By TAIYE OLAYEMI

Nigerian professional dancer, Kafayat Shafau, popularly known by her stage name, “Kaffy”, on Sunday disclosed plans to celebrate her 25th anniversary as a professional dancer in 2025.

Kaffy, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said she would organise mentorship and coaching classes for those interested in building a career in dance, in celebration of the anniversary.

The artiste said she would also launch a platform for the online mentorship programme entitled “Kaffyverse”.

“In commemoration of my 25th anniversary as a professional dancer, I want to give more to the society. There are lots of programmes planned to expose Nigerians to the exploration and exportation of the economic value that the creative industry has.

“I will be launching a programme called Kaffyverse which will be like my own mini university where dancers, artistes or creative individuals generally can gain access to coaching and mentorship classes.

“Also, I will be educating people about wellness and healthy living because I am a fitness coach ambassador. Already, I move around different communities, I will be doing more in commemoration of my 25th anniversary,” she said.

Kaffy noted that she would sensitise Nigerians on how dance could be monetised during ‘Kaffy Kcreative Expo’, slated to hold from Aug. 6 to Aug. 10, 2025.

She said the expo would embody the whole of the creative industry, bearing in mind that dance does not stand alone, as it encompasses embracing fashion, music, health, education, film and more.

“So, for each day at the expo, we are focusing on each aspect, a day for children, another day for conference where we will be talking about the health impact of dance.

“Another day will feature a concert where we will be having fashion displays. We will have African art exhibition, where from the eyes of dance and its expressions like fashion, music, lifestyle, people are able to learn our culture.

“We will be focusing on the African culture in general. It is the exploration and exportation of the economic value that is inherent in the creative industry.

“The expo will be a five-day programme, we are going to be using dance to change all these industries that have emerged. We are trying to get industries to be aware of the potential in the dance industry.

“We want bankers to know that a dancer can approach them for loan because dancers have different services they can offer to people in various industries,” she said.

The dancer noted that over the years and with the support of individuals, she had impacted over 5,000 youths.

“We have also seen over hundreds of young executives born out of my project, we have their names and contacts.

“All I am doing is for people not to tell other stories about us, so that another man does not take what is ours because nobody is saying it is theirs.

“We have to start telling African stories and help our children find where they can find their source. I have got so many calls all over the world from people, saying they want to learn authentic Bata, Atilogu and other traditional dances.

“At the expo, there will be about four rooms dedicated to learning how to dance, majorly traditional dance,” she said.

Kaffy is known for her Guinness World Records win for “Longest Dance Party”, at the Nokia Silverbird Danceathon in 2006.

In 2014, she won the African Muzik Magazine Awards as Best Female Dancer of the Year, also in 2015 she won the Beatz Awards as Best Choreographer of the Year.

In 2018, she bagged the Headies Special Recognition Award while in 2021, she won the Beatz Awards for Special Recognition Award. (NAN)

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