The Beeta Arts Festival (BAF) is poised to celebrate its fifth anniversary, returning to Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, from December 5 to 7, 2025, with a dynamic, multi-genre showcase.
The milestone edition, held primarily at the Abuja Continental Hotel, is themed “Connected Voices” and is designed to amplify the power of African storytelling by uniting theatre, film, music, visual arts and policy dialogue. The festival has grown significantly, having welcomed over 10,000 attendees and featured programming from 13 countries since its inception.
Speaking on the upcoming event, BAF Founder and award-winning actress Bikiya Graham Douglas stated: “The Beeta Arts Festival was created to amplify the power of storytelling across Africa, and to create pathways for emerging talent. This year’s theme, ‘Connected Voices,’ reflects our belief that art not only entertains, but also unites and empowers.”
The three-day programme is densely packed, commencing with the impactful ARTVOCACY Day on 5th December at the National Assembly Library Conference Hall. This opening day will feature high-level panels bringing together religious leaders, policymakers, actresses, and tech innovators to explore how storytelling and technology can be leveraged to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and reshape harmful cultural norms, in collaboration with UN Women and other social impact partners.
The creative showcase is equally ambitious, featuring stage plays by esteemed storytellers, including Ivie Okujaiye, Tony Edet, and emerging voices selected from the Beeta Playwright Competition. The film programme, curated by filmmaker Priye Diri, will exhibit compelling work from African filmmakers spanning Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Côte d’Ivoire, among others.
Beyond the performances, the festival will host critical ‘Creative Conversations’ featuring respected industry figures such as Dimbo Atiya, Biodun Stephen, and Rahama Sadau, exploring trends and insights in the creative economy. Furthermore, BAF continues its focus on investment through The Bridge Room, a collaboration pitch session hosted in partnership with the Chapel Hill Denham’s Creative Catalyst Fund, aiming to connect creative businesses with vital capital and funding opportunities.
The 5th edition of the Beeta Arts Festival, according to the organisers, promises to be a powerful convergence of culture, innovation, and community, solidifying its role as a premier platform for African creative expression.
