By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Kano State Censorship Board has banned the conduct of activities known as “after-party” and “hot challenge” at weddings and other social events, citing the need to protect the state’s cultural, moral and religious values.
The directive, which takes immediate effect, was announced on Saturday by the Executive Secretary of the board, Abba El-Mustapha, in a statement signed by the board’s Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Sulaiman.
According to the board, the decision followed growing concerns over the increasing popularity of the activities, which it described as foreign-inspired practices that are inconsistent with Kano’s cultural and religious norms.
“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 suspension forms part of a broader effort to regulate the activities of masters of ceremony (MCs), event planners and event centres across the state.
It noted that entertainment would continue to be allowed at weddings and social gatherings, provided it remains decent and complies with existing laws and regulations.
The board also directed event centres, MCs, event organisers and other stakeholders to immediately stop organising or promoting the banned activities, warning that violators could face legal sanctions under the state’s censorship laws.
Residents were urged to report any event centre or MC that continues to host the prohibited activities within Kano State.
The latest directive follows a similar move in May 2026, when the board banned the celebration of “Kauyawa Day,” a wedding tradition observed by some women, saying it no longer aligned with the state’s campaign to preserve public morality and social order.
Authorities said the latest measure is part of ongoing efforts to regulate public celebrations and ensure that entertainment activities reflect the cultural and religious values of Kano State.
