By Henry Akubuiro
The 25th edition of the annual Lagos Book & Art Festival LABAF will be held from Monday, November 13 to 19, 2023, at Freedom Park, Campbell Street, Lagos, and virtually.
The theme for this year is “The Reset: History and the Darkling Plain,” and it is designed to reflect on the various critical points in the history of Nigeria and, by extension, the histories of rest of Africa and the world- through written texts and performances in drama, music, poetry, the visual arts, etc.
The essence, said organisers, was to mine those lessons in the political and cultural history of the nation to plot a progressive direction for its future, “as we settle into, and navigate the constructs of a new political dispensation.*
LABAF commenced in 1999, the year of Nigeria’s return to civil rule. Though a literary feast of ideas and life in outlook, the festival has, over the years, metamorphosed to being a Campaign for LITERACY devoted to heightening interest of the populace to be active participants in the knowledge economy that currently rules transactions in global political, economic and cultural affairs. The festival is focused on three thematic elements: EDUCATION. ENLIGHTENMENT. EMPOWERMENT.
LABAF’s main programme iterations include: Conversations around ideas contained in the books of the festival – relevant to the theme of the festival; Readings, Reviews and sessions on Writing and Publishing; Exhibitions of Books and Visual Arts; Workshops and Mentoring Sessions for young people; Performances in Poetry, Drama, Music, Dance, etc; Arthouse celebrations of eminent artistes and culture workers who have registered their names and footprints in the cause of nation building.