Nigerian dancer and choreographer Kafayat Shafau, well known as Kaffy, has pushed for further investigation into the creative industry by all levels of government in order to generate money.
The dancer stated in an interview with NAN that, in order to boost the economy, other creative industries like dance and fashion should be upgraded.
According to Kaffy, who in 2006 broke the record for the longest dance party worldwide, Nigeria’s creative economy strategy has prioritised music and movies.
“Other areas like dance exist. Dance is a major export. We can monetise dance from the educational system, the health sector, the advertising sector, and more,” she said.
“From the health sector, I have dancers who work as fitness trainers and physiotherapists, deriving benefits from it. For people who have cognitive disorders, dance is also recommended.
“Dance is still the reason we are embracing music. Dance is used in film production. Dance is sitting at the centre of all industries.”
Kaffy urged the government to increase its budget for the creative industry and provide an environment for practitioners to thrive.
“Government has the power to support us, make policies that will make institutions be forced to make a quota of their corporate social responsibility channelled toward the creative industry,” she said.
Kaffy said the standard of education in Nigeria is falling and the government can use dance to help schoolchildren comprehend better.
“These kids are just going to school to mark attendance and the world has changed from the archaic old system. Many of us are not doing what we studied in schools, the educational system should be revamped to what we need in society,” she added.
“Dance, an aspect of the creative industry, is known to help children comprehend better. This should be in our curriculum.”
A variety of economic activities that produce or utilise knowledge and information are encompassed under the creative sector.
It could include publishing, R&D, software, gaming, TV, radio, advertising, architecture, crafts, design, fashion, movies, music, theatre, and software.
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