It’s an election year, which means a lot of uncertainty and excitement, with Nigerians holding their breath as we vote in the next resident of Aso Villa. However, one thing we are certain of is the ever-flowing creative juices that keep our community going.
Last year, we ended things on a high note with a series of contests, games and awards. This year, we plan to change things up because that’s what always follows an election but before we let you in on our new plans, here’s a recap of 2022.
Rundown ’22
Ayamba Meet & Greet
While we didn’t have quite as many guests in 2022 as we did in 2021, we still had a blast and are proud to be the binding glue that led to new collaborations, hobbies and careers as a result.
We would like to thank all our guests for gracing us with their presence. Your work, particularly in Kaduna has been an inspiration to many and we’ve seen how you have motivated some in our community to follow in your footsteps. Here’s a brief overview of the awesome talent we had over. You can follow the links for a refresher.
- Hauwa Saleh Abubakar – a poet and podcaster, Hauwa is among Ayamba’s first. Her writing and performances attract adults and children alike, talking about life, mental health, society and progress towards the dream of a better life.
- Elina Augustine – is the founder of Wonder Woman, a charity focused on the needs of women. She supports the sustainable development of the young and adults alike, making it a matter of dignity.
- Richard Dambo – is an investigative journalist that provides quality, equitable and accessible information to the populace. Richard’s efforts educate the public and provide them with a different perspective free of bias and misinformation.
- Iklima Babangida – is a professional photographer that wishes to remind us to temper our passions with realistic expectations. Her works have appeared in homes, exhibitions and large events.
- Isaac Jiga Ulaka – the award-winning dancer popularly known as Jiga is also a choreographer and Hallyu content creator. Making a name for himself in the Nigerian contemporary and k-pop dance scenes, he also dedicates his time and moves to giving back to the community.
- Ganiyat Sani – is the founder and artistic director of NYH Concepts and the Kaduna Fashion & Arts Exhibition (KAFART). As an art curator, she has brought a new appreciation for fashion to Northern Nigeria. Her events always attract a colourful band of chic fashionistas and elegant stylists with an eye for art.
- Anita Nchat Kevin – is an educationist and the founder of Amina Dyslexia Center. International literacy day exists to sensitise others on the importance of literacy all around the world, so it made sense to have her educate our community. Anita has made it her business to help people, young and old, achieve basic literacy skills, despite their learning disabilities. Her work is transforming literacy learning spaces.
- Eugene Shichet Yakubu – is a writer and creative writing activist that curates programs in Northern Nigeria for young students and inmates in marginalised communities. His dedication to the cause is admirable and has been instrumental in helping literary art organisations achieve their goals.
To close the year we had a very special edition of Meet & Greet in which we celebrated our long-time partners, VersusNG and Yasmin El-Rufai Foundation for their long-time support of the event.
Non-stop Podcasts
From folktales and poetry to book reviews, manga and so many things in between.
Ayamba’s list of podcasts is increasingly becoming what we’re most known for. New shows have come and gone, some forever while others only temporarily. While some hosts have gone on to start other shows, we will continue to enjoy their first forays into the podcasting world and there’s an indescribable joy in watching creators grow as they hone their craft.
When we began this journey, we were novices and in a way, we still are. That’s because there’s always something new to learn, changing fads and evolving technologies. For the podcast team, this only emboldens us and propels us to do more and have fun at it. Here’s a list of our shows for you to check out. Both new and old, on hiatus and otherwise.
Current Lineup
The Rave: Live, Love, Grow hosted by Micheal Olaniyi: Not a day goes by without someone somewhere wondering why life is so hard. It comes as a package deal and navigating it is what it means to be alive. Join Micheal Olaniyi (Mandrel Mykels) as he shares his life’s adventures and opinions on everyday topics like money and time.
The Rave: Live, Love, Grow returns this month, February 2023.
Returning Soon
Lyfeblerd hosted by Cryptte: Some might disagree but for us, the literary arts aren’t complete without a look at comics, mangas, light novels, etc. That’s where Cryptte, our ancient blerd (black nerd) comes in, guiding us through the shelves of ACGN geekdom.
Lyfeblerd returns with a second season in April 2023.
The Shorttales Club hosted by Oz & friends: Don’t you just love short stories with their unpredictability and concise storytelling? Well, if you’re anything like Oz & friends, then The Shorttales Club is exactly what you need. Join the merry band of bedroom critics as they read, think and discuss thrilling short stories. You can also join the conversations that follow each episode on their social platforms.
The Shorttales Club returns for season two in May 2023.
On Hiatus
Jolly Reading hosted by Namse Udosen: Mr. Namse introduces kids to the fun of reading stories and the excitement of discovery. His folktale series remains the best with an assortment of guest narrators. There are two seasons available for you and the kids to enjoy.
Poetry Doctor hosted by Hauwa Saleh: Our Poetry Doctor listens to the trials and tribulations of her listeners before prescribing poems to help soothe their emotional pains. It’s a monthly dose of poetic tonic spread across two seasons.
Poet Box Series hosted by Aisha K. Mohammed: Join Aisha and come have a sit-down with your favourite poets. It’s an hour of getting to know what makes these poets tick, their origin stories and what they have in store for the world. Look out for more shows from Aisha.
Reading With R hosted by Ruqayyah Nabage: Enjoy book reviews by everyone’s favourite fangirl, Ruqayyah Nabage. It’s a monthly podcast in which the listeners get to vote on the next title. One warning though, her love of books is contagious, so beware.
We have more podcasts incoming and other audio programs at varying stages of development, so do look forward to them as we cut across multiple genres and areas of interest.
And please, if you would like to pitch a show of your own, let us know by filling out the form here.
Meet & Greet
Change is truly the only constant in this wild world we live in and our monthly in-person event is a loyal friend. Change has come knocking again and we foresee a different kind of Meet & Greet this year.Â
For starters, while the name may remain the same, it’s structure and frequency will reduce. That’s right, our monthly in-person interactions will now be drop to two for the year. This will allow us to pack more into each event and make them even more memorable. Worry not, we will be sharing these dates months before the events to allow you to prepare your performances, dance skills and writing craft for another day of fun and games.
Similar to last year’s book chat with Umar Abubakar Sidi, we plan to hold a few more surprise activities outside of Meet & Greet. This arrangement allows us to work on our secret projects without pressure until they’re absolutely ready for your consumption.
Feels Great to be Back
As our loyal fans and community members know, the Ayamba LitCast calendar begins every February and we’re proud to kick things off with this post. We look forward to exploring the world of creativity with you all once more and can’t wait to share all we have planned with you.
Here’s to another great year and may we all reach our artistic goals for the year.
Bye!
