As part of the activities lined up for the opening of the Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF), the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), treated book lovers to the “newest books on the Nigerian shelf”.
Usually held in a open environment, one of which has been the British Council garden of the open rooftop of the City Hall (Goethe Institut) in Lagos. This year, however, the CORA Book Trek is one of the activities that kick-started the literary fest at Freedom Park, Lagos.
According to CORA, the Book Trek is designed to take books to its lovers in order to address the presumptive intractable disinterest in books by a larger section of the public. For LABAF with the theme – EMERGE: Breaking into the NEW, it is tailored to introduce the various books featuring in the festival as well as new books published in 2019 to the reading populace.
This year’s Book Trek was well attended by socialites, book enthusiasts and members of the city literati as authors read excerpts from their books to the delight of the listening audience. The books address varying issues ranging from social, political to cultural issues.
In case you find yourself in a book store and need to get something fresh, here is a list of the books that featured in this year’s fest.
1. Igho Goes to Farm by Anote Ajeluorou
2. My Campus Cult Diary by John Oseo Omoruah
3. Neglected by Lucy Okwuma
4. The Remains of the Last Emperor by Adebayo Williams
5. Rise by Femi Jacobs
6. Where Are You From by Lola Akande
7. Tongues of the Forecourt by Olawale Obadeyi
8. The Pastor’s Prostitute by Yemi Adebiyi
9. TAKING UP SPACE: The Black Girl’s Manifesto for Change by Chelsea Kwakye and Ore Ogunbiyi
10. Three Women by Bunmi Oyinsan
11. The University Media Complex as Nigeria’s Foremost Amusement Chain by Jimanze Ego-Alowes
12. Silver Lining by Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo and Folu Agoi
13. Afonja The Rise by Tunde Leye
14. The Dimpsey Chronicles by Erumena Amata
15. The Wretched Billionaire by Aoiri Obaigbo
16. The Adventures of Lara and Dara by Aduke Gomez
17. Piece & Pieces by Paul Ugbede
18. The Bee Chase by John Anakwenze
19. Men Don’t Die by Ever Obi
20. The Danfo Driver in All of Us by Niran Adedokun
21. Locomotifs and other songs by Tosin Gbogi
22. My Mind is no Longer Here by Sylva Nze Ifedigbo
23. Catching Grace by Ololade Okedare
24. The Son of the House by Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia
25. Abduction Chronicles by Folarin Banigbe
26. In the Name of Our Father by Olukorede Yishau
27. Like Never Before by Chioma Okonkwo
28. Do Not Die in Their War by Dele Farotimi
29. Me, My Desert & I by Newton Jibunoh
30. Hubris by Akintunde Akinkunmi