Ake Arts and Book Festival returns with call to ‘Reclaim Truth’
By Godwin Okondo
THE 13th edition of the Aké Arts and Book Festival is scheduled to take place from November 20 — 22, 2025 at BON Hotel Ikeja Residence in Lagos. Founded in 2013 by Nigerian writer and poet, Lola Shoneyin, under the umbrella of Book Buzz Foundation, the festival has become one of Africa’s premier celebrations of creativity, literature and culture, as it brings together writers, artists and thinkers from across the continent and the diaspora.
Speaking at a press conference in Ikeja, Shoneyin said this year’s theme — ‘Reclaiming Truth’ — is especially timely given the current global environment. She explained: “It often feels like we are surrounded by lies; it often feels like we consume more lies than truth, especially on social media… but it’s not just social media, it’s also legacy media sometimes, where it seems like some voices have been muffled.”
She emphasised that the festival will devote itself to conversations around defining truth, understanding what truth means, and the challenges ordinary individuals face in sifting through the flood of information they receive.
Shoneyin noted that this edition also carries a note of reflection and tribute, adding, “This is the year that the literary community, the African continent and the global literary world lost one of our icons, Ngugi wa Thiong’o of Kenya. Not long after that, we also lost Mabel Segun, one of the foremost feminine writers of the first generation of African authors.” In that light, the festival will pay homage to their legacies.
She revealed that this year’s programme will include the usual rich mix of panel discussions, book chats, and contributions from both established and emerging writers. Among the guests will be Bernardine Evaristo, winner of the Booker Prize with Girl, Woman, Other in 2019, who will speak on the newly established prize of £10,000 for a female writer producing her first work of fiction after the age of 60 named RSL Pioneer Prize (admisnitered by the Royal Society of Literature) and awarded to 10 living writers over the next decade. 91-year old poet, playwright and novelist, Maureen Duffy won the inaugural prize.
Ake Festival founder, Lola Shoneyin
Shoneyin added that “we have invited and we will be joined by 67 authors, poets from a total of 16 countries, and that includes Ukraine, United Kingdom, Belgium, Sierra Leone, Congo, Jamaica, France, Kenya, Sudan, Barbados, Somalia, Palestine, Zambia, India, Namibia, and of course, our great country, Nigeria.”
On the publication front, she announced that this year’s edition of the festival’s flagship magazine, Aké Review, will be the largest to date. “This year, we have 544 submissions from people who want it to be published, and we had great fun looking at the art, the reflection, the poetry, and the same ten questions we send to our guests to fill.”
Representing Sterling Bank, which partners with the festival, official Donatus Okpako underlined the bank’s commitment to education, which it identifies as one of its key sectors under the H.E.A.R.T. (health, education, agriculture, renewal energy and transportation) framework, saying, “For us at Sterling, education is a priority… the E in heart stands for education… and as one of the activities that falls within education, Aké Festival ranks top and above other initiatives.” Okpako recalled his own first attendance last year, describing it as “something very impressive” and a gift to the literary community. He emphasised that the partnership is not just about sponsorship but about giving young people access to authors and poets they used to admire from a distance.
“We are giving a whole lot of opportunities to young people to access,” he contineud. “I believe you’re giving a gift to the literary community in Nigeria — bringing world-renowned poets, authors and writers closer to our people.”
Okpako also stressed the vital role of truth-speaking in the country, especially from positions of power and leadership, noting, “There are so many false narratives being told out there. So, reclaiming truth is something that we all must stand for,” adding that this year’s festival message resonates not just as a theme but as a call to action.
Institutional partners for the 2025 edition include Sterling Bank alongside Open Society Foundation and Lagos State Government — reflecting a wide support for a festival that seeks to promote African creativity, critical dialogue and cultural exchange.
As the festival approaches, attendees are encouraged to register via the festival website in advance, while media personnel can apply for press accreditation. With the 13th edition promises to bring together a host of voices, disciplines and perspectives under the banner of reclaiming truth, Aké Arts & Book Festival continues to affirm its status as a major gathering in Africa’s literary calendar.
