The Hausa International Book and Arts Festival (HIBAF) will begin June 27- 28, with a theme “Knowledge Production(s),” the curators of the event, The Open Arts, said in a statement on Tuesday.
The statement said the event “will serve as a lens to examine the intricate and layered epistemologies of the Hausa people, exploring how indigenous knowledge systems have been shaped over centuries which has been deeply rooted in oral traditions, communal wisdom and spiritual practices.”
These indigenous frameworks, the statement said, will offer insights into the Hausa worldview, encompassing philosophy, governance, ethics, and the relationship between people and the environment.
In this edition of the festival, “we will engage the intersections of indigenous, Islamic, and colonial epistemologies in shaping Hausa knowledge. How do we situate knowledge production(s) about African literacies in an era of digitization and archival materials? How do we support the “ordinary” creation and sharing of knowledge and ideas? Through conversations, performances, recitations, translations and art exhibitions, the 2025 edition of the Hausa International Book and Arts Festival will explore Knowledge Production(s) as a means of literary and artistic development.
“#HIBAF25 invites participants to reflect on the vastness of African Knowledge Production(s) by bridging the past with the present and examine how indigenous knowledge remains a dynamic and essential resource for cultural expression, intellectual growth, and global dialogue.
The festival will adopt a hybrid format, combining virtual and in-person engagements from 26th to 28th June, 2025. The opening day (26th) will take place entirely online, while the events on 27th and 28th will be held physically at Arewa House in Kaduna, Nigeria.
