It was pomp and ceremony at the three-day eleventh edition of the Ake Arts and Book Festival which was held recently in Lagos. The theme was ‘Blood Ties’.
As customary to the festival, writers, publishers, artists, filmmakers, and others in the creative industry across the world, converged to exchange books, knowledge, ideas, inspiration, and talents.
The three days witnessed an abundance of fun as creatives engaged in cultural exchange, book reading, film display, panel discussions, networking, among other memorable events.
The Book Buzz Foundation, organisers of the Ake Arts and Book Festival — and the Kaduna Arts and Book Festival (KABAFEST) — was founded by art enthusiast and writer, Lola Shoneyin, who doubles as the director of the festival.
During the opening ceremony, Shoneyin appreciated the sponsors of the festival — the Lagos State government, Sterling Bank, Luminate Africa, PublisHer, among others — and reiterated that Book Buzz works tirelessly to promote culture and the arts in Nigeria and Africa.
“We adopted the theme ‘Blood Ties’ for this year’s edition of the festival to explore the complexities of both blood relations and acceptance in relationships founded on friendship and shared experience,” she said.
On Ake Review, the official literary magazine of the festival, she admitted that they received over four hundred submissions comprising stories, poems, and photographs, which was a record for them.
The Ake Review for this year contained 32 ‘Ten Questions’ for writers and creatives, 22 Art and Photography works, seven Non-fiction pieces, one Fiction, and 23 poems.
Shoneyin lamented that Africa is under-represented in the international book marketplace and that beyond the small number of African writers whom the Western publishing establishments have snapped up, African books are not presented to publishers in new territories and African authors’ rights are not enthusiastically sold by African agents in the international rights market.
“Selling rights and literary agenting require specific skills, and with the right training, we can increase our international presence and improve our performance at book fairs,” she said.
She spoke briefly about the Global Association of Literary Festival Conference hosted by Ake Festival last year, in which they agreed that more interaction between festivals globally was desirable.
“So, in response to this, we set up the Festival Directors’ Fellowship, which invites festival directors around the world to join us at Ake Arts and Book Festival so that they can interact with creatives attending the festival,” Shoneyin added.
The Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Investments, Dr Oreoluwa Finnih-Awokoya, noted that the Ake Festival, from its humble beginning, has evolved into a beacon of artistic and cultural brilliance.
The governor stated that arts, as the blood life of any society, resonates deeply in Lagos. He added that initiatives that contribute to the values of the state, such as the Ake Festival, always receive the support of the state government.
“My administration therefore remains committed to nurturing the rich tapestry of talents flourishing in our state. An integral part of this festival is its international appeal,” he added.
Ibidapo Martins, the CGMO and Head of Brand Management of Sterling Financial Holdings Company, emphasised that at Sterling they are not just bankers, but also agents of change and are driven by the belief that knowledge and creativity can transform lives.
“Our partnership at Sterling Bank with the Ake Festival is more than a collaboration. It is a union of shared values and unweaving commitment. Ake Festival is a nurturing ground, and the theme of the festival reminds us of the unbreakable ties that connect us,” he said.
Martins added that they have seen how arts have helped to push Nigeria in the right direction they thought was not feasible some decades ago, adding that it is the power of education and arts that can help create a brighter future for Nigerians.
Toyin Akinniyi, the Vice President of Luminate Africa stated that with the good work emanating from the Ake Festival, it was only natural for Luminate to support and collaborate with its organisers.
“I am happy we are all gathered here to explore the role of arts and the creative industry in the conversations around civic participation and good governance,” she said, adding, “It is important for funders, civil society organisations, creatives, and change-makers to talk with one another and collaborate more.”
Akinniyi further stated that, at Luminate, they are working to ensure that the information ecosystem and where narratives are shaped are healthy, safe, and inclusive of diverse voices and perspectives.
Amanda Roach, the cultural attaché to the Consulate and Embassy of the United States of America in Nigeria, revealed that this was the seventh year the United States Mission was directly supporting the festival.
“We are partnering with Ake Festival because we share a common vision − the idea of developing, promoting and celebrating creativity on the African continent,” she said.
Roach noted that one of the ways they do this is through their people-to-people exchanges and that at this year’s Ake Festival, they supported four American writers and publishers so that they exchange practices and inspirations with their Nigerian counterparts.
Jose Maria Ferre, the Consul General of the Embassy of Spain in Nigeria, emphasised that the relationship between Nigeria and Spain is good, but that there is still room for improvement.
“That is why we think that culture is important to foster bigger relations between Spain and Nigeria,” he said.
Ferre spoke about a programme sponsored by the Spanish government at the University of Lagos, where students interested in learning the Spanish language can do so.
Elena Pasoli, the Director of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF), while congratulating the Book Buzz Foundation on the Book Storm Initiative, said that the Bologna Book Fair has been doing a special spotlight on Africa in partnership with the Book Buzz.
She added that their partnership with Book Buzz has been mutual and that they will be offering content with special training programmes to Nigerian illustrators through the initiative.
“African illustrators have participated in Bologna many times, and we look forward to accepting more writers, illustrators, and publishers to the next edition,” she said.
Pasoli further said that her first task is to build more bridges and facilitate the relations between Africa, children’s publishing, and the international community.
Shoneyin, while shedding more light on Pasoli’s remarks, said one of the reasons they embarked on the Book Storm Initiative was to introduce The African Rights Forum (TARF), which will train Nigerians and Africans in the various professions required to strengthen Africa’s publishing industry.
Immediately after the welcome ceremony, on Thursday, which was anchored by Omotoke Solarin-Sodara, there was a book chat session anchored Edwige Dro featuring writers Beata Mairesse Umubyeyi and Hemley Boum, and the two writers’ books ‘All the Children Scattered’ and ‘Days Come and Go’ were respectively discussed.
Anita Eboigbe anchored the panel session titled ‘Using Film to Drive Narrative Change in Africa’ featuring Delmwa Deshi-Kura, Victor Aghahowa, and Daniel Ehimen.
Kinna Likimani anchored a book chat featuring Petina Gappah. Gappah’s ‘Out of Darkness, Shining Light’ was discussed. Still on book chats, Nnamdi Ehirim engaged writers Priya Hein and Abimbola Ishola Ayodeji, and the two writers’ books ‘Riambel’ and ‘Patience Is A Thief’ were respectively discussed.
Latoya West-Blackwood anchored the panel session titled ‘African Women In Publishing’ featuring Sandra Tamele, Thabiso Mahlape, and Ama Dadson.
Friday events commenced with a book chat anchored by Abdulkareem Baba Aminu featuring writers Wole Talabi and Ayanna Lloyd Banwo, and the two writers’ books ‘Shigidi’ and ‘When We Were Birds’ were respectively discussed.
Olaokun Soyinka anchored the panel session titled ‘The impact of artificial intelligence on Africa’ featuring Olasupo Oyedepo, Ojoma Ochai, and Sani Suleiman.
After Soyinka’s panel session, Muthoni Muiruri anchored a book chat featuring writers Stephen Buoro and DK Nnuro, and the two writers’ books ‘The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa’ and ‘What Napoleon Could Not Do’ were respectively discussed.
Another book chat was anchored by Alexandra Antwi-Boasiako featuring writers Gothataone Moeng and Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi, and the two writers’ books ‘Call and Response’ and ‘Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions’ were respectively discussed.
Wanjiru Koinange anchored the panel session titled ‘Towards a Sustainable Publishing Industry in Africa’ featuring William Tsuma, Servio Gbadamosi, and Lola Shoneyin.
After Koinange’ panel session, Zukiswa Wanner anchored a book chat featuring writers Kelechi Okafor and Abubakar Adam Ibraham, and the two writers’ books ‘Edge of Here’ and ‘When We Were Fireflies’ were respectively discussed.
The Friday events came to a close with ‘The African Book Quiz’ anchored by Omotoke Solarin-Sodara, and later a music show ‘BANTU Plays the classics’ anchored by Lola Shoneyin.
The final day, Saturday, began on a lively note with Amyn Bawa-Allah anchoring a book chat featuring Bolu Babalola. Babalola’s ‘Honey and Spice’ was discussed.
Angela Wachuka anchored the panel session titled ‘The Democratisation of Knowledge’ featuring Elias Wondimu, Petina Gappah, and Mkuki Bgoya.
After Wachuka’s panel session, Joseph Ike anchored a book chat featuring Olusegun Aganga. Aganga’s ‘Reclaiming the Jewel of Africa: A Blueprint for Taking Nigeria and Africa from Potential to Posterity’ was discussed.
Olaokun Soyinka anchored a book chat featuring writers Bisi Adjapon and Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu, and the two writers’ books ‘Daughter in Exile’ and ‘Lucky Girl’ were respectively discussed.
Aisha Salaudeen anchored the panel session titled ‘What’s Cooking in Nigeria’s Gender Wars’ featuring Maryam Laushi, Buchi Onyegbule, and Oluwatofunmi Alo.
Ruona Meyer anchored a book chat featuring writers Dipo Faloyin and Kojo Koram, and the two writers’ books ‘Africa is not a Country’ and ‘Uncommon Wealth’ were respectively discussed.
The latter part of the last day featured a reception event tagged ‘Africa Connect’ hosted by Lola Shoneyin featuring Willemijn Lamp, Teresa Grotan, Estefania Perez, Lavinia Fey, Angeles Jurado, and Kholod Saghir. These women, mostly from out of Africa, shared their experience in organising art festivals and explored ways in which they could collaborate on future projects.
The 2023 Ake Arts and Book Festival ended with a palm wine and poetry session.
Perhaps, one of the major highlights of the festival was during Lola Shoneyin’s impromptu session with Pamela Peter-Agbia, the Programme Manager of Google Arts and Culture Lab. Both women spoke extensively about the partnership between Google Arts and Culture and Book Buzz.
According to Shoneyin and Peter-Agbia, the partnership will enable Book Buzz to digitise its content – photographs, audios, videos, films, among others, from the Ake Arts and Book Festival and the Kaduna Arts and Book Festival – and make them easily accessible to creatives on Google platform.
Shoneyin enjoined creatives to explore the partnership, which promises to build a massive database of content for African arts makers and consumers.
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