How Abuja Fringe Changed The Lives Of Nigerian Students

When Abuja Fringe Festival wrapped up its second edition last December, perhaps unknown to the organizers, Paw Studios, it has forever changed the lives of some Nigerian students that had participated in the festival for the first time.

LEADERSHIP Books & Arts spoke to 300 and 400 Level students of Theatre and Media Arts, Federal University of Lafia, Francis Agaba and Danjuma Deborah, on the festival’s impact on their education, skillsets and career path. Both were cast members in the university’s play Hand Cuff which had its first festival debut at Abuja Fringe.

Agaba said Abuja Fringe has broadened his network and horizon as a student. “As students, we are often confined to the four walls of a classroom or school communities. There is always a limitation to accessing things. At Abuja Fringe, I saw a new aspect of the arts industry that I didn’t know much about,” trilled Agaba.

For him, a career path in the arts sector, as defined by the society, is limited to filming, acting and directing. Attending the workshops at fringe challenged his fixed mindset, opening his consciousness to the existence of a billion things he could do in the sector, and further enhanced his knowledge and experience of the set career path he envisioned.

“It has taught me to be resourceful, research-oriented and to be valuable. It stressed to me the importance of being valuable, and also taught me how to enhance my network.

“AF has influenced my directing skills, which I know in the future, I will be able to tell the organizers how grateful I am because they have really invested in a soul today,” said Agaba.

While the festival was the first ever Agaba has officially attended (the school’s production was invited to perform), it wasn’t Danjuma’s first rodeo at festivals participation. Experientially, though, it was a first in many ways.

“When I hear the word festival, I thought of traditional festivals that comprises drumming, dancing, jumping etc. I vibe to that kind of thing, and I like it. But coming to fringe, it’s not like some of our traditional festivals like Njemada, where you’d find these random African things to buy or sample food, free to taste. Fringe is taking place on a formal setting, a place where people can sit to take notes, and go seat and eat together. I have never been to a festival like it.”

“At 400 level, I am hearing for the first time, things I learnt from professionals and practitioners who facilitated the festival workshops, that I never learnt in the classroom. I am overwhelmed and happy.”

One can hardly blame the students for their sparse festival-going experience, as the gap between the town and gown in Nigerian universities has been a decade-long problem, which has resulted in more theatre graduates take up jobs or careers different from their educational discipline.

“Fringe is bridging the gap between town and gown for me, my after-school life and future. Presently, I know what steps to take after graduation (who to search, follow, and unfollow), even what my NYSC days will be in-view. By the time I am leaving that rope, I am catching another, without looking for a way to start climbing all over again,” said Danjuma.

Further, seeing the dedication of the festival’s female staff, Danjuma said made her feel represented as a female, boosted her self-confidence.

“They inspire me in such a way to see that I am not limited. That I can do and undo. And that I will never allow anything come between me and my happiness. I call what I want to do my happiness because whenever I am doing it, there is this joy that I feel.

Abuja Fringe held December 6 to 11, and featured several theatrical performances from plays to music concerts, fun and games, to workshops and special Mambaah Café drinks and menu.