What It Means to Attend Aké Festival

Aké

Photo illustration by Ezinne Osueke / THE REPUBLIC. Ref: Ake Arts and Book Festival @akefestival / INSTAGRAM.

THE MINISTRY OF ARTS / LITERATURE DEPT.

What It Means to Attend Aké Festival

The Aké Arts & Book Festival is drawing young people from across Nigeria and the African diaspora, fostering connections, and inspiring a vibrant culture of literary growth and creativity.
Aké

Photo illustration by Ezinne Osueke / THE REPUBLIC. Ref: Ake Arts and Book Festival @akefestival / INSTAGRAM.

THE MINISTRY OF ARTS / LITERATURE DEPT.

What It Means to Attend Aké Festival

The Aké Arts & Book Festival is drawing young people from across Nigeria and the African diaspora, fostering connections, and inspiring a vibrant culture of literary growth and creativity.

The first time I attended the Aké Arts & Book Festival, fittingly called Aké, was in 2022, when I was a third-year English Language Education student at Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria. I was, like most of my peers, struggling—and possibly failing—to keep up with the fierce demands of my third year in the university. As always, there were recommended texts and literary theories vying for space in my already overstuffed brain and limited time. It was during this academically challenging period, while preparing for exams, that I travelled from Ogun State to Lagos State to attend the festival. As a struggling student, affording the ticket and transportation costs was impossible. However, thanks to Aké’s Diversity Inclusivity Grant—which covered the ticket and provided a 10,000 book token—I was able to attend my first Aké Festival.  

Two years later, with no urgent exams looming or boredom-inducing texts to read, I attended the 2024 edition of the festival. On my way home on the second day of the festival, I chanced upon Somkenechukwu Okeke on a bus. As he enthusiastically shared his experience of travelling from Osun State to attend the festival, I was reminded of my own journey in 2022. As Okeke briefly recounted his journey, his palpable enthusiasm and the quest of young Nigerians like him for knowledge and community stood out. Reflecting on Okeke’s words and my 2022 experience, I decided to speak with other young Nigerian writers and readers who had travelled from outside Lagos to attend the 2024 Aké Arts & Book Festival.  

TRAVELLING TO AKÉ IS A TREASURE-DRIVEN HUNT

Over the past decade, Aké has established itself as a hub for generating ideas, sparking creative epiphanies and fostering connections among like-minded individuals, thanks to its yearly lineup of admirable guests. With its well-curated book chats, panel sessions and networking opportunities, attending Aké feels akin to a hunter fiercely and cleverly hunting for a game. Since its inception, young Nigerians like Okeke have travelled from across the country to attend the festival in Ogun State, where the festival was initially based, and Lagos. Okeke’s odyssey mirrors the experiences of others who, year after year, eagerly anticipate attending the festival. Speaking with Okeke and other young Nigerians about the festival, it is fascinating to hear their varied descriptions of the experience. Despite their unique perspectives, what unites them is a deep and passionate quest for knowledge and a connection with fellow creatives. Okeke describes the festival as, ‘a surreal and mind-blowing experience.’ Ray Ukuame, a speculative fiction writer from Benin city, describes Aké as ‘life-changing’. For Azeeza Adeowu, who travelled from Ibadan, the most surreal aspect was being, ‘surrounded by books and book lovers.’ Ahmad Mubarak, who travelled from Kano, was thrilled by the opportunity to meet some of his favourite writers, including Umar Abubakar Sidi, Dami Ajayi, Nnedi Okorafor, Aiwanose Odafen, Fatima Bala, Abi Daré and Kayode Ani.  

Olukorode Ore first attended Aké in 2019 as a volunteer. Travelling to Lagos in 2023 was financially draining for her, but it was a cherished experience, offering the rare opportunity to engage with authors and make new friends. For Salim Yunusa, Aké marked his first journey to southern Nigeria in 2016. As a young creative, he considers the festival a safe haven. ‘As a northerner, the immersion and intersection of literature and culture was life changing as it opened my eyes to many possibilities and realities,’ Yunusa told me. For Ganzer Egg, who travelled from Ibadan, the most striking aspect was, ‘being in the presence of people who aren’t afraid to express their non-mainstream thoughts and ideas.’ Similarly, Opeyemi Olawale, a creative artist from Oyo State, was captivated by, ‘listening to thought-provoking conversations and meeting like-minded young Nigerians.’  

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FOSTERING A COMMUNITY OF YOUNG NIGERIAN WRITERS AND READERS

Organized by novelist, Lola Shoneyin, Aké has, for over a decade, brought together Nigerian and African writers, thinkers, filmmakers, musicians and artists. The festival venue has consistently served as a space for sharing and shaping ideas between the guests and attendees. With many attendees being young Nigerians, the festival has become a vital platform for expression and growth. These exchanges of ideas have nurtured a thriving literary community and sparked meaningful conversations among young Nigerians. ‘Although most of the programmes are anchored by published authors and popular creatives, I believe that the younger creatives benefit more from the event; you get inspired, you network with people you admire and get to collaborate with other like-minded creatives,’ Ore shared. Okeke echoes Ore’s sentiments. He believes that Aké has fostered connections and unity among young members of the literary community while also providing aspiring authors with the motivation and practical knowledge to hone their craft. ‘Aké has done and is doing a lot by creating a meeting point for writers across the country to converge and familiarize with each other,’ Okeke said. ‘It has brought young writers together and I am really looking forward to what these young creatives would bring to the literary table in the years to come.’ The festival holds varying levels of significance for different people. In Adeowu’s words,  

For some, it provides the validation and encouragement they need to complete the stories they are working on. For others, it is about meeting the authors of their favourite books and breathing the same air as them. The festival has done different things for different people, but at the heart of it is that it validates and reinforces young Nigerians’ interest and passion for literature.  

For Shammah Godoz, the festival offers attendees a space to celebrate literature and reading. ‘It has also provided a place for the community to converge,’ Godoz added.  

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AKÉ’S CONTRIBUTION TO NIGERIAN AND AFRICAN LITERATURE

One of Aké’s key contributions to the Nigerian and African literary landscape is its relentless effort to amplify diverse African voices and create a space for dialogue about our shared histories and futures. ‘Documenting New Voices’, a panel session moderated by Timi Sanni and featuring Wale Lawal, the founder and editor-in-chief of The Republic, Ainehi Edoro of Brittle Paper, and Taofeek Ayeyemi of Olumo Review, is a recent example of the festival’s intentional efforts to provide a platform for diverse voices. The panel also recognizes the importance of honouring founders of literary magazines and publications that create spaces for young, emerging and established writers and poets. Adeowu further commented that, ‘Aké contributes to the Nigerian and African literary landscape by amplifying diverse African voices and creating a space for dialogues. It helps people discover new perspectives, reconnect with their identities, and broaden their worldviews.’ Godoz Egg also believes that Aké provides literary connoisseurs with an opportunity to recognize the depth and influence of literature on collective consciousness. ‘As a festival that encourages the discovery of books, you can easily predict what the future of reading and literature will look like in the country if we have more festivals like it,’ Godoz Egg shared. He also emphasized the importance of Aké to the Nigerian and African literary space, particularly its ability to bring people together. ‘People are the most important aspect of literature and Aké excels at bringing people together.’  

Yunusa suggests that Aké is the pace-setting festival. It not only serves as an important platform for artistic freedom and expression but also as a cultural phenomenon where artists and creatives from around the world converge, align and produce spectacular displays of cultural and literary excellence. Since attending Aké in 2016, Yunusa has gone on to curate the Kano International Poetry Festival, the first-ever poetry festival in northern Nigeria. He passionately believes that there will never be enough festivals and platforms for creativity. 

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THE GRIPPING FEAR AND CONCERN FOR SAFETY

There is a familiar fear that travelling by road in Nigeria often inspires. From growing insecurity concerns to deplorable road conditions, travelling by road has become a chore. For Nigerians who can’t afford air travel, however, this mode of transportation is the only alternative. Thus, aside from the financial burden, young Nigerians hoping to attend the festival also face the added worry of being kidnapped or involved in an accident. Despite this fear, it hasn’t deterred them from attending. When I asked Mubarak about it, he admitted to being scared. However, the experience Aké would offer him helped assuage this fear. Mubarak weighed the inherent risk against the potential experience Aké would provide and decided to travel regardless. Okeke’s concern wasn’t primarily about the journey from Osogbo to Lagos. A book helped douse his fears during the trip. However, as a non-Lagosian who had been fed with stories of daylight robbery and ‘one chance’ scams, his unease was reserved for Lagos itself. Yunusa, on the other hand, had his own fears, but his excitement about attending the festival overshadowed them. According to Yunusa:  

Safety and security were major concerns, actually. But my love and excitement for the festival overpowered my fear. I travelled by night bus, and it was a scary journey—with cars breaking down, the fear of robbers, and of course, the bad roads, especially from Kaduna to Abuja, and other long stretches. 

Over the years, the organizers of Aké have worked tirelessly to create a platform for the celebration of books, literature, music and ideas—a commitment that shows no signs of slowing down. As I wrapped up my conversations with some of the attendees, many expressed a desire for similar festivals in their state of residence. Some, like Yunusa, are already engaged in the physically exhausting but mentally fulfilling work of creating spaces for literary discussions. Others are building relationships that could one day blossom into grand platforms for advancing Nigerian and African literature. Reflecting on these efforts, it is fulfilling to imagine the promising future of Nigerian and African literature

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