Freedom Vibes Summit 2025: Charting a Course for Artistic Freedom and Regulatory Reform in Nigeria

Lagos, Nigeria: A renewed wave of artistic energy and civic consciousness is set to sweep through Kano this December as Unchained Vibes Africa (UVA) announces preparations for the much-anticipated Freedom Vibes Summit 2025, a flagship gathering designed to advance creativity, amplify artistic freedom and strengthen the role of culture in social change. The event is officially themed “Charting a Course for Artistic Freedom and Regulatory Reform in Nigeria” and is scheduled to hold on the 10th of December 2025 in the ancient city of Kano.

The Summit is designed as a crucial platform to facilitate meaningful dialogue between artists, activists, thinkers, cultural workers, community influencers and young advocates from across the country, alongside key government officials and stakeholders. The convergence is especially critical as it aims to reflect on the alarming increase in artistic freedom violations documented by UVA throughout 2025, particularly those emanating from Kano State. The goal is to collaboratively envision a freer artistic future and advocate for necessary regulatory reforms.

Discussions at the Summit will reflect key cases documented this year, which underscore the need for reform. These include the censorship and arrests driven by censorship bodies, the banning of artists and the multiple arrests of TikTok creators. The Summit will offer concrete steps toward protecting constitutional rights to expression and fostering an environment where creativity can flourish without fear of arbitrary censorship.

The Summit will also feature the grand finale of the Freedom Vibes Academy 2025, UVA’s intensive, three-month hybrid capacity-building program for emerging artists and cultural activists, which ran from October to December 2025. The Academy’s journey began with Phase 1: Orientation & Onboarding (October 27–29), which introduced the fundamentals of artistic freedom and legal frameworks. This was followed by Phase 2: Virtual Mentorship Sessions held every Tuesday (November 4, 11, and 18). Participants then proceeded through Phase 3: Project Proposal Development (November 25) before moving into Phase 4: In-Person Convening in Kano (December 7–11). The Summit Day will host the Academy’s official Graduation Ceremony, where participants will be formally unveiled and recognized for their months of rigorous training, mentorship and collaboration. For many participants, this milestone represents a renewed commitment to shaping society through their artistry.

As registration opens to the public, UVA calls on the media, civil society organizations, cultural institutions, and art lovers nationwide to join the efforts in Kano on December 10, where ideas will ignite, voices will rise, and the movement for artistic freedom will surge forward with renewed momentum.

Please be advised that admission and participation in the Summit is offered FREE OF CHARGE, however, online pre-registration is a strict requirement for all attendees. Attendees who have not completed the mandatory online registration will be unable to receive event tags, thus denied access and participation.

Kindly use the button below to register for the Summit