As LABAF Enters Its 19th Edition in November...
The 9th edition of the Lagos Book & Art Festival, LABAF focusing on the theme: Eruptions: Global Fractures & Collective Humanism,” will hold November 6-12 at the Freedom Park, Lagos. The pre-festival events hold from November 6 to 8 at various venues, while the main festival holds from November 9 to 12. Explaining the theme, the programme directorate of the festival, says: “The theme is primarily inspired by the convulsions in the global political and economic space; the sort of angst that’s led to the emergence of Donald Trump and now upsurge of the 'supremacist' and rightists' movements in the United States; the decision by 17.4million British voters to leave the European Union; the siege on Europe by Islamic militias; the crises in the Middle-east, which have led to millions of refugees besieging Europe; the resurgence of 'separatist' rhetoric from some youths in different regions of Nigeria etc. We wish to examine the implications of all these actions on the fundamental rights and privileges of affected people; and in general, our collective humanity”.
The 2017 festival is “dedicated to the Poet laureate, Professor Niyi Osundare, stated Toyin Akinosho, secretary general of the Committee for Relevant Art, CORA, promoters of the festival. He described Osundare as a “true national and cultural icon,” who has influenced generation of younger poets and writers, helping them to find their voice and developing their own styles. The 18th edition was dedicated to the dramatist, Professor Femi Osofisan, who, as Festival Special Guest of Honour was present at all the sessions of the festival the promoters of the festival that started in 1999 as a “literacy and human capital development campaign.”
The festival will also honour some icons in the Nigeria culture and creative industry sector, who clock landmark birthday anniversary (usually those just attaining the milestone ages of 80s, 70s and 60s) in the course of the year.
Programme chair of CORA, and Curator of the festival, Jahman Anikulapo said, “as it is traditional with the CORA, in deciding our theme for every edition, we always look at most cogent development in global political and cultural circuit and try to weigh in on the effects of such on the condition of our collective humanity. This year we have resolved to look at emergent strange tendencies in world politics that is rapturing political establishments; for instance, Brexit in the UK; the emergence of an extremist like Donald Trump as president of the bastion of democracy, the United States. And we already have warnings that some parts of Europe could also have their own Trump-like character emerging as leader! These developments obviously have grave implications for our shared humanity and the spirit of free interactions among various peoples of the world. You could see such effects in the demonization of the Syrian refugees by some political leaders in Europe; and continuous threats from Mr Trump to segregate and profile people who are not of his skin colour and racial convictions.”
Anikulapo said the central programme team of the CORA is assembling publications, authors visual arts contents that treat issues around the theme.
About 25 publications have been identified as the BOOKS OF THE FESTIVAL, and will feature in the various readings, reviews, conversations, discussions sessions that will feature in the week-long festival.
He reminded, however, that at the LABAF, the book rather that the writer is usually the determinant of the direction of programming. “The book is the Megastar at our ‘fiesta of Ideas and Life’, after all the writer is only as Big as the idea contained in his or her work, he declared, while thanking the festival guests, patrons, volunteers, “whose various contributions have always made every edition a rounded success.”