According to a group called Unchained Vibes Africa, or UVA, 85% of artistic freedom abuses occur in Kano State. This was said by the group’s executive producer, Ayodele Ganiu, at a freedom vibes stakeholders event that was held in Kano.
Ganiu, who claimed that the violations included, among other things, licence revocation, arrests, and detention, pointed out that these violations were nonetheless taking place in spite of the nation’s voluntary ratification of international human rights instruments.
The Executive Producer expressed disapproval of the trends and stated that they should have been considered when planning a stakeholder engagement meeting rather than organising a protest.
He said, “We came to Kano because we watch how artists’ rights to express themselves are being violated, and we monitor violations of artistic freedom.” Licenses were being cancelled, and performers were being taken into custody. 85 percent of them were from Kano, according to our records.
And for that reason, we are in Kano.And in order to bring about change, you must interact with the stakeholders, give them a voice, and ask them how we may work together to solve our problems.
Campaigning and denouncing the Censors Board and public servants is insufficient. In order to help the Censors Board understand that everyone has rights and that artists are responsible, engaged citizens who use their work to fulfil their civic duties, that is what we are attempting to accomplish here.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria’s constitution and Nigeria’s obligations under numerous international human rights instruments, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the UNESCO convention on the protection and promotion of cultural diversity, are in conflict with a number of provisions found in the Censors Board rules.
Nigeria voluntarily ratified these instruments, and it now has duties to uphold. However, as Kano is a component of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it cannot be an exception.
The preservation of culture and religion raises a great deal of contradicting concerns. There are a lot of contradictory things that people are doing. We must accept the way things are,” Ganiu remarked.
Prior to this, Abba Al-Mustapha, the Chairman of the Kano State Censorship Board, stated that the organisation was set up to control and give artists a level playing field in order to protect them from, among other things, derogatory remarks, defamation, and profanity.
