Africa’s largest literary festival, the Ake Books and Art Festival, is back in 2024 with its 12th edition. This literary event was established by Lola Shoneyin, an author, cultural activist, and founder of Ouida Books. At a media briefing on Friday, November 8, 2024, at Ouida Bookstore in Opebi, Lagos, Shoneyin revealed that the theme for this year’s edition is Finding Freedom.
According to her, this theme reflects the conflicts and oppression experienced in some African countries, as well as people’s struggles and quests for freedom of choice, association, worship, and love. “One of the reasons we love this theme is that it’s very open-ended and almost all-encompassing. We are thinking of our brothers and sisters in Congo DRC, and Sudan, and of what is happening in Ukraine and Gaza.
It seems to be a very difficult time for so many people in different parts of the world, and it would have been remiss of us not to curate a program that acknowledges these difficult times,” she shared. This year’s edition will span four days, starting on November 20, 2024, and ending on November 23 with a palm wine and poetry event. It is scheduled to be held at Bon Hotel in Ikeja GRA, Lagos, and will feature 24 events, including panel discussions, book chats, poetry, comedy, live music, film screenings, and a cancer awareness session.
Inclusivity and Diversity Shoneyin spoke on the festival’s aim to ensure diversity and inclusivity. To achieve this, she invited Tonye Faloughi-Ek.