The Committee for Relevant Art (CORA) Art & Cultural Foundation has curated a compelling selection of 11 books that embody the 26th Lagos Book & Art Festival’s (LABAF) theme. To be held under the theme “Breakout: Hope is a Stubborn Thing,” this year’s festival promises to be a celebration of resilience and the indomitable human spirit.
From Andre Brink’s Imaginings of Sand to Chibundu Onuzo’s Sankofa, these works explore the tenacity of hope across various genres and cultural contexts.
The other books include:
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- Mukoma WA Ngugi’s We, The Scarred
- Mark Manson’s Everything Is F*cked: A Book About Hope
- Laila Lalami’s Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits
- Ayi Kwei Armah’s The Way of Companions
- Wọle Ṣoyinka’s Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth
- Antje Krog’s A Change of Tongue
- Edward W. Said and Daniel Barenboim’s Parallels and Paradoxes: EXPLORATIONS IN MUSIC AND Society -This is about a possible Pluralism of Israeli and Palestinian societies
- Peter Sekihan’s The End of The World Is Just The Beginning
- Chigozie Obioma’s The Road to the Country
- Hans Rosling: Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better Than You Think
LABAF, hailed as Africa’s biggest culture picnic, will transform Freedom Park on Broad Street, Lagos, into a vibrant hub of literary and artistic expression from November 11-17. The festival will feature an array of events, including book displays, exhibitions, live music and drama performances. Attendees can look forward to the popular Book Trek, where authors will present readings from their latest works, and the Publishers’ Forum, a full-day workshop dedicated to the publishing industry.
This year’s edition holds special significance as it pays tribute to the renowned humanist scholar and Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, who celebrated his 90th birthday on July 13. Soyinka’s lifelong dedication to exploring the possibilities of the Nigerian project aligns perfectly with CORA’s mission and the festival’s theme.
Jahman Anikulapo, CORA’s programme chairman, stressed the festival’s unique appeal: “LABAF is not just a book fair, a performance concert, a literary festival, or an art expo. It’s a healthy fusion of all four in a festival atmosphere.”
This multifaceted approach has made LABAF a beloved annual tradition for families, literary enthusiasts, and culture producers alike.
The festival’s enduring popularity is evident in its multi-generational appeal. Anikulapo notes, “We have had people who came as teenagers years ago, attending now as middle-aged adults. We have also had people who met at the festival grounds for the first time years ago, still attending as married couples.”
LABAF’s commitment to fostering meaningful engagement with literature is reflected in its discussion panels, which delve deep into the featured books beyond the authors’ star power. The lineup of panellists for this year’s event will be announced soon, promising thought-provoking conversations and fresh perspectives.
The festival also caters to younger audiences through its children’s programme, coordinated by Children and The Environment (CATE) and CORA YOUNG CREATIVE CLUB. This segment will offer a range of activities, workshops, talks and performances centered around the festival’s theme, “Breakout: Hope is a Stubborn Thing.”
