By ISAAC DANIEL
The globally renowned Aké Arts and Books Festival will take place on 20-22 November 2025 for her highly anticipated illustrious 13th edition in Lagos Nigeria, for a greater heights impact in the arts, culture, literary and entertainment industry Worldwide.
The internationally acclaimed and impactful festival from Nigeria to World for the past one decade and three years will be held in GRA Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. Internationally and nationally celebrated authors, poets, artists, storytellers, thinkers, film producers, musicians and thinkers from Africa and beyond will converge for three days of cultural immersion.
The organizers, Book Buzz Foundation, have announced a provocative theme for this year. It is “Reclaiming Truth”. The festival Director, Lola Shoneyin said in media briefing that the theme was chosen to urges people to rediscover the power of authenticity and the courage of integrity in a time when misinformation spreads faster than facts, and narratives are engineered to obscure realities.
“The festival has a key feature of the “Aké Review”, the special festival publication. It presents new writing and art that interrogate truth, challenge dominant narratives, and reflect on how we construct meaning in an increasingly polarized world. “Inspiring Panel Discussions”, is another topmost feature during the festival.
“Visitors to Aké Festival will experience a series of stimulating panel discussions featuring eminent guests. Conversations include “Whose Truth Is It Anyway?”, featuring leading authors and thinkers; “The Stories That Matter,” with Mazzi Odu, Paul Okuego, Kiisa Soyinka, and Tonye Faloughi-Ekezie—authors of children’s books; and “The Rise of Romance,” with Fatima Bala, Adesuwa Nwokedi, and Oreva Olujimi.
In “What Is Truth?”, Adania Shibli, Kunle Ajibade, and Dr. Olaokun Soyinka explore the nuances of truth and authenticity. Other panels include “Global Media and Selective Empathy,” featuring Adrian Harewood, Zeinab M. Salih, and Jonas Kiriko, moderated by Joseph Ike, as well as “Mainstream Media and the Loss of Trust,” with Tolu Ogunlesi, Colombe Schneck, and Myroslav Laiuk”, Shoneyin stated
She added that the festival wil in addition, host “Why Speculative Fiction Matters,” highlighting the genre’s power to reimagine reality and challenge perceptions. Together, these conversations will ensure that attendees leave Aké Festival feeling inspired, reflective, and more connected to global experiences. “We’re thrilled to present nine Book Chats at this year’s Ake Festival, featuring in-depth conversations with leading African and international writers whose latest works transport readers into unforgettable worlds full of memory, meaning and magic.
“Multi-award-winning author Bernardine Evaristo will be joining us, along with Adania Shibli, the acclaimed Palestinian writer, and Nkereuwem Albert, whose debut novel The Bone River, published by Ouida Books, is set in Calabar and explores the power that flows through ancient bloodlines and the secrets of the Four Houses ruling the unseen.We will also host a special Book Chat around one of Ouida Books’ bestsellers, Mrs Kuti, a memoir of Remilekun Kuti, the wife of Fela Kuti, featuring Femi Kuti, Yeni Kuti, and Made Kuti. Our Romance. Book Chat lineup expands this year to include Fatima Bala, author of Broken: Not a Halal Love Story, who will present her latest novel Hafsatu Bebi, and Bolu Babalola, the romconnoisseur herself, with her new book “Sweet Heat”, she elaborated.
“We are also honoured to host Alain Mabanckou, Bofane In Koli, Louisa Onomé, Femi Kayode, Olufemi Terry, Olayinka Yaqub, Marvellous Michael, Iris Mwanza, Andie Davis, and Lola Shoneyin, who recently won the Akada Children’s Book of the Year Award for Tunde the Chess Champion, illustrated by K. R. Onimole and inspired by the life of Tunde Onakoya. Film Screening
This year, Aké Festival will celebrate cinematic excellence from Nigeria with a film that resonates with the festival theme. Producers Ema Edosio and Adebayo Oduwole will screen their film When Nigeria Happens and afterwards engage in a conversation with Omotoke Solarin Sodara.
“The enchanting Palmwine Night and Poetry segment is the highlight of our annual festival. This dynamic blend of cultural elements fuses the refreshing tang of palm wine with the energising artistry of performance poetry to create an exhilarating evening for our festival-goers.
She added that attendees can look forward to captivating performances by Momtaza Mehri, Yashika Graham, Maryam Bukar, Abubakar Umar Sidi, Dami Ajayi, Chukky Ibe, Zaynab Bobi and Bash Amuneni. This segment will be hosted by Wana Udobang.
“Music Night, is also an integral part of the annual festival.
The festival is set to captivate audiences with musical brilliance as “The Recurrence band”, a boys band formed in Lagos by three young music graduates, fills the atmosphere with uplifting and inspiring classics from the coast of West Africa.
“This year marks our second Bedtime Stories seriesat Aké. Audio recordings of two of our guests reading from their books will be played to soothe audiences at the end of each day as they head to their bedrooms. Featured authors include Fatima Bala, author of one of Nigeria’s most trending novels, and Adedapo Adeniyi, a filmmaker.
“This year’s Festival is in partnership with Sterling Bank, Lagos State Government and Open Society Foundation. Aké Arts & Book Festival is delighted to partner in 2025 with Sterling Group and Open Society Foundation (OSF) who have consistently supported our goal of celebrating and promoting creativity, while facilitating discussions that empower the arts.
“The book buzz Foundation hinted that the venue for the festival is Bon Hotel Ikeja,
51 Sobo Arobiodu Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, Nigeria. They also stated that online registration for this year’s festival has started. “Attendees can register on the festival’s website at
www.akefestival.org, or come to the venue to register and attend”.
