The 21st edition of ‘Africa’s biggest cultural picnic’, the Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF), organised by the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA) has started in Lagos.
The Festival with ‘Emerge… Breaking into the New’ as its theme, featured a variety of activities on its opening day. A seminar themed ‘Literature in Indigenous Languages and Translation’ happened at Kongi’s Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island. Book Trek featuring over 15 writers reading passage each from their books, will occur by 5 pm.
At 7 pm, the Writers-Readers Convention, featuring exchanges between writers and their audiences will take place at the Food Court.
The weeklong festival, which ends on Sunday, November 10, will continue on Tuesday with creative workshops with a focus on craft-making, performance art and mentoring by notable creative artists.
There will also be a design symposium with a keynote by the eminent architect, protean artist and designer, Demas Nwoko as well as the presentation of the book, ‘Victor Ekpuk: Connecting Lines Across Space and Time’ edited by Professor Toyin Falola. Art patron, Prince Yemisi Shyllon, will chair a conversation that follows the presentation.
Also, on Tuesday, an art seminar themed ‘Thirty Years of The Boom Synopsis’ dedicated to Jerry Buhari@60 and Kunle Adeyemi will happen at Esther’s Revenge. Artist and teacher, Kunle Fulani will moderate while Chinwe Uwatse, Jerry Buhari, Tunde Olanipekun, Kunle Adeyemi will be the panellists.
Festival’s exhibition, ‘Homage to Things Fall Apart@60′ at Museum Building will open by 5 pm but would be preceded by Artists Roundtable curated by Krydz Ikwuemesi for the Pan Africa Press & Sankofa Centre for Art and Heritage.
A Readers’ Parliament featuring young authors and moderated by Chuma Nwokolo is scheduled for 6 pm while the Poetry of Arrival session follows by 7 pm. Screening of the documentary, ‘The Poets’ round off Tuesday’s events. The documentary follows two acclaimed West African poets, and lifelong friends, Syl Cheney-Coker and Niyi Osundare.
On Wednesday, there would be another creative workshop, presentation of ‘Silver Lining’, an anthology of poetry and essays edited by Akachi Adimora- Ezeigbo and Folu Agoi, and published by Nigeria Centre of PEN International.
The collection features writings by various generations of exceptionally talented Nigerian poets, playwrights, novelists and essayists resident in the country and other parts of the world, including Wole Soyinka, Niyi Osundare, Femi Osofisan, Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo and Tanure Ojaide, with other younger but gifted writers.
Media artist, Yussuf Durodola, will perform ‘Majele: When the Load is Returned to the Owner, the Rest is Rest’ while the first Readers Forum themed ‘Leaders are Readers: Why I Read What I Read’ follows by 4 pm.
Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and CEO, Tanus Communications, Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi and former Ogun State Agric Commissioner, Adepeju Adebajo will discuss their choice of books. Dr Reuben Abati will moderate the session.
The Grim Reaper hit the arts community hard in 2019 and a night of tributes in honour of the departed ones will happen by 7 pm. The accomplishments of individuals including Bisi Silva, Okwui Enwezor, Pius Adesanmi, Paul Emema, Eddie Ugbomah, Molara Ogundipe, Stella Oyedepo, David Dale, Jide Ogungbade, Frank Okonta, Idowu Nubi and Olakunle Olasope will be celebrated.
Joshua Alabi’s ‘Join Bodi’, an agit-prop/guerrilla theatre piece follows at 8 pm while Toyin Oshinaike’s adaptation of ‘Woza Albert’, entitled ‘What’s Dis All About’ ends activities of the day.
LABAF 2019 continues till Sunday with other enriching activities that the literati and culture enthusiasts will find enjoyable.