Introducing Kanini Fest:

A One Act Play Festival coming October 11-13, 2024!

Join us for a groundbreaking event that celebrates the power of storytelling and the unity

of humanity. The word Kanini, deriving from the Indigenous Australian word “Kanyini,”

means ONENESS. Kanyini is best expressed in English as the combination of the two

words ‘responsibility’ and ‘love’, but it is actually a relationship; it is an enormous caring

with no limit - it has no timeframe: it is eternal. The concept of Kanyini and its four

principle’s of Indigenous life mirror the principles of our festival:

- Creation

- Spirit, Soul, and Psyche

- Family and Kinship

- Land, Home, Place or Mother

Kanini isn’t just a name, it represents the essence of this festival - a fusion of one-act

plays and the universal oneness that connects us all - human beings, nature, and art.

Created by Christopher Alexander Chukwueke and Tenisi Davis, this festival is a program

specifically designed for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) playwrights

from all over the nation. It aims to discover and uplift talented individuals who have yet to

be recognized or are on the rise in their careers. As the first festival of its kind in the South

Central Region, Kanini Festival provides a unique opportunity for BIPOC playwrights to

rewrite their narratives and fearlessly tell the stories of their people.

Inspired by the thought-provoking exhibit 'We The People' at the Crystal Bridges Museum

of American Art, this year's festival theme is "We The People!" It traces the journey of

American history, starting from the Declaration of Independence to the Emancipation

Proclamation and the fight for justice during the Civil Rights Movement. Kanini Fest

continues this powerful journey, amplifying the voices and perspectives of all of

America's children.

Our goals are ambitious yet crucial. We strive to provide a world-class platform for

undiscovered, underserved, or up-and-coming BIPOC playwrights, giving them the

recognition they deserve. According to "The Count" by the Dramatist Guild of America,

only 15.1% of published and working playwrights in America are people of color. We aim

to change that by encouraging BIPOC individuals to elevate their stories and collaborate

with other artists.