Fills, thrills of 15th LABAF

Books from former President Olusegun Obasanjo's presidential library displayed at LABAF 2013

It was indeed a three-day exciting moments at the 15th Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF) which started from November 15 and ended on 17, 2013 at Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos.

The event which was organised by the Committee for Relevant Arts (CORA) kicked off around 10 am on Friday, November 15 with Writing Short Fiction Stories for Young Adults (UK and Nigeria Perspective), followed by ‘My Encounter with the Book’ by ace comedian, Julius Agwu, who told children the role books have played in his life.

The Festival Conversation, an hour discussion took place at Kongi’s Hall 1, between 1 and 12 noon. With the theme: ‘A Career in the Centenary’, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir el Rufai, also an author of ‘The Accidental Public Servant’ was interrogated by Martins Oloja on the insight the book sheds on the country’s 53 years of Post Independence Governance. The eloquent and intelligent former minister among other things, while sharing his experience suggested that ministers should be paid well. He adds: “Giving multi billion naira budgets to ministers who are not well paid is not fair.”

According to him, the Federal capital territory budget in his last year was $1.5 billion while his salary was $1000 per month. He maintained that his account of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s appointment as Chief Economic Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo was correct and advised Soludo to write his own book.

LABAF also hosted children from different schools including Girls Junior Secondary Grammar School, Keffi, Lagos and Straightway Nursery and Primary School, Makoko, Lagos. Some students participated in painting (fine art) and dancing competitions. They were also taught how to produce honey using wax, bees and so on.

Many organisations, book publishing companies and libraries had book stands at the fair and they are: Nigerian Copyright Commission, Goethe Institut, Port Harcourt World Book 2014, Cassava Republic, Olusegu Obasanjo Presidential Library and African Publishers Network, among others.

An opening performance with the theme: “Our Area,” a satiric take on the Nigerian project was performed by The Crown Troupe of Africa.

Festival’s colloquium with ‘The Nigerian Centenary’ as its theme followed thereafter and the keynote address titled ‘Henry Carr in Lagos: A Narrative of Modern Nigeria’ was handled by Akin Adesokan. He opined that Henry Carr was making intervention in a personal way but what was important was to communicate.   

There were readings, reviews and discussions around key books on Nigeria’s history after the colloquium.  Former Managing Director of Daily Times, Onukaba Adinoyi Ojo, poet Tolu Ogunlesi and Adesokan amongst others were on the panel. The books include Ngozi Okonjo Iweala’s ‘Reforming The Unreformable’; El Rufai’s ‘The Accidental Public Servant’; Alabi Isama’s   ‘The Tragedy of Victory: On-The-Spot Account of The Nigeria-Biafra War In The Atlantic Theatre’;  Achebe’s ‘A Man Of The People’ and Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s ‘Path To Nigerian Freedom’.

The visual art component of the festival commenced by 3pm that same Friday with the seminar ‘Lagos: A City of Art’.

A jazz night produced by Ayoola Shadare’s Inspiro Productions featuring a musical conversation between three bands wrapped up activities for the day.

On Saturday, November 16th, the highlights comprised the presentation of two books by Nelson Publishers, a subsidiary of Evans Publishers. ‘The Dream Chaser’, a collection of short stories by adults and two series of children’s books comprising five books each and a workbook were unveiled.

Also, the conversation ‘The Caine Prize for Nigerian Writing?  featuring Rotimi Babatunde, winner of the 2012 Caine Prize for African Writing and  four other Nigerians shortlisted for the same prize this year was another event.  ‘What’s Your Lagos Story?’ was a session where people shared what the city meant to them followed by the festival concert in honour of Mrs. Francesca Emmanuel, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi and Dejumo Lewis amongst other arts personalities who attained landmark ages this year.

The festival stampede themed ‘The books of Nollywood’ took place on Sunday while a poetry slam ended the festival. LABAF 2013 was dedicated to novelist, Chinua Achebe, who passed on earlier in the year, the festival has ‘Nigeria’s Centenary: The Lagos Narrative’ as its theme. Culture consultant and communications advocate who is also CORA programme chairman, Jahman Anikulapo, in his closing remarks thanked everyone that graced the event.