Poetry, film, fashion converge at Book and Art Hub’s maiden culture hangout in Ikorodu
* Winner of QWP, Ishola, explains motivation for her work
By Godwin Okondo
THE Book and Art Hub hosted its maiden Book, Art and Culture Hangout last Saturday at Apeka Community Estate, Ikorodu, Lagos. It drew writers, artists, readers and cultural practitioners for an extended afternoon of literary exchange, film, fashion and community-focused cultural conversation.
The hosted was the literary, art and culture archivist and curator, Nurudeen Segun Aribisala. The hangout featured a broad range of cultural activities, including poetry readings, book exhibition and sales, film screening, fashion exhibition featuring adire and Ankara showcases, refreshments and informal networking.
A major highlight of the programme was the poetry performance session, anchored by writer and content strategist, Ademola Adefolami, which created an open participatory platform for literary expression. Guests were invited to recite poems of their choice, whether original compositions or works by other poets, resulting in a diverse mix of voices and performance styles. The session attracted strong audience engagement, with listeners responding to themes of love, identity, memory, spirituality and social experience explored through the poems.
During the recital, Hubaidat Oyinkansola Ishola, winner of the 2025 Quramo Writers Prize, read an excerpt from her winning manuscript, What Binds What Breaks. Her reading offered attendees an early and intimate encounter with the work that secured her the prize, and was received with keen attention from the audience.
Visual and material culture also featured prominently throughout the hangout. Fashion exhibitions and displays of accessories, adire and Ankara fabrics formed part of the programme, highlighting the intersections between literature, fashion and cultural heritage.
Another key moment of the hangout was the screening of Enyo (Reflections), a short film by filmmaker, Nneoha Ann Aligwe. It follows the life of a troubled couple on a getaway intended to revive their fading relationship, only for them to confront hidden truths shaped by love, illusion and the supernatural. Enyo, which won Viewers’ Choice Award at the 2024 S16 Festival, generated strong interest among guests and set the tone for a reflective post-screening discussion.
Following the screening, participants engaged in a wide-ranging conversation on the reality of supernatural forces and the ways such themes are employed in film and storytelling to mirror emotional, psychological and moral conflicts. The discussion drew varied perspectives rooted in personal belief, lived experience and cultural memory, reinforcing the role of art as a catalyst for dialogue, debate and introspection.
Convener of Book and Art Hub, Mr. Segun Aribisala (left); Mr. Pelumi Aribisala and teacher and writer, Mr. Sunday Oyebamiji at the event
Contributing to the discussion was Prof. Tayo Ogunlewe, who teaches Literature at Lagos State University, Ojo. He shared personal and communal experiences related to the supernatural. He recounted a story from his childhood on Lagos Island involving a man who allegedly brought a woman to his home. According to the account, the woman warned that she must not remain in the house by dawn, a warning the man reportedly ignored. At daybreak, the woman was said to have turned into a coffin. The incident, Ogunlewe said, attracted widespread attention in the community, though he was away at school when elders intervened. Upon their return from the house, the elders asked the gathered crowd to disperse. Neither the woman nor the coffin was reportedly seen leaving the house, and the man was said to have fled and never returned.
Ogunlewe also spoke about encountering a man with a severely disfigured face who claimed he had been attacked by a spirit while passing a cemetery on his way to the University of Lagos. In another account, he recalled being dared by friends to visit a cemetery at 1:15am to collect sand from a grave. He said that shortly after scooping the sand, he heard a voice calling his name and instructing him to return the sand and leave the cemetery immediately. Some participants, however, argued that his friends might have followed him to the cemetery without his knowledge, and called out to frighten him, reflecting the differing interpretations that characterised the discussion.
Beyond its structured sessions, the hangout also functioned as a relaxing networking space where writers, artists, readers and cultural enthusiasts interacted informally. Refreshments contributed to the convivial atmosphere, aligning with the organisers’ intention of creating an inclusive environment where creativity could be shared freely and without boundaries.
While speaking on her winning manuscript, the Quramo Writers Prize winner, Ishola, said What Binds What Breaks was inspired by her desire to see more representation of hijab-wearing women in literature, which she noted remains limited in mainstream storytelling. She explained that her writing process involved a period of intense focus, during which she devoted three months solely to writing, allowing the manuscript to fully take shape.
Reflecting on her experience at the Quramo Festival of Words and winning the prize, Ishola described the achievement as both overwhelming and deeply gratifying. She revealed that she had previously entered the prize in 2021, finishing fourth, before returning in 2025 to win. Drawing from that journey, she encouraged aspiring writers to remain consistent and not be discouraged by delays or setbacks, stressing that persistence and patience were essential to creative growth.
On her immediate plans, Ishola said she was focused on publishing her manuscript with Quramo, with whom she already has a contract, expressing hope that the book will be well received and positively shape the next phase of her writing career.
The organisers expressed appreciation to all the guests for their presence and participation, noting that the energy and engagement of guests contributed significantly to the success of the hangout and to the atmosphere of creativity, dialogue and cultural exchange that defined the event.
They added that the support shown for a space dedicated to books, art, culture and community would encourage the Book and Art Hub to continue creating platforms for creative expression and collaboration, while expressing optimism about welcoming participants to future programmes and initiatives.
