Nigeria’s National Theatre is bringing young filmmakers, performers and visual artists to Kano for a new summit aimed at helping emerging creatives develop professional skills and build industry connections.
The inaugural Kano Creative Summit, scheduled for Sept. 10 and 11, is open to Nigerian creatives aged 35 and under working across film, performing arts and visual arts. Applications close on Sept. 1.
According to the National Theatre, the two-day programme will give participants access to industry professionals, legal experts, policymakers and established practitioners. Sessions are expected to cover intellectual property and monetisation, performing arts training, visual arts and exhibition practice, as well as financial planning for creative careers.
Much of Nigeria’s international creative-industry profile is associated with Lagos, a major centre for film, music, fashion and advertising. Kano, however, has developed a distinct creative ecosystem of its own, particularly through Hausa-language film and television.
The city is closely associated with Kannywood, the northern Nigerian screen industry whose productions reach audiences across northern Nigeria and other Hausa-speaking communities in West Africa. Its films draw on Hausa language, social settings, music and performance traditions, supported by an established network of actors, directors, producers and technicians.
Applicants are being sought from theatre, dance, spoken word, storytelling and traditional and contemporary performance, as well as fine art, digital and multimedia art, public art and exhibition practice. Film applicants may include practitioners in production, directing, screenwriting and cinematography.
For emerging creatives, professional development increasingly extends beyond artistic practice to areas such as intellectual property, financial management, distribution and access to markets.
Kano’s film sector has also attracted international attention this year. In June, a delegation of European diplomats led by European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS Gautier Mignot visited Kano Film Village, where they met filmmakers, actors, producers and industry officials.
