Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, will lead discussions at the 2026 edition of the Quramo Festival of Words (QFest), scheduled for October 1 to 3 at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The elder statesman is expected to deliver the keynote address and participate in a fireside conversation with former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Olasupo Shasore (SAN), following the opening remarks by festival convener, Mrs Gbemi Shasore.
The landmark festival, marking its 10th anniversary, will centre on the theme “Pieces of Us,” with a significant focus on Nigeria’s civil war history and the quest for national healing.
Obasanjo’s session, titled “When Brothers Fight: Civil War (1967-1970) – History, Identity & Nation Building,” will explore the conflict’s enduring impact on national identity, unity and reconciliation.
Drawing from his wartime experiences and insights contained in his acclaimed memoir, My Command, Obasanjo is expected to reflect on key moments from the conflict and discuss pathways towards lasting reconciliation. Organisers believe his perspective as both a frontline military commander and former president can contribute meaningfully to the ongoing national conversation about unity and collective healing.
For the second consecutive year, QFest will revisit the civil war under its “When Brothers Fight” conversation series. According to Mrs Shasore, the nation has yet to fully confront the emotional and historical consequences of the war, making continued dialogue essential for both personal and national closure. She maintains that addressing the lingering trauma and difficult truths surrounding the conflict remains crucial to building a stronger, more united Nigeria.
Following Obasanjo’s appearance, the festival will host two additional conversations on the war and reconciliation. The first panel, “The Nigerian Crisis (1967-1970): An Honest Path to Resolution and National Reconciliation,” will feature Deji Olatoye, C. Don Adinuba, Richard Mammah and Kadaria Ahmed, moderated by Nze Ed Emeka Keazor.
Another session, “The Nigerian Civil War: A Dialogue on Justice, Reconciliation and Healing,” will bring together Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze and Mr Ibrahim James Pam to further examine issues of justice, healing and nation-building.
The festival’s opening day will conclude with a screening of Maria G. Dyrvik’s film, Hope is a Word.
All sessions throughout the festival will be free to attend.
Day Two will spotlight literary excellence with the presentation of the Quramo Writers Prize (QWP), alongside workshops and masterclasses led by Kenyan culture journalist James Murua. A panel titled “African Reading Culture & Building a Stronger Literary Ecosystem” will feature Dotun Eyinade, Vamba Sherif, Sade Onabowale and Murua, moderated by Nimotalai Oki.
Other highlights include “The African Storyteller: Stories, Publishing, Success & the Writing Life,” a book conversation between Nnamdi Ehrim and Elohor Egbordi, as well as “Storytelling as Cultural Preservation,” organised by Loving Lagos and featuring Omofolarin T.O. Animashaun, Pelu Awofeso, James A. Anago-Osho and Babatunde Afolabi, with moderation by Akinlawon Adams.
The final day of the festival will begin with workshops facilitated by celebrated writer Zukiswa Wanner. Discussions will then shift to cultural heritage with “Loot, Restitution and African Heritage,” inspired by Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes. The session will bring together Barnaby Phillips, Olugbile Holloway and Aisha Adamu Augie to examine the growing conversation around the repatriation of African artefacts.
Another panel, “Scroll. Click. Read: Digital Publishing, Changing Reading Habits and the Future of Storytelling,” will feature Richard Ogundiya, Lola Alaka and David I. Adeleke, moderated by Temilade Adeyinka.
Festival-goers will also witness a conversation between Morayo Afolabi-Brown and media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo, author of How Depression Saved My Life. Renowned writer Vamba Sherif will present readings from Land of My Fathers and The Emperor’s Son.
QFest 2026 will conclude with the launch of two novels published by Quramo Publishers: The Inheritance of Days by Hubaidat Ishola and What Dreams Are Made Of* by Chiziterem Chijoke, both previous winners of the Quramo Writers Prize.
Having consistently hosted leading literary and cultural voices over the past decade, the Quramo Festival of Words enters its tenth year with a programme designed to foster reflection, dialogue and cultural engagement. The festival follows the 2025 edition themed “A Brave New World,” which featured internationally acclaimed Kenyan writer Prof. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, among its distinguished guests.