Ivorian writer, Veronique Tadjo, will be attending this year’s Ake Arts and Book Festival in Lagos as the headliner.
Held virtually the last two editions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the festival will be making a physical return in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Tadjo, who was born in Paris, grew up in Abidjan and now lives in South Africa, will be joined by the 2021 winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, Abdulrazak Gurnah, who was a virtual guest last year.
A writer, poet, novelist, and artist Tadjo has lived and worked in many countries within the African continent and diaspora,
The award winning writer has published nine books, including As the Crow Flies (2001), The Shadow of Imama (2002), Queen Pokou (2005), and Far from My Father (2014).
The theme of this year’s festival is Homecoming.
The festival is organised by Book Buzz in partnership with Sterling and Luminate.
For three days, the festival will enrich participants with 12 stimulating panel discussions on a range of topics from brain drain to climate action, economic growth, telling our own stories, emerging feminist identities, and sexual resolutions.
There will also be book chats, which will feature Zukiswa Wanner, Tendai Huchu, Jennifer Makumbi and Nnedi Okoroafor, while Abdulrazak Gurmah will be in conversation with veteran Nigerian journalist, Kunle Ajibafe. (full details of the programme are available at akefestival.org).
Also, on the 22nd and 23rd, November, 2022, Ake Festival will host the 2nd conference of the Global Association of Literary Festivals, which will draw participants from all parts of the world.