The Kano State Censorship Board has announced an immediate ban on activities known as “after-party” and “hot challenge” at weddings and other social events held in event centres across the state.
The board said the decision was taken to preserve Kano’s cultural, moral and religious values, following what it described as the growing spread of practices linked to Western culture at wedding ceremonies.
The directive was announced on Saturday by the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Censorship Board, Abba El-Mustapha, in a statement issued by the board’s Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Sulaiman.
According to the statement, the suspension takes effect immediately and applies to all event centres and social gatherings across the state.
The board explained that the move forms part of its ongoing efforts to enforce regulations guiding the activities of masters of ceremony (MCs), event planners and operators of event centres in Kano.
It said the affected activities have become increasingly common at weddings and celebrations in recent years, prompting concerns among authorities responsible for regulating entertainment in the state.
“The attention of the board has been drawn to the growing trend of this activity, which is considered a Western cultural practice increasingly introduced into wedding celebrations in the state,” the statement said.
“Consequently, the board has suspended the practice in order to safeguard the cultural, moral and religious values of the people of Kano State.”
The board said the decision was also in line with its responsibility to sanitise entertainment activities and ensure that public events are conducted in a manner that reflects the state’s traditions and religious beliefs.
While announcing the suspension, the board stressed that it is not opposed to entertainment at weddings and other celebrations.
Instead, it said it supports forms of entertainment that promote decency, respect local customs and comply with religious teachings.
According to the statement, entertainment remains an important part of ceremonies provided it is conducted within acceptable ethical standards.
The board therefore urged organisers of social events to ensure that activities held during ceremonies do not violate existing regulations.
It directed owners of event centres, masters of ceremony, disc jockeys, event planners and other stakeholders involved in organising weddings and public celebrations to comply fully with the new directive.
The board warned that anyone found organising or promoting the banned activities could face legal action under the laws establishing the Kano State Censorship Board.
It did not specify the exact penalties but said appropriate sanctions would be applied against individuals or organisations that fail to obey the order.
The board also appealed to residents to support the enforcement of the directive by reporting any violations.
It encouraged members of the public to promptly report any event centre, MC or organiser found conducting or promoting the suspended activities within Kano State.
According to the board, public cooperation will help ensure effective implementation of the directive and protect the state’s cultural and moral values.
The latest action is one of several regulatory measures introduced by the Kano State Censorship Board to oversee entertainment-related activities in the state.
The board is responsible for regulating films, music, public entertainment and other activities considered to fall within its legal mandate. It also supervises the conduct of event centres and entertainment programs to ensure compliance with state laws and cultural expectations.
Kano, one of Nigeria’s largest and most populous states, operates a legal and social system that places strong emphasis on Islamic principles and traditional values. Over the years, state authorities have introduced policies aimed at regulating public entertainment, dress codes and social events in line with those values.
Previous administrations have at different times issued guidelines for wedding ceremonies, music performances, film productions and other forms of public entertainment. Authorities have argued that such measures are necessary to preserve the state’s cultural identity and promote moral discipline.
However, some of these regulations have generated public debate, with supporters saying they help protect local traditions, while critics argue they could limit personal freedoms and the entertainment industry.
The terms “after-party” and “hot challenge” are commonly used to describe post-wedding entertainment sessions and dance-related activities that usually take place after the main wedding ceremony. Such events often feature music, dancing and social media content creation and have become increasingly popular among young people in many parts of Nigeria.
The Kano State Censorship Board believes these activities are inconsistent with the state’s cultural and religious values and has therefore prohibited them at weddings and similar gatherings.
With the new order now in effect, owners of event centres, MCs, DJs and wedding planners are expected to adjust their programs to comply with the regulations or risk sanctions from the state authorities.
The development is expected to shape how weddings and other social events are organised in Kano, as authorities seek to balance entertainment with the preservation of the state’s cultural and religious identity.