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Iklima Babangida Captures the Beauty of Kaduna through Colors and Fashion

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Iklima Babangida's new collection titled 'Diversity in Colors', tells Kaduna's story of inclusion, community and unity in its diversity.  The fashion in Kaduna is a living testament to the cultural richness that defines the city, reflecting a harmonious blend of various ethnicities. Though the city has been wooed by forces of division for decades, the determination in the eyes of merchants at bustling markets, the vibrant colors in the marketplace, the art on the bridges and flyovers, and the colors of burning homes, buried bodies,and dreams in Kaduna mirror the resilience of a city that thrives amidst challenges. This photo essay captures the beauty of a city and its people through colors and fashion:

'Master of Disguises' disguising as a Novelist: Anticipating Sidi's The Incredible Dreams of Garba Dakaskus

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—Sirajo Abdulazeez Illo Literature possesses the ability to transport readers to uncharted territories of the mind, where mystical realms intertwine with the fabric of reality. Umar Abubakar Sidi, a renowned poet and a helicopter pilot with the Nigerian Navy, has firmly established his presence in the African literary landscape through his work in which we find him seamlessly merging elements of sufism and surrealism together. With two critically acclaimed poetry volumes, The Poet of Dust and Like Butterflies Scattered About By Art Rascals, Sidi has captivated readers with his evocative metaphors, concise imagery, and insightful explorations of the enigmatic. Now, with the impending release of his debut novel, The Incredible Dreams of Garba Dakaskus, by Masobe Books, Sidi is adopting the guise of a novelist to take readers   on another journey delving into mystery. We do not have to read excerpts from The Incredible Dreams of Garba Dakaskus before we, readers of Umar Abubak

BM Dzukogi Poetry Contest

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To celebrate the birthday of one of Nigeria's literary icons, The Arts-Muse Fair, in collaboration with Poetic Wednesdays Initiative, is pleased to announce a poetry contest in his honor.  Theme: BABA DZUKOGI: BIRTHING A NEW GENERATION! Contest Rules:  1. You must be following the social media handles of Poetic Wednesdays Initiative and the Art-Muse Fair. 2. The poem should be 20 lines or less.   3. It should be posted on Twitter and Facebook with #PoeticWednesday #TheArts-MuseFair #BMDzukogi@59 4. It should also be posted in the comment section of this post.  5. Submission deadline: 12th January 2024.  Prizes:  1st prize: #10,000 and five books  2nd prize: #5000 and three books  3rd prize: #5000 and two books Instagram X Facebook Page Follow Poetic Wednesdays: Instagram X Facebook

The Hausa International Book and Art Festival is Back- and in Kano!

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  The Hausa International Book and Arts Festival- HIBAF is back and this time will be held in Kano State from the 14th to the 16th of December, 2023. The festival, which provides a platform for the promotion and exploration of the Hausa language through history, music, and arts will hold space for panels, performances, exhibitions etc. It is a crisscross festival of arts and language by and for African creatives across Europe, West, and East Africa with a touch of what the arts in Hausa ought to be. The previous edition of HIBAF was held in Kaduna State. This year, it will be held at the Center of Commerce, tumbin giwa , Kano State at the Ado Bayero Mall. The festival will draw together artists from different parts of the country and continent in both virtual and physical conversations. Guests include; Prof. Ibrahim Hamza, Chunguang Li, Mahmoud Ragab Ali Sayed, Prof. Ibrahim Bello Kano, prof. Abdalla Uba Adamu, Carmen McCain, Hassana Maina, Qalbsaleem Muhammed, Antoinette Yetunde Oni,

Short Story ~ A Journey Beyond Love ~ Sophiyya EmBee

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  "After three years I get to see this beautiful face again."  At the sound of his voice, my heartbeat accelerated. Even after all these years, I couldn't forget that voice. For days and nights, it rang in my ears. It haunted my dreams. The thick drawl, was like dripping honey.  "I have changed." I almost whispered without turning around. My voice blending with the wind. He removed his shoes and sat down beside me, putting his legs in the water beside mine. The atmosphere was tense with the friction between us, I could feel it. The strain of the years tugging at our hearts, and every fiber of my body. I wished for nothing more than his arms around me and yet tucked my hands safely between my legs instead of reaching out to pull him to me. I had invited him earlier to meet here. I had tried and failed woefully at getting him out of my mind. I had come to miss him, miss his voice, miss the comfort associated with sitting by his side. It had been difficult survivin

The Schemes of Audu Baduku by Umar Abubakar Sidi

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  The face of Badi’atul Jamal, maiden of pure incense, mermaid with the tail of the golden fish, lady of the lavender mist, princess of the light of the skies, queen plenipotentiary, invader of the hearts of men, of male demons, of male spirits and androgynous ghosts, pops up before you. You stare. The tongues of your heart protrude like a chameleon’s, lick her smiles and kiss her dimples. A silent, invisible spear emanates from the heart of her eye and pierces your heart. The cast iron armour, a protective charm Audu Baduku, the half-demon, half-human, crippled cobbler wizard gave you, is helpless as the spear drives through your heart with the ease of a needle piercing a lump of wool. As the spear sears your heart, your countenance changes. You are surprised. A mere spear penetrating a charm of Audu Baduku, the interpreter of the language of the invisible spirits, guardian of the shrine of blood and skulls, the master, discoverer of the seventy-seven condensed mediums of sorcery? Sud

The Arts-Muse Fair is BACK!

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Dearest Creative, We are BACK! Have you missed us? Because we have! But hey, we're excited to announce that we're back and ready to dive into business! And we can't wait to receive your exciting creations. While away, we've been exploring new ideas, connecting with inspiring individuals, and delving deep into the ever-evolving world of creativity. We can't wait to bring you along on this journey!!  What can you expect from us in the coming months?  Well, think of us as your art curators; we will be bringing you unique stories, poems, book reviews, and beautiful sights from the art of photography!  We will also share the latest updates from the art and literary world; we will cover festivals, travels, events, and everything arts and Culture. But hey, this isn't just about us—it's about you too! We want to hear your thoughts, questions, and ideas.  Feel free to contact us via comments, email, or our social media handles.  You can also send in your works for pu