The story is told of a little dove that travelled the seven seas with a slightly tattered scroll clutched in its beak. This daring bird landed on the shoulder of a young girl engrossed in a book (nope, it’s not Merlin). Dropping the scroll, it fluttered away, leaving her curious. She unfolded it and the message read:
“Dearest gentle reader, please be informed, Ake Festival 2024 is live!”
Yes, you read that right. The much-anticipated Ake Festival is officially underway, and all the cool kids are here. (This is your sign to join the fun if you haven’t already!) Celebrating its twelfth year, the festival kicked off with a Welcome Ceremony—or, as I like to think of it, a grand initiation into the coolest arts and book festival around.
First Things First: Let’s Get Patriotic
We began on a thoughtful note with the national anthem. Very dignified, very proper, very “let’s set the tone right.” And then, the powerhouse herself, Lola Shoneyin—aka the architect of this amazing festival—took the stage. She reflected on the growth of Book Buzz Foundation especially as 2024 is the most productive year yet. Between gaining new team members and relocating after seven years, Book Buzz is not just sailing—it’s flying.
A Moment for Reflection
The ceremony paused for a moment to honor the late Tayo Agunbiade. Scheduled to speak about her book Untold Histories of Nigerian Women: Emerging from the Margins during a panel discussion.
Finding Freedom
This year’s theme, ‘Finding Freedom’, was introduced with an exploration of how our past connects to the future we envision through the various goodwill messages.
Poetry, Music, and Everything Nice
But wait—there’s more! The ceremony wasn’t all talks. Ruth Mahogany graced the stage with a poetry performance that reminded us how beautifully flawed we humans are.
And then, as if we weren’t already feeling all the feels, Didi Williz performed a slow, soulful Yoruba song that brought the house down. Her voice? Magical. Her connection with the audience? Unmatched.
Halt now!
This is just the beginning. The Ake Festival 2024 has only started to dish out its delights, so grab your tickets, bring your friends, and keep checking back here for all the juicy updates.
Because trust me, at Ake, the books may close, but the fun? It never ends.
