If there’s one thing, out of the many things, Ake Festival knows how to do, it’s curating unforgettable book chats. Day 2’s book chats took attendees on a journey through diverse genres, from feminist writing to historical fiction, African Gothic literature, and queer literature. Here’s a quick recap:
Feminist Writing
Moderated by Sharon Adeoye Ajanlekoko, this session brought together Aiwanose Odafen, author of Tomorrow I Become a Woman and its sequel, We Were Girls Once, and Abi Dare, author of The Girl With the Louding Voice and its sequel, And So I Roar.
The discussion expanded the distinct yet complementary writing styles of the two authors and their shared focus on portraying the struggles of women in society. Both Dare and Odafen spoke about how their female characters navigate issues like early marriage, domestic abuse, and societal biases. Odafen’s protagonists—Zina, Eriife, and Ego—mirror the experiences of Dare’s characters in a way. What this highlights is the universality in both their stories.
Historical Fiction
This session shifted to historical fiction, featuring Foluso Agbaje, author of The Parlour Wife, and Florence Olajide, author of The Stolen Daughter. Moderated by Wendy Njoroge, the conversation touched on the unique approaches both authors take to this genre.
Agbaje’s The Parlour Wife explores the consequences of war, particularly through the lens of polygamy—a theme inspired by her desire to see more stories like The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives. Olajide’s The Stolen Daughter tackles the harrowing realities of slavery, revisiting a time when human lives were commodified.
When asked why freedom was a motif in their books, Olajide offered a statement that left the audience snapping their fingers in agreement: “Is power enough when you’re not free?”
African Gothic Literature
The next session spotlighted a genre that’s often overlooked—African Gothic literature. Shubnum Khan, author of The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years, and Siphiwe Ndlovu, author of The Creation of Half-Broken Things, took attendees through their creative processes.
Khan revealed that her book took nearly a decade to complete, as she sought to weave various themes into a story rooted in the supernatural. She shared the challenges of publishing a Gothic novel in a superstitious society, including altering the title and spelling "jinn" as "djinn" to appease local sensitivities.
On Queer Literature
Closing out the book chat was a poignant discussion on queer literature, hosted by Wanjiru Koinange. Panelists Mushi Tedji Xaviere, author of These Letters End in Tears, and Kayode Ani, author of And Then He Sang a Lullaby, shared their personal journeys in creating stories that challenge societal norms.
Xaviere spoke about the difficulties of getting published in her home country of Cameroon, where homophobia remains a significant barrier. Ani recounted how he handwrote his manuscript in 2018, typing parts of it on his phone, all while grappling with fears about how his work would be received.
Both authors addressed the persistent discrimination queer individuals face across Africa. Despite these challenges, they emphasized the importance of telling authentic stories. When asked what freedom means to them, Ani described it as liberation, while Xaviere simply said, “To be able to love who I love.”
But that’s not all. Let’s see what Day 3’s book chat has for us!
