19/05/2025
My Speech at the just concluded Kogi Arts and Literary Festival KALFest
It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the Kogi Arts and Literary Festival. The first-ever Arts and Literary Festival in Kogi State.
First, I must confess that this journey started from dreaming. And dreams are powerful tools that can change a man, but first you have to believe it, act on it and become it. All of these, we have done to be at this stage. My dream started as an undergraduate of Veritas University Abuja. I was going to curate Arts and Literary Festival by the English and Literary Studies Department. But this didn’t come to light because that was the period I was also planning my book launch, writing my project/preparing for its defence and also preparing for my final year exams.
After graduation, I spoke with a few people, for it occurred to me that the festival could be done on a bigger scale, and that started the mission to have the Kogi Arts and Literary Festival. During the initial course of the courtesy call for the purpose of what we are having now, people told us we would encounter difficulties and that we should not deter, but I never envisioned being stretched to the point we were. I could say it was almost beyond our elastic limit, but we refused to reach a breaking point, though we were close. This is because we believe in our dreams and find it worthy of putting us through all the challenges we encountered.
We have told it times without number that it was almost becoming a song: our aim is to create an art and literary haven for creatives in Kogi State, to bring established creatives to help the upcoming ones to refine their craft, and look what is manifesting now. This, I believe, is the reward of persistency, of tenacity.
Believe me, all of this wouldn’t have been realisable without Allah SWT, who had destined this day, and we are simply players in the field of destiny. I give thanks to Him who is the most merciful, the most beneficent, who has brought us this far and for coming through when we thought all hope was lost. Four days prior to the festival, we did not have up to a hundred thousand to run this festival, and of course, it won’t have come to light if there was no money to see to its actualisation, so we are really thankful to people of goodwill that made this happen.
Special thanks to the Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Kogi State on Media, Hon. Ismail Isah, for his kind donation and wonderful contributions. Sir, you make a dream come true for young creatives in Kogi State. The Hon. Head of Service, Dr Elijah Evenemi, whom we met only four days before the programme, and still his ministry made miracles happen. We are grateful to you and your beautiful wife. We say thank you to the Hon. Commissioner for Education, who is duly represented by Hon. Nana, the SSA on education. The Hon. Commissioner on Youth and Sport, who is duly represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry. Thank you for being here.
Special thanks to Chief Momoh Dawud, Hon. Jumabe, and the SA on Art and Culture to the executive governor of Kogi State. Mr Cozy was introduced to us by a kind man, DJ. And then he held our hands and breathed fresh air into our dying spirit. That path opened a way to meet a legend, Mr AbdulSalam Abdul Hakeem Adeiza, Triple A.
To the literary society, we are grateful for the foundation you’ve laid that made this too possible. Professor, Sunday Enesi Ododo, you are a testament to the goodness in creativity. A beacon of hope to young creatives, and it’s such an honour to have you here today. We are very appreciative of Mallam Denaja Abdullahi, the former president of the Association of Nigerian Authors, whose excellence has been a light to most of our dealings. A proud Kogite, Oworo man. He has been with us since yesterday. Thank you so much, sir, for your contribution to making this day what we are having now.
To author Salamatu Sule, you are God-sent; you held our hands since the beginning and haven’t let go ever since. We wouldn’t have come this far without your powerful insight and support.
I would like to extend thanks to the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja. Thank you for partnering with us to deliver KALFest. This hall was given to us by the school for free. We are most grateful to the university environment, the Provost of Post Graduate Studies, the Head of the Department of English and Studies, lecturers of the department (especially Dr Abbah Abbah,) the Head of the Department of Theatre Art, and the students of the university, especially English and Literary Studies students and Theatre Art students. God bless you all.
I would like to extend my appreciation to the panellist. Our panel session consists of great-minded individuals, and it’s such an honour to have you bless us with your wealth of knowledge. Special thanks to Professor Abel, Mallam Denja Abdullahi, Ms Salamatu Sule, Dr Muhammed Ali, Dr Abbah Abbah, and Miss Maymunah Kadiri. We are most grateful.
To our team members. Your contribution has been immense and well appreciated. We are most grateful for your work and support. Thank you, Bar Momoh, Amina Isyaka, Sufiyan Ibrahim, Eneida Bilkis, Onimisi, Daniel Ogirima, Abdul’Azeeze Khadijat, Hassan, Odumburu Ismail, Israel Onoruoiza, Hauwa, Bar. Muheeb, Mr Daniel Abuh, Dr Onuche and others…Special appreciation to our partners for their support. Thank you, Lugard TV, Generous Events, Kogi Global Media, Kogi Reporta, P-Link and others…
Dear vendors, it was nice doing this with you. Let’s do this again.
To my partner, Isah AbdulSamad, I am happy I’m doing this with you. May our effort not be in vain.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my utmost pleasure to found and curate Kogi Arts and Literary Festival, KALFest, and I hope we continue to add flavour to arts and literature in Kogi State. Thank you all once again for your support. It’s such a pleasure.
Muyibat Avosuahi Yusuf, author, poet, spoken word artist, and founder of the Kogi Arts and Literary Festival and Kogi Arts Redefined.
