By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
In a creative move to raise environmental awareness, the Womenhood School of Health Science and Technology in Kaduna State has embraced cross-cultural dance as a tool to highlight the impact of climate change on indigenous communities and their cultural heritage.
The Director of the school and African Climate Reporters, Mallam Nuruddeen Bello, said the initiative is aimed at using culture and performance art to communicate the pressing challenges posed by climate change, especially to women whose lives and traditions are deeply connected to the environment.
The school marked its annual Cultural Dance Day with a one-day event themed: “Communicating the Impacts of Climate Change Through Art and Dance.” The celebration featured traditional performances from students representing diverse ethnic backgrounds, with each group using dance to tell stories of environmental resilience and cultural transformation.
“We invited students to showcase their cultural dances and raise awareness about how climate change is affecting indigenous communities, especially women in forested and rural areas,” Bello said.
He explained that the event, titled “Cross-Cultural Dance for Climate Change Action,” also served as a platform to call on government agencies, environmental stakeholders, and communities to intensify efforts in protecting indigenous lives, biodiversity, and ecosystems.
“Dance is not just entertainment — it is a powerful form of storytelling and advocacy,” Bello stated. “By incorporating indigenous songs, dances, and oral histories into climate campaigns, we can amplify the voices of communities often excluded from the global climate conversation.”
Mallam Hadi Abdullahi, the school’s Provost and Head of Environmental Studies, noted that while Cultural Dance Day has been celebrated for years, this edition focused heavily on advocacy.
“This year, we used dance to highlight how climate change threatens not only the environment but also our cultural identities,” he said. “It’s a creative way to spark conversations and drive home the urgency of action.”
A delegation of scientists, geologists, and environmental experts from African Climate Reporters attended the event and commended the initiative. They noted that similar efforts in educational institutions are helping to build public awareness and inspire grassroots climate action.
The experts warned that climate change is triggering mass migration — of both people and animals — across Africa, driven by rising temperatures, drought, and environmental degradation.
They called for urgent, collective action to address the climate crisis, urging all sectors of society to protect vulnerable communities and preserve the ecosystems they rely on.
