Creative Industry
Abuja International Theatre Festival, ABITFA Awards To Hold October 31st to Nov. 5th
Joel Ajayi
In his determination to further promote theater art in the country Arojah Royal Theatre has announced date for the maiden edition of Abuja International Theatre Festival ABITFA which will hold from October 31 – November 5, 2023 this year in the federal capital city on Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Founder/Festival Director of ABITFAOm’Oba Jerry Adesewo said the first edition of the festival ABITFA would feature some of the best Nigerian performances carefully selected for this festival under the ‘Nigerian Showcase’
The theme for the maiden edition of the festival is “Performing Arts, Peace Building, and the Society.”
According to the statement, the Arojah Royal Theatre is pleased to herald the birth of the Abuja International Theatre Festival and Awards (ABITFA) which is scheduled to hold from October 31 – November 5, 2023 in Nigeria’s beautiful Federal Capital City of Abuja.
“ABITFA will reach out to the rest of the world to bring to Abuja/Nigeria the best of innovative theatrical expressions: full-length plays, short feature plays, poetry theatre, musicals, storytelling, puppetry, solo performances, dance/physical theatre, and other relevant dramatic presentations.
“For the international audience, festival programmers, festival producers, and others joining us, ABITFA would feature some of the best Nigerian performances carefully selected for this festival under the ‘Nigerian Showcase’
“ABITFA has something for everybody. It would feature performances for every age – children, tenagers, youth ad adult, panel discussions, workshops, masterclasses, meet and greet sessions, city tours,s and other exciting activities for Nigerian participants and international guests.
“With the world currently in crisis, going by the unrest between Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, Sudan and South Sudan; as well as internal crisis in Belarus, Mali, Ethiopia, and Sudan among others like the ever-increasing challenges of climate change, poverty, migration and human right issues. The performing arts can be used to promote peacebuilding and community engagement. By breaking down the barriers that divide us, the arts can help us connect and become more understanding of one another. In turn, leading to more peaceful and cooperative societies.
“The Performing Arts is a field of activities that help develop communication, teamwork, and collaboration skills. And theatre is one of its most veritable tools.
ABITFA 2023 thereby invites applications from interested theatre outfits and individuals from across the world that speak to the above theme. https://tinyurl.com/ABITFAproductions.
“International delegates, festival programmers, festival producers/directors, journalists, theatre critics, cultural administrators, and others, use this link to read more and apply to be part of our festival: https://tinyurl.com/ABITFAdelegates.
Also, the deadline for application is JUNE 30, 2023.
“We are pleased also to announce the following appointments, in relation to the Abuja International Theatre Festival and Awards (ABITFA 2023)
“Ola Ifatimehin, PhD – Artistic DirectorDr. Ola Ifamehin teaches Theatre and Performance Studies at the Department of Theatre and Performing Arts, Bayero University Kano. He’s an academic scion of the Ahmadu Bello University School of Drama,Zaria, where he obtained all his degrees. He is passionate about playwriting, play production and criticism. His research interests include play/film/production analysis and criticism, acting and directing, Theatre for Development and Adaptation/Cultural Studies. He is also very muchinterested in topics around Research Methodology in inter-mediality and intercultural encounters.He is a budding scholar, theatre director, actor and cultural administrator, with a considerable number of publications in both local and international journals, books and critical anthologies. He’ s currently the editor of SARARI: Bayero Journal of Theatre and Performing Arts, which just made its debut in 2020. He has presented papers in various conferences both in Nigeria and abroad.
“Esther Onwuka, fta- Co-Artistic Director
Esther Ojogbane Onwuka holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Abuja and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Theatre Arts with a specialization in dance and choreography.
She started her early career with Ebony Theatre Troupe in Makurdi, Benue State and as a result of her outstanding and excellent performance was given admission by the Department of Theatre Arts, Benue State University where she obtained a Diploma in Theatre Arts, in 1996. Her professional career started in earnest in 1996 when she joined the Abuja Council for Arts and Culture as a dance artist. In that capacity, she represented Nigeria nationally and internationally and won laurels which brought glory to her fatherland. This she did until 2013 when she joined the University of Abuja as a lecturer. Esther is currently the Deputy National President of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP.
“Mazen El Gharabawy – Lead, International Jury for ABITFA 2023Mazen Mossad Ibrahim Desouky, a professional Egyptian actor and director – he began his artistic life when he was fifteen years old, and he is considered the first founder of the acting team of the Faculty of Arts at Ain Shams University and the maker of a new generation in theatrical artistic life since 2000, and he is also the founder of the Sharm El-Sheikh International Festival The Youth Theater is the first international festival dedicated to youth in Egypt, specifically Sinai.
“Mazen will lead a 5-man international jury, drawn from Europe, Asia and Africa to the maiden Abuja International Theatre Festival.”
Creative Industry
CAFA Targets $500bn Fashion Economy At Canex Wknd 2026
Joel Ajayi
The Confederation of African Fashion (CAFA) will present its roadmap to grow Africa’s fashion economy from an estimated $30 billion to $500 billion at CANEX WKND 2026 in Lagos.
Marking its first anniversary on November 5, CAFA will unveil a joint stand with the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, formerly the National Arts Theatre, on November 5, 2026.
CAFA President, Aare (Prof.) Lai Labode, said the institution works with African governments to align sourcing, production, trade and intellectual property policies, ensuring African creativity generates greater value for African businesses and communities.
Nigeria became the first country to sign the African Fashion Industry Growth Charter on November 5, 2025, when the Honourable Minister Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa signed on behalf of the Federal Government.
Speaking ahead of the unveiling, Minister Musawa said: “Afroliganza seeks to build a structured, values-driven fashion economy rooted in African heritage, led by African institutions, and positioned for global impact.”
On employment potential, the minister emphasized that Investment in fashion will create millions of jobs, particularly for women and youth.
Registered in Rwanda, with an office in Kigali and a desk at the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, CAFA is also working with Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs towards African Union adoption of the Charter. Rwanda is progressing towards becoming its second participating country and the first in East Africa.
Its first year saw fifty nations gather at the Egbaliganza-Lisabi Festival in Abeokuta and a signed MoU with Türkiye’s ASRIAD.
CAFA’s programmes promote processing African raw materials into finished apparel locally. ‘Own What We Create’ addresses intellectual property protection, while the CAFA Certified Seal and CAFA Heritage Mark support standards and authenticity. African Global Fashion Houses are currently being established across international markets.
The African Global Fashion Games will debut in Nigeria in 2028, bringing designers together under national colours. Held every three years, the Games will alternate between African and international hosts, combining competition with investor meetings, deal signings and policy discussions. Its Instant Craft event gives competing nations identical materials and a fixed clock, placing skill at the centre of the contest.
CAFA is inviting creatives, fashion designers, artisans, diplomats, economists, investors and policymakers to its CANEX stand. Visitors can explore the roadmap, ask questions and identify opportunities to contribute through design, manufacturing, investment, research, trade and international partnerships. The stand will be open daily from November 5 to 8.
CAFA calls on the African Union to adopt the Charter, and governments to sign the Games Register and form national teams.
“Fashion has always told the world who Africa is. Now Africa will decide what fashion pays,” Aare Prof. Lai Labode said.
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