Conversations with top CEOs, Nollywood memoirists, publishers dominate LABAF’s mid-week outing
RMD, Omoni Oboli, Charles Novia, FAJ talk Nollywood
By Godwin Okondo
DAY 3 of Lagos Book and Art Festival, Wednesday, November 17, 2021 is dedicated to honouring the creativity of a selected number of writers and to addressing the growing call for increased promotion of African literature. The forum which starts at 3.00pm has ‘Leaders Are Readers: Why I Read What I Read’ as theme. It will feature Chief Executive of AA Holdings, Austin Avuru, as guest of honour with the anchor of Arise TV, Dr. Reuben Abati leading the conversation. The session will be chaired by CEO/Publisher of Tanus Books, Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi. Nollywood Session kicks off at 5.00pm, and has as theme ‘In Cold Text: How I Made it in Nollywood’ and includes a session with Toni Kan who will discuss ‘The Portrait of a Warri Boy’ with Nollywood actor, Richard Mofe-Damijo.
Other personalities expected are Omoni Oboli, who will also discuss her reasons for writing the book, ‘The Stars are Ageles’ and Charles Novia, who will give updates on ‘Nollywood till November: Memoirs of a Nollywood Insider.’ Also, the session on ‘Nollywood: The Memoirs’ begins at 6.00pm with a reading and debriefing on ‘Reflections: An Anthology of Thoughts on Nigerian Movie Industry – Pioneers, Creativity & Tenacity’ by Femi Akintunde-Johnson and ‘Reversal Filmmaking: To God’s Bedroom and Back: Untold Story of the Nollywood Revolution’ by Matthew Olusegun Simpa. The session will be moderated by film journalist and academic, Dr. Shaibu Husseini while CORA board member and filmmaker, Femi Odugbemi, will chair it.
Then ‘Author’s Timeout’ will follow where poet and literary activist, Aduke Gomez will be in conversation with the author of ‘Emancipados of Lagos’, Titi Marinho-Anidugbe, who remininsce on the Lagos Island community she knew and her ancestors in a personal account. The day’s activities will be wrapped up by Dj Valentino, with an evening of OldSchoolin’.
Day 4, Thursday, November 18, 2021 is dedicated to book promotion and how to put books in the hands of every reader across the country. It begins with the ‘Publisher’s Forum at 10.00am and has as theme ‘Convergence of Booksellers, Dealers and Readers,’ with ‘Distilling the Proposed National Books Distribution Company’ and ‘Library Bill of Right’ as sub-themes. It consists of two sessions and includes such panelists as the Chairman of Nigerian Book Fair Trust (NBFT), Mr. Gbadega Adedapo, President of Booksellers Association of Nigeria (BAN), Mr. Dare Oluwatuyi, President of Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA), mR. Uchenna Cyril Anioke, and Dr. Nkem Osuigwe of African Library and Information Association and Institutions (AFLIA). Moderating the session will be the President of Network of Book Clubs and Reading Promoters (NBRP), Mr. Richard Mammah.
Also, a virtual dialogue tagged ‘PAWA-CORA Convention’ begins at 2.00pm and has as theme ‘Development of Literature in African Indigenous Languages’ in a panel discussion to address the growing call for increased promotion of literature in indigenous African languages. The lead talk will be delivered by the Secretary General of Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA), Dr. Wale Okediran, and will feature panelists from various African countries like Mangaza Kitundwa, Mamothibeli Sehlabo, Osama Gad, and Dr. Rahab Njeri. The session will be moderated by Kola Tubosun.
The first edition of ‘PEN-CORA Revue’ is set to begin at 4.00pm with the theme ‘The Pen is Mightier than the Bully.’ It has a panel session featuring Mr. Dele Farotimi, Mr. Tade Ipadeola, Dr. Yinka Oyegbile, Mr. Ralph Tathagata, with moderation from poet and Secretary of PEN Nigeria, Aj. Daggar Tolar. The second session begins at 6pm, with the theme ‘Development and Challenges of Indigenous Literature in Africa: Nigeria as a Focus’ and will feature the Vice President of PEN Nigeria Centre, Perpetual Ohiri, Dr. Tunji Sotiminrin, Olanrewaju Lagada-Abayomi, Kola Tubosun, with moderation from President of PEN Nigeria Centre, Mr. Folu Agoi.
The day’s activities end with a film screening at 8.00pm titled ‘For the Love of Dance’ by Segun Adeleye, and will be chaired by CORA board member, Pascal Ott. This will be followed by Crown Troupe of Africa performancing ‘Eti Inu’ with Segun Adefila as curator.
