Re-imagining Africa’s future at Ake Festival
Muslim woman” and narrated how she was sexually harassed in Mecca and then expected to keep quiet about it. “I want the utter destruction of patriarchy and have spaces where we can discuss such matters,” she said.
A remarkable arrangement was a panel discussion on the theme ‘Divinity and Spirituality in Igbo Tradition’ (by Munoyedi Ogbolumani, Chukwubudike Ugbaja and Eloka Umeh) and ‘Entertainment, Education and Technology in the Mother Tongue’ (by Kunle Afolayan, Tunde Adegbola and Dayo Olagunju) discussed in Igbo and Yoruba languages respectively. The former centred on how the arrival of Christianity in Africa has led to the neglect of traditional indigenous religious practice in Igboland, while the latter was on how English Language has largely displaced the use of the mother tongue.
Unfortunately, there was no forum to discuss, in Hausa language, some of the issues affecting Hausaland, such as its educational ‘backwardness’ and the almajiri question. This would have at least balanced things up. But then, there’s always another year.
There were other engaging topics, such as ‘Is Africa Really Open for Business?’ This choice is timely at this period when Africa needs to look inward, maximise its potentials and also welcome foreign investors. Panellists Feyi Olubodun, Tayo Oviosu and Victor Kgomoeswana discussed how African youths can better equip themselves to confront the future and politics, in order to effect policy change that will influence economic development.
In his 2018 book, ‘The Villager’, Olubodun wrote about how the African consumer begins his life’s journey by moving from the village to the city, carrying with him not only his own dreams, but also the dreams of his community. He becomes his extended family’s link to a better life, and although he may be exposed to global influences and technology, his essential identity remains largely intact. This defines him and how he engages with and consumes brands.
There were other panels: Veteran singer, Salawa Abeni thrashed out the subject ‘Music as a Vehicle for Change’ alongside Tomeletso Sereetsi and Brymo. Ariyike Akinbobola, Yejide Kilanko and Ayo Oyeku also talked about the role of books in the lives of children and how a writer can balance being entertaining and engaging without being patronising, condescending and confusing.
When American novelist Paul Beatty was announced winner of the 2016 Man Booker prize for his book, ‘The Sellout’, it stuck with me. So, when he was listed as one of Ake’s guests, I was understandably thrilled.
Chatting alongside author of ‘Here Comes the Sun’, Jamaica’s Nicole Dennis-Benn, Beatty responded to the subject of closure and how he ended his story: ‘Nothing ever really goes away,” he said, adding how, in a way, his upbringing influenced the work.
Dennis-Benn whose novel is sprinkled with a lot of Patwa dialogue, didn’t mince words. “I’m not a happy ending writer,” she confessed. “Children are given happy endings because they are kids, but this isn’t the case with adults who know what real life is like.” She also pointed out that she wanted her characters to speak in the language she knows is commonly identified with by Jamaicans, which is Patwa.
Other book chats featured Chibundu Onuzo, author of ‘Welcome to Lagos’ and Michael Donker, author of ‘Hold’. Also, Niq Mhlongo (‘Soweto Under the Apricot Tree’) and Peter Kimani (Dance of the Jakaranda’) and several more. Film One of the annoying things about Ake Arts & Book Festival is having to miss something else while enjoying another. You may be enjoying a discussion, like that on ‘Recollections of the BiafraNigeria War’ and forget Ummi Bukar’s documentary, ‘Uprooted’ is showing in the film hall. This film showed how the Boko Haram war in the northeast scattered many homes, and stories of families who waxed stronger instead of weaker.
In ‘Uprooted’, a woman who hardly knew work besides taking care of her children becomes a teacher to internally displaced children. Another becomes a trader, while yet another part of the Civilian Joint Task Force set up to protect communities from terrorists. But this isn’t all. The men learn how to support their wives and cook, clean and care for their children.
Another film, ‘Beyond Tolerance’ is centred around two young people, Ifagbenusola Popoola, born into a family of Babalawos and Ayinke Omidan Adefemi, recently initiated into Ifa and Osun practice. Both practice different forms of spiritualities rooted in their traditions.
There were others such as ‘An Untold Story of Slavery’ and ‘Swallow’, which explores challenges to food security resulting from our changing climate, inadequate infrastructure and traditional agricultural practices.
These were soon followed by discussion sessions where the filmmakers spoke about the inspiration behind their films and challenges they faced. Ummi Bukar discovered soon after embarking on the ‘Uprooted’ project that there were people out there in Nigeria’s northeast who had never had to tell their own stories because no one asked. So, they were only too glad to open up when the ‘Uprooted’ team came knocking.
Every discussion at Ake is like a collection of hastily written essays, every book chat like an unedited novella and every film show and discourse like a mixtape of rap, reggae and jazz. You cannot get all of it, and might not really get enough of it. I, for one look forward to next year.