Yenagoa Book & Arts Festival to celebrate Niger Delta

By Damiete Braide

The maiden edition of the Yenagoa Book & Arts Festival (YEBAF), organised by the 1402Book Lounge Initiative, in partnership with the Bayelsa State Ministry of Education, promises to be a transformative cultural event.

Set to take place from September 23–26, 2024, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the festival will focus on “Resilience: How Storytelling Shapes Our Lives.” YEBAF is designed to highlight the rich cultural heritage of the Niger Delta while encouraging creativity and engagement in a region known for its oil wealth, natural beauty, and environmental challenges.

At the heart of the festival is a strong desire to reinvigorate the cultural and artistic scene in the Niger Delta. For three days, the festival will offer a vibrant mix of literary events, visual arts, performances, and panel discussions, creating an immersive experience for attendees.

The festival theme speaks to the power of stories to inspire hope and perseverance in the face of adversity. Storytelling has long been a way for people in the Niger Delta and beyond to pass down history, traditions, and lessons through generations. YEBAF aims to foster a sense of community and empowerment, reminding attendees of the importance of cultural preservation.

In addition to YEBAF, Yenagoa will also play host to the Yenagoa Book City 2024, a significant literary event that will include the Network of Book Clubs and Reading Promoters in Nigeria (NBRP) Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM).

zThe NBRP gathering, themed “Loving Books and Securing the Critical Edge in the Running of Book Clubs,” will bring together book club organisers and reading promoters from across Nigeria. The event is expected to boost reading culture in Bayelsa and the Niger Delta as a whole, helping to nurture a new generation of readers and writers.

YEBAF’s first edition will pay tribute to two towering cultural figures of the Niger Delta: the eminent historian, Professor E.J. Alagoa, who recently turned 91, and the iconic poet Dr. Gabriel Okara. The Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Professor Nimibofa Ayawei, will present the keynote address at the festival’s opening ceremony, speaking to the theme of resilience and storytelling.

Among the confirmed guests are Jahman Anikulapo and Toyin Akinosho, the veteran organisers of the 26-year-old Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF). Stage and screen actor Bimbo Manuel, award-winning poet Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, and journalist-author, Anote Ajeluorou, will participate in discussions and readings. Mazi Nwonwu, Senior Correspondent for BBC Igbo and author of “How to Make a Space Masquerade,” a collection of speculative short stories, will explore the intersection of science fiction, African culture, and storytelling. The publisher, Mr. Othuke Ominiabohs, founder of Masobe Books, will speak on the complexities of publishing in Nigeria.

The NBRP conference, which will run concurrently with the festival, will feature Josef Nengi Ilagha presenting a keynote on the theme of running successful book clubs. The conference will be chaired by Jahman Anikulapo, while NBRP president, Richard Mammah, will oversee the conference proceedings and AGM.

Photo: Annette David-West