Poetry, drama, readings, music, dance performances and more will be happening at the Lagos Book and Art Festival on Wednesday, November 7.
Aside the tribute to Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Nigerian’s musical and Afrobeat legend, there are more reasons why you should attend LABAF today;
1 Poets, writers and journalists will partake in the Poets, Essayists and Novelists (PEN) convention, scheduled to take place at 3pm. The meet will focus On Literary Prizes and the Crisis of Credibility; The Curious Case of the Nobel Prize. Panellists include, Adewale Maja-Pearce and Ayo Oyoze-Baje. It will be moderated by Ralph Tathagata. This session is organised by PEN and coordinated by Folu Agoi, poet and President of PEN Nigeria.
- 5pm will have LABAF catering to its book loving guests as it launches the reader’s forum, in association with Quaramo Publishing, discussing the extent of the reading culture in Nigeria with the theme; Leaders are Readers: Why I Read what I Read. Guest speakers include, Taofeek Adegbite, Adenike Adeyemi and Tony Attah. The discussion will be moderated by Reuben Abati.
- Meanwhile, at 6:30pm, the Nigeria Prize for Literature will have four of its past winners discussing the impact of the prize in their career and how it has helped them so far. This event is organised by CORA and NLNG and will have Tony Attah in attendance.
- Fela fans are guaranteed to have a blast at LABAF tonight, beginning at 8pm, as the festival gives a tribute to him, celebrating his 80th posthumous birthday. The Fela in Me aims to bring to life the major influence Fela’s music has had in Afropop music.The Fela in Me will feature music artistes such as; Sound Sultan, Daddy Showkey, Burna Boy, Edaoto, Ade Bantu, Seun Olota, Aduke and more. The event is chaired by Benson Idonije, Fela’s first manager and author of Fela’s biography, Dis Fela Sef.
The event will also be attended by Lekan Animashuan, Fela’s band manager for more than 40 years, and Seun Anikulapo-Kuti, Fela’s son and leader of Egypt 80 Memorial band.
The evening is set to end on a high note with a performance by Lanre Arogundade.
The 20th edition of LABAF continues to hold at Freedom Park, promising more literary titillation and inspiration all week long.