The GAB Foundation
Bridging the GAP Between Village Square and the Streets
How did a monthly gathering of poets and thinkers lead to this wave of change? The answer lies in the ethos of the GAB Foundation, the execution arm of Griots and Bards (GAB). GAB began as a modern-day village square, where artists, intellectuals, and neighbors meet to share spoken word poetry, music, and frank conversations about society. But from the start, its founders asked a provocative question: “Are Words Enough?”
Talk, no matter how inspiring, should lead to action. This belief spurred GAB’s organizers to extend their dialogue beyond cozy performance venues in Ikoyi and take it right into communities like Iwaya that desperately needed change. In late 2018, GAB’s curator Adebola Afolabi (formerly known as REZthaPoet) volunteered as the Spoken Word curator at the Iwaya Art Festival. The theme he helped champion there, “Can Poetry Move?”, was more than rhetorical – it was a challenge. And GAB answered.
At the next Griots and Bards gathering, the team wove their entire event around the theme “Are Words Enough?”, directly “extending the curatorial work of REZthaPoet at the Iwaya festival”. They brought stories from Iwaya’s streets back to the upscale art centre in the city, ensuring the voices of the community echoed far beyond their locale. This cycle – dialogue inspiring action, and action informing deeper dialogue is the heartbeat of the GAB Foundation.
Formally registered and now scaling up operations, the GAB Foundation is all about turning ideas into tangible outcomes. Inspired by the inclusive spirit of the African village square and the Ubuntu philosophy of shared humanity, the Foundation exists to bridge the gap between conversation and real impact. It takes the inspiration generated in GAB forums and channels it into on-ground projects that shape opinions, behaviors, and opportunities in our communities.
The story of Iwaya is just one shining example. Where GAB’s words went, the Foundation’s actions followed rallying volunteers, artists, and resources to support a grassroots festival that aligned with the community’s vision for change. By executing such aspirational projects, the GAB Foundation proves that no idea discussed in the village square needs to remain a mere ideal.
Empowerment, Impact, and Measurable Change
Empowering the next generation is a core focus of the GAB Foundation. Whether it’s creating platforms for young creatives in slums or incubating social entrepreneurs with big ideas, every project is designed to translate talk into personal development, economic empowerment, and social transformation.The push-pull model at the heart of GAB Foundation means it doesn’t work in isolation, we partner with NGOs, corporations, and other foundations to scale up our impact, while mobilizing passionate volunteers from the GAB community and beyond.
In Iwaya, for instance, this meant collaborating with the Vernacular Art-space Lab (the local organisers) and international cultural bodies to support workshops and exhibitions, while pulling in GAB’s network of spoken-word artists to add their flair. The result? A richer, more sustainable festival that benefited from both local ownership and external support.
What truly sets the GAB Foundation apart is its commitment to measurable results. It’s not enough to simply do good; we make sure to track and openly report our social impact, so that every sponsor, partner, and community member can see the direct outcomes of their support.
Join the Movement: From Words to Action, Together
The GAB Foundation’s story is still being written, and you can help author the next chapter. We invite forward-thinking sponsors, partners, and individuals to join us in scaling these impacts across more communities. If you are a corporate entity looking to fulfill your social responsibility goals, partnering with us offers a meaningful way to invest in communities and see tangible returns in social good. By sponsoring a GAB Foundation project, you’re not just writing a check-you’re lighting up a neighborhood, funding a classroom of ideas, and fueling a movement of doers. We ensure transparency and will keep you closely informed of how every naira or dollar creates change on the ground, be it through regular impact reports or invitation to community showcases.
For fellow NGOs, foundations, and government agencies, collaborating with GAB Foundation means amplifying our collective reach. Together, we can do more by turning words into action and lasting development. The possibilities are endless when we unite passion with purpose.
If you share our conviction that conversations must lead to solutions, then now is the time to act. Join us as a sponsor, partner, or volunteer. Help us turn more inspiring words into impactful deeds. Together, we can build more communities where ideas become reality, where the arts drive social change, and where every voice, no matter how small, has the chance to not only be heard, but to shape a better future. Your partnership can make all the difference, and the next success story we celebrate could very well be the one we write together.
Ready to Collaborate for Change
Join us in shaping the future, creating meaningful impact, and driving transformational growth.