NGUGI WA THIONG'O TO HEADLINE AKE FESTIVAL IN 2016
Abeokuta, Ogun State will stand still once again as it hosts an outstanding roster of writers, thinkers, artists, filmmakers, musicians, book lovers and art enthusiasts at the fourth edition of the Ake Arts and Book Festival 2016.
We are pleased to announce that our dates for this year are 15-19 November and the festival will take place at Arts and Culture Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.
This year’s edition is themed “Beneath this Skin’’ and we are delighted to have Distinguished Professor, renowned writer, and literary icon Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o as our headliner at the 2016 edition of Ake Arts and Book Festival. He will sit in conversation with Okey Ndibe about his life and works. He will also be talking about his latest book Birth of a Dream Weaver.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FESTIVAL
The festival will also host 9 book chats which will feature 18 authors like Alain Mabanckou, Helon Habila, Laila Lalami, Petina Gappah, Teju Cole, Panashe Chigumadzi, Tendai Huchu, Chinelo Okparanta, Noviolet Bulawayo, Jowhor Ile, Sarah Ladipo Manyika, Odafe Atogun, Tade Thompson, Toni Kan and many more.
In our 12 stimulating panel discussions where we will engage both new voices and established ones, we will focus on identities, race, gender, mental health in fiction, the rise and fall of African economies. We will also explore exciting genres such as erotica, horror fiction, and prison stories. At the 2 art exhibitions, we will see the works of Laolu Senbanjo whose “Sacred Art of the Ori” featured on Beyonce’s latest album Lemonade; and Fatima Abubakar who captures the lives of the people of Borno State in a stunning series of photographs. An acoustic music concert with Brymo, Falana, Adunni and Nefertiti will also entertain the audience at the Festival.
Our Festival Film is the documentary Hissene Habre: A Chadian Tragedy, an account of the horror inflicted on the Chadian people during Hissen Habre’s rule. We will also premier our Festival of Short Films to celebrate this form of visual storytelling and the people who are fuelling its rapid growth in Nigeria. The short films to be screened are: A Mother’s Journey by Sade Adeniran, No Good Turn by Udoka Oyeka and Salt by Umar Turaki.
WORKSHOPS
Fiction Writing with Noviolet Bulawayo, Helon Habila and Sarah Ladipo Manyika - 15 November 2016
Script-Writing with Inya Lawal and Victoria Thomas of The Story Republic -
Graphic Short Stories with Sebastian Loerscher - 14, 15 November 216
POETRY
At the much-anticipated Palm Wine and Poetry Evening, attendees will enjoy outstanding performances by, poets like Titilope Sonuga, Lebo Mashile, Ogaga Ifowodo, Micheal Kelleher and Dike Chukwumerije, while sipping on a calabash of deliciously fresh palm wine.
DRAMA AT AKE FESTIVAL
Ake Arts and Book Festival is one of the most exciting cultural events on the continent. It is organised by the Book Buzz foundation with support from its valued partners; The EU, Ogun State Government, Annoying Logo, Etisalat Nigeria and Park Inn, Abeokuta.
You can register here and get the Entertainment Bundle at a special discount price from August 22, OR in person at the Ake Festival Registration Point from 15 November, 2016.
Full details of the Ake Arts and Book Festival programme will be available for download on October 1, 2016.
We look forward to sharing more exciting news about the festival with you.