Abba Kabir Yusuf Durbar directive urges Kano emirs to revive and preserve the historic festival, pledging full state backing for cultural heritage

Abba Kabir Yusuf Durbar directive has reaffirmed the Kano State Government’s commitment to preserving the state’s cultural heritage, as the governor directed all emirs to uphold the annual Durbar festival.

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Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, over the weekend, emphasised that the Durbar festival, a centuries-old tradition of horsemanship and pageantry, remains an integral part of Kano’s cultural identity.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the governor gave the directive during the opening of Kanfest (Kalankuwa) 2025, an event designed to celebrate Kano’s cultural diversity, empower creativity, and promote youth and women’s participation in the arts.

Yusuf pledged the full support of his administration to the emirates, noting that the government would continue to invest in arts, culture, and tourism as essential tools for social cohesion, youth engagement, and economic diversification.

“We are determined to preserve, strengthen, and showcase our cultural heritage to the world,” the governor said, describing the Durbar as a source of pride and unity for the Kano people.

In his remarks, the Emir of Kano and Chairman of the State Council of Emirates, Dr Muhammadu Sanusi II, commended the state government’s renewed effort to restore the revered traditions of the Kano people, praising Governor Yusuf’s vision for cultural revival.

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The Abba Kabir Yusuf Durbar directive marks a significant step in promoting Kano’s heritage and reinforcing the state’s position as a leading centre of culture and tradition in Nigeria.