The Kano State Censorship Board has suspended with immediate effect the conduct of activities popularly known as “after-party” and “hot challenge” at wedding ceremonies and other social events held in event centres across the state.
The Board said the directive is part of ongoing efforts to regulate entertainment activities and ensure compliance with existing guidelines governing Masters of Ceremony (MCs) and event centres.
The Executive Secretary of the Board, Abba El-Mustapha, announced the decision in a statement issued on Saturday by the Board’s Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Sulaiman.
According to the statement, the Board took the decision following what it described as the increasing introduction of the activities into wedding celebrations in Kano.
“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.
It added, “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 move aligns with its mandate to sanitise the entertainment industry and ensure that public events are organised in line with the state’s cultural and religious values.
While enforcing the ban, the Board stressed that it is not against entertainment at weddings and similar occasions, provided such activities are conducted responsibly.
“The Board welcomes positive and responsible forms of entertainment at weddings and other social gatherings, provided they promote morality, respect the culture of the people and conform to religious teachings,” the statement said, noting that entertainment remains an important part of ceremonies when carried out within acceptable ethical standards.
The Board directed event centre operators, masters of ceremony, event planners and all other stakeholders involved in organising social events to comply strictly with the directive.
It warned that any individual or organisation found violating the suspension would face legal sanctions in accordance with the laws establishing the Board.
The board also urged members of the public to support the enforcement of the directive by reporting any event centre or MC found organising or promoting the suspended activities, provided such incidents occur within Kano State.
