Long before Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, declared open this year’s edition of the Ake Arts and Book Festival (AABF) on Thursday, November 19, in Abeokuta, it was common knowledge that the annual event in its third year will wow. What with this year’s theme, ‘Engaging the Fringe’ and a track record of keeping the lifeblood of Abeokuta pumping for the five days the festival takes place.
Before the opening ceremony, there had been workshops on fiction and web documentary as well as school visits on Tuesday, November 17, and Wednesday, November 18. The fiction writing workshop was taught by Helon Habila, Taiye Selasi and Nnedi Okorafor.
The art exhibitions by Tyna Adebowale and Andrew Esiebo also kicked off, but the frenzy of activity leaving no room for a breather started after the opening ceremony where Amosun called on corporate Nigeria to help promote reading culture among the country’s youths. His argument was that such critical commitment for the overall benefit of humanity cannot be dependent on government. The governor, who declared that literature is the soul of life, said corporate organisations should complement the efforts of government to put a stop to the declining reading culture among the youths, as only such collaborations can redress the situation.
“I am happy our young ones are being carried along at the festival and as such promote reading culture. This is the only way we can get it right. We must encourage our young ones in reading because you don’t give what you don’t have. And from what they learnt, they can transfer into governance in future,” he stated.
The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Michael Arrion, while commending the organisers of the festival for dwelling on issues regarded as taboo, described culture as smart economy, saying that “you cannot invest in water, health and education, if you don’t understand the people’s culture”.
The General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Deji Haastrup, commended Shoneyin for the festival, saying that “this is a very engaging way of reviving the reading and creative culture in Nigeria and hopefully it will eventually establish Nigeria as a major literary destination and creative hub in Africa”.
Festival Director, Lola Shoneyin, said the festival has, since inception in 2013, attracted over 200 guests from across the globe and has reached over 10,000 people.
The guests then witnessed the announcement of this year’s Etisalat Prize longlist, presentation of the Ake/Air France Prose Prize and Marine Platforms Literary programmes, all of them supporters of the AABF.
Among those at the event were the Consul-General of the French Consulate in Lagos, Laurent Polonceaux; the French Embassy’s Media Adviser, Pierre Cherruau; author, Florent Couao-Zoti; the Goethe-Institut Nigeria Director, Marc-Andre Schmachtel; and Nigerian writers – EC Osondu, Toni Kan, Molara Wood and Victor Ehikhamenor.
It was then time for the over 81 guests of the festival, home and abroad, to engage in panel discussions, film shows, art exhibitions, book chats and poetry readings. Some of the interesting conversations featured Kaduna State Governor, Nasri el-Rufai; acclaimed poet, Professor Niyi Osundare; interview with the transgender, Imanni da Sylva and a host of others. This newspaper will in the coming weeks elaborate more on the panels and book chats.
It was indeed unforgettable five days of books, poetry, drama and film. The first film to air at the June 12 Cultural Centre venue of the festival was Ramata in French, but subtitled in English on the evening of Wednesday, November 18. As interesting as the first film was, the second one, which aired the next evening, left most members of the audience speechless. The documentary The Man Who Mends Women tells the compelling story of Denis Mukwege’s work with countless women raped and battered over the years in Congo’s wars. The Director, Thierry Michel and Writer Colette Braeckman, had a session hosted by Olaokun Soyinka afterwards. Ifeoma Fafunwa’s highly engaging play Hear Word! was staged on the evening of Friday, November 20, thanks to Etisalat Nigeria that bankrolled the performance.
There was also Professor Osundare’s conversation with author and editor, Kunle Ajibade, where he declared, among other inspiring things, that he had encountered Shakespeare on the streets of Ikere-Ekiti.
The book chats also featured Maaza Mengiste’s Beneath the Lions Gaze, Pius Adesanmi’s Naija No Dey Carry Last, EC Osondu’s This House is not for Sale, Irenosie Okojie’s Butterfly Fish, Chris Abani’s The Secret History of Las Vegas, Mona Elthahawy’s Head Scarves and Hymens, Nnedi Okorafor’s Lagoon, Ekow Duker’s White Wahala, Helon Habila’s Oil on Water, Igonni Barret’s Black Ass, and Abubakar Adam Ibrahim’s A Season of Crimson Blossoms.
Also, Novuyo Rosa Tshuma’s Shadows and Taiye Selasie’s Ghana Must Go.
AABF is organised by Book Buzz Foundation, Nigeria.
