at a time Borno needed a space to reflect on its past and reimagine a future that would guarantee its security, integrity and prosperity. Emerging from the ordeals of a decade-long insurgency and a recent flood disaster, Borno, as the mother earth, had survived both fire and water, experiencing the potency of life-sustaining elements to destroy and displace lives, property and dreams. Yet, through the sheer resilience and valour characteristic of the different people that make up the modern-day state, the historically pre-eminent Kanem Bornu Empire, guests dusted themselves off the ruin to participate in the 3-day festival from Friday, December 20 to Sunday, December 22, 2024.
The festival kick-started with a moving performance by a young poet and social advocate, Radhiya Abdulhakeem. Poets, artists and advocates had occupied the hall of the Armani Event World along Damboa Road in Maiduguri, staring out in a mix of curiosity and excitement borne of a genuine interest in the trials and triumphs of Borno. The first panel discussion ‘Empowering Voices: The Role of Festivals, Exhibtions and Trade Fairs in Promoting Northern Nigeria’, hosted by Yahuza Bawage, spoke to such need, highlighting the contributions of festivals in preserving culture and sparking conversations about history, arts and literature.
While commenting on the insights shared by the panelists Hadiza Abubakar and Yahuza Rabi’u Garba, the large-robed Zannah Hassan Boguma whose demeanour and appearance in a red dara hat signified his Borno heritage, identified the sociocultural resources that abound in Northern Nigeria and how they could be tapped, especially within the former Bornu Empire historically known for scholarship and artistry. I contributed in the same vein, establishing the need for innovation in curating festivals and trade fairs to attract investments rather than the economic liability some of the events have been.
Abdullahi baba Machina (left); Mu’azu Modu; Benjamin John and Zainab Chellube as panel members of ‘HDP: Unified Response in Crisi-Prone Areas’ PHOTO: MUHAMMAD ALI
“…Even in Kano, the commercial hub of the North, trade fairs hardly excelled beyond a quantifiable good sales, while the economic situation keep faltering as in the case of Shoprite and other establishments recently chased out by sales decline,” I remarked, adding, “More ways have to be identified to attract economic gains through auctions of artworks and local goods at the increasing number of such festivals across Northern Nigeria
The opening session ended with a drive for book donation and the conferment of a lifetime achievement award on Abubakar Othman. Thereafter, dignitaries and attendees embarked on a tour of elegant artworks displayed across the fencing of a mini football pitch at the eastern end of the venue.
Conversations on education featured prominently, underscoring its importance in uplifting communities and empowering the less privileged. In ‘The Role of Quality Basic Education in Peacebuilding and Community Development’, Abubakar Sadiq Mu’azu, Fati Mohammed, and Debbie Ray examined the state of basic education in Borno, suggesting different approaches for reforms at the individual, community and institutional level.
The curator of the festival, Khadijah Jimeh, moderated the panel on ‘Tsangaya System: Who Failed the Children’, the panelists, Abubakar Maaji Muhammad and Professors Ibrahim Umara (Political Science) and Adam M. Ajiri (Islamic Studies) discussed extensively the situation of tsangaya system, drawing from its history as a classical method of Qur’anic teaching. Prof. Umara, who had become a famous example of an almajiri, who has risen above the crowd to excel and eventually becoming a university professor, beamed with pride as he narrated the significance of the system and how it could be improved for good.
Prof. Umara, who was once an almajiri pupil before enrolling into formal school and rose to the enviable position of a professor, canvased a complete overhaul of the almajiri system so the children are well catered for.
“There is a need for an overhaul in the tsangaya system. Instead of leaving the children to fend for themselves by roaming the streets, it will be better for each child to be entrusted with enough provision for their basic needs such that they can focus solely on learning,” Umara suggested.
The session on ‘The Future: Borno Then, Now and Tomorrow’ took the spotlight on Day 2 of the event. Hosted by Muhammed Usman, it featured prominent figures like Yadoma Mandara, the Zannah Boguma of Borno, Zannah Hassan Boguma, the historian Abdulhamid Al-Ghazali and the internationally recognized child rights activist Ibrahim Zannah Sunoma. While Mandara and Sunoma represented women and cchildren’svoices respectively, Al-Ghazali dwelled on the rich history and traditions of the Kanem Bornu Empire and its evolution to its present-day socio-political setting. Speaking as the sage he’s known for, Boguma linked threads from the past with the present, recommending ways to a prosperous future through education, industrialization and enlightenment from the rich millennial old culture and heritage of Borno.
Another panel on ‘HDP: Unified Response in Crisis-Prone Areas’ further amplified the case for rehabilitation and restoration efforts across the BAY states – Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. Moderated by AB Machina, Mu’azu Modu, Benjamin John and Dr. Zainab Chellube, advocates with decade-long experience in community and humanitarian action, highlighted innovative strategies to peace-building across the Northeastern region by improving on the existing framework.
In the panel on ‘Empowering Youths for Peace’, Abba Ali Yarima, Aisha Izge, Sulaiman Barde and Edna Carsly assessed the role of advocacy and creativity in giving a voice to the victims of the insurgency to share their stories and heal. Yarima, who worked as the project officer of the United Nations’ Office on Drugs and Crimes’ End Violence Against Children (ENDVAC), shared some activities her organisation carried out, including sensitization campaigns across the BAY states together with some the panelists and the host, Janada Gadzama.
The session on ‘Post-Insurgency Anxiety and Trauma’ received an extensive deliberation by mental health specialists and advocates, Nada Abdulwahab and Abdulhakeem Ngulde. Having witnessed firsthand the effect of Boko Haram crises on victims’ mental wellbeing, the panel members lamented the poor state of national mental health expenditure which accounted for less than four per cent of Nigeria’s total budget at the time.
Issues of global concern were equally discussed. Izge Aliyu, Halima Bawah and Baba Kura Alhaj emphasized the importance of local, community-based approach to addressing climate action and global warming, while Abba Ali Yarima Mustapha, Abubakar Gambo, and Sa’id Sa’ad Abubakar dissected the implication of immigration trends in the insightful session ‘Japa Syndrome: The Impact of Japa Syndrome on Nigeria’s Development’, and moderated by Muhammad Bukar Umara.
The advantages and limitations of artificial intelligence on arts and creativity were highlighted by a panel that had Umar Grema, Albashir Ishaq, Grace Atinuke and Usman Abba Zanna. Another session moderated by Daniel Singfuri echoed a similar message, as it identified opportunities to monetize creative skills. Using personal anecdotes, Qalbsaleem narrated his journey and success as a calligrapher and brand strategist, while Ismail Auwal traced his steps from an emerging journalist to being published by the New York Times. A brilliant parable spiced up Abubakar Danladi’s submission. To show the context and significance of value, Danladi recounted a movie scene where someone was able to sell a pen to its owner by grabbing the pen and presenting a deal which could only be signed by purchasing the pen back.
The second edition of Borno Book and Arts Festival paid tribute to the power of books to illuminate the mind and chased away ignorance. In addition to the book drive and the review of Nightmares of Borno by Muhammad Ibrahim Sani and two titles by Aisha Amdagas, Love in a Hot Climate and Seasons and Feelings, which she co-authored with Dr. Abubakar Othman (now of blessed memory). On the last day of the book feast, two book chats were held. One was on my collection of short stories about post-insurgency in Northeastern Nigeria, Storm Across the Sahel and Gangare, a series of radio plays produced by Sa’id Sa’ad Abubakar for the Centre of Advocacy, Transparency and Accountability Initiative (CATAI) as part of its awareness campaigns on the importance of education for the girl-child and out-of-school children.
Fatima Mafi (left); Suwaiba Abdulrashid and Aisha Abdullahi representing Kanuri, Babur and Shuwa cultural textile diversity of Borno PHOTO: FATIMA MAFI/Facebook
As with literary festivals anywhere in the world, Borno Book and Arts Festival offered a memorable experience that peaked with a poetry slam named in honour of the academic and poet, Abubakar Othman. Starting with the conferment of a lifetime achievement award received by the late poet’s son on behalf of the family, the Abubakar Othman Prize for Poetry Slam saw finalists contending for the N100,000 (one thousand naira) award. With the stage already electrified with a stunning performance by Gift Akonti, the contenders invested energy and enthusiasm into the final rounds which saw Diana Hyelinthia win over Radhiya Abdulhakeem by the power of her poetic ammunition fired with tact and precision.
The visual artistic component of Borno Book and Arts Festival stood out in brilliant colours as the enshrined in the rust and gold deployed by John Pepper Clark to describe Ibadan in his popular poem bearing the name of the city as title. Just like the metaphor of a “broken china in the sun”, the festival brought together a mosaic of cultural and artistic significance Borno had been renowned for all through the ages. On the second day of the festival, the curator, Jimeh and other female volunteers wore blue, red and brown-hued attires and apparels associated with the Kanuri, Babur, Shuwa and other ethnic groups that are indigenous to Borno.
Remarking on the success of the festival, the curator, Jimeh who got the baton from the founder and director, Sa’id Sa’ad, said, “I started preparing for the festival since January 2024, mapping out possible partners and sponsors and all of that, but juggling between curating a festival and studying a course like Human Anatomy was no easy task. I doubted myself especially after the Alao Dam flood disaster which didn’t just drown streets and soak carpets, but seeped into my spirit that I almost considered postponing the event until the first quarter of 2025.”
Khadija further expressed appreciation to her team, partners and sponsors for contributing to the event’s success, who made the burden light.
“Curating this festival was like planting seeds in stormy soil, unsure if anything would bloom,” she said. “But people did show up for me. I am grateful to my co-curator Umar Abatcha and the entire team, and to all our partners and sponsors in the private sector and the development space.”
By the time Borno Book and Arts Festival ended, two things had been achieved. At one end, it provided an avenue for young change-makers across the Northeast to meet and reflect on the past, celebrating the resilient spirit of the region, particularly Borno for whom Radhiya recited in her poem during the festival’s opening: “…She (Borno) is the sun floating through clouded grief”. On the other hand and to which the festival theme “Reimagining Tomorrow” aspired, it gave a platform for Borno to redefine its goals, vision and aspirations in culture, economy and politics.
* Danladi, Project Lead, Jewel Literary and Creativity Foundation, writes on arts, culture, youth engagement and capacity development
