The 19th edition of the Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF) was a feast that called attention to book, art, theatre, literacy and human capital development. The festival treated authors, booksellers, publishers, artists and the public to weeklong festivities that cut across all aspects of the arts, report EVELYN OSAGIE, IBRAHIM ADEYEMI and JOY NWEYE
The 2017 Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF) was a week-long of literary, art and dramatic activities. Since 1999, the Committee for Relevant Arts (CORA) has been organising the festival to promote the book, the arts, literary and culture icons, and literacy in Nigeria.
Activities for this year’s edition took off at the British Council Nigeria with a literacy and human capital resources promotion campaign, tagged: CORA Book Trek, which moved to the Freedom Park – the old prison ground on Broad Street, Lagos Island – where other feasts held till last Sunday.
This year’s festival, which was the 19th edition, was dedicated to celebrating the 70th birthday of eminent poet Niyi Osundare as the festival’s special guest of honour. It was also meant to honour some septuagenarian and sexagenarian literary and artistic icons in Nigeria. The 18th edition, which held last year, was dedicated to the celebrated dramatist Femi Osofisan, who was also the festival’s special guest of honour.
Aside celebrating Osundare, and beyond the book, each day witnessed the celebration of various aspects of the arts, which included gender, journalism and art/literary criticisms, and their icons. There were sessions to celebrate former Provost of the Federal College of Education, Osiele, Dr Kunle Filani; the founder of Baffles Art Gallery, Tunde Olanipekun; the late poet laureate Christopher Okigbo and the Chief Executive Officer of Premium Times, Dapo Olurunyomi.
Osundare surveys ‘narration of collapse’, ‘season of omen’
Dedicating the festival to Prof Osundare, according to CORA’s Secretary-General, Toyin Akinosho, was meant to underscore the poet’s contribution to development of literature in the country. He described Osundare as a “true national and cultural icon”, who has influenced generations of younger poets and writers, helping them to find their voice and developing their styles.
Osundare, who is also a dramatist, critic, essayist, and media columnist, has authored 18 poetry books, two books of selected poems, (with individual poems in over 70 journals and magazines across the world), four plays, a book of essays, and numerous monographs and articles on literature, language, culture, and the society. He regards his calling as a writer and his profession as a teacher as essentially complementary.
Besides other activities to celebrate him at the festival, his keynote address titled: Narration of Collapse, is worthy of note.
While surveying the themes of “narrations of collapse”, “eruptions of global fractures” and “the common humanity of the black, which are exhibited by the leaders and heads of the super power countries across the world”, the poet frowned on the new viral political idiosyncrasy of the American President, Donald Trump, which is known as “Trumpism”. “It should be clear enough that we are witnessing the possibility of another world war. Kindness is out of fashion. Death and terror feel free to roam the streets without their masks.,” he said.
According to Osundare, the trending era of hate, chime of distrust, racism, jingoism, psuedo-nationalism, malignant narcissism and debasing of the African continent, which characterised the world, are what he metaphorically referred to as “the season of omen”. “The world is too unpeaceful to be just and too unjust to be peaceful,”he lamented.
While differentiating between nationalism and jingoism, he said: ” The true nationalism says: ‘I praise my country when she is right, I criticise her when she is wrong’; while true jingoism says: ‘I praise my country when she is right and when she is wrong, especially when she is wrong’. According to him, a jingoist would say: “I am going for war! Why? I will think about that later”. He called such person a “jingoistic war monger”.
“Christianity and Islam have painted history red with crusading and jihad,” he said, delving into how the two most practiced religions in the world have contributed to the eruption of global fragmentations in this season of omen. “I have never come across a religion without irrationality,” he noted.
Osundare also observed the possibility of witnessing another world war in this “season of omen”, while stressing the need for Africans to raise the alarm and speak aloud to fight against the theatrical gladiators in this season of omen. “Global humanity must borrow a lamp from the past to light the future. It is with our own mouth that we say: I will never eat the rubbish you are offering. If you allow a coconut to be smashed on your head, you will not participate in eating it,” he warned.
Buttressing Osundare’s points was The Nation newspaper Editorial Board Chairman, Mr Sam Omatseye, who commented on the fragility of democracy as a system of government, noting that: “Democracy and liberty tell us that when you sleep, a tyrant walks in”.
On his part, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, said it is important to watch with eagles eyes the political pretences that characterise our country, while speaking on the need to tackle internal racism and chauvinism.
Book Trek seeks more book buyers
CORA Book Trek, which flagged off the week-long literary festivities at Freedom Park, sought to promote the reading culture and the buying of books as a pastime by bringing the writers and the reading public under the same roof.
It featured an evening of poetry performances and book reading by celebrated and budding writers, poets and industry experts. Omatseye was one of those who read from their works. He read his poem, titled Independence, from newest his poetry collection, Scented Offal.
According to LABAF’s organisers, the Committee for Relevant Arts (CORA), the entire festival is geared towards encouraging Nigerians to engage in reading literary books along with pulling together experts in the industry to share their experiences on reading.
“Book Trek, the whole idea is meant to motivate the public to wanting to buy and read new ones regularly. We observed that many are not into the culture of walking into a bookshop and picking books. We are doing this to ensure that books are connected to the public.
“Unlike other literary festivals, you see writers and publishers, but we believe that it should be a public thing where we see scientists, bankers and philosophers, among others. This is different from when writers are speaking and are listened to by their fellow writers. So, we are using it as a campaign for literacy and human capital resources,” said the festival programme chair, Mr. Jahman Anikulapo, at the Book Trek.
Akinosho added that Book Trek, together with the festival, has moved from being just for writers and publishers alone to a public event, where anyone can come in and have a good time listening to poetry, performances and book readings by writers and non-writers. He said: “For the first time, we are having newest authors read their books to literary and non-literary audience. This is not just a gathering of writers, but a gathering of regular guys, this regular guy’s walk into people reading their books, people excited about their poetry, people explaining their works of art and people expressing their joy of reading, which is what the festival is all about.”
On art criticism
Day two of the festival featured conversations around new developments in the Lagos arts circle in a session tagged: Art: The Disruptive Expansion. The session was dedicated to Dr Filani and the painter, Olanipekun.
Following critical discussions on literary criticism in Nigeria, Dr Filani explained that the art of literary criticism is not just about negative review of an art work, but objective and rigorous presentation of an art work. He observed that criticism involves understanding the thought and production process of the artwork and infusing techniques of history and culture in the societal context of the initiator.
“Art criticism is not about talking ill of an artwork or its organisers, it’s about a rigorous intellectual appraisal of what is being presented after been conceptualised for reinvention of presentation for future artistic purposes. Art criticism cannot be taught directly in the institution, but it is a product of rigorous understanding of art history, culture and sociology. Often times, we need to understand the process of artistic production so we can synergise some of these areas into ones intellectual appraisal of an artwork. And due to its rigorous demand most people don’t venture into it,” he said.
He added that it existed in the traditional era, but we now have methodology. “In our traditions, there were artwork critics like Yoruba traditional carvers have Oriki, which talks about “someone, who carves a head bigger than the body is passing a message. In modern times, a critic, who conceptualises using the African tradition while linking it to the modern genre. It is a complex thing.”
For Folakunle Oshun, who is an artist, sculptor and founder of Lagos Biennial, the major problem rocking the art industry is lack of literary appreciation of works. People, he said, need to start seeing art as a part of their lives.
He said: “Through arts appreciation people could develop and see the arts not just as luxury, but as part of their existence and culture. Then, it will be appreciated both intellectually and materially.”
On his part, the founder and convener of Lagos Comic Con, Ayodele Elegaba, was of the view that the arts sector in Nigeria is becoming more robust, adding that if the trend continues it will usher in new and creative narratives of global relevance.
He said: “Currently, much attention is being put on Africa. People are expecting more stories from Africa in terms of storytelling, the arts, animations and comic. More young people are bringing fresh creative ideas and talents into the arts space. The sector is experience growth on a crescendo and in the next 10 to 20 years we will be on top globally.”
Tributes to the poet of Idoto
Amid other activities, the third day of LABAF witnessed the celebration of the late Christopher Okigbo, considered as the poet laureate of his generation in Nigerian literature. This year marked the 50th anniversary of his death while serving the Biafran army during the Nigerian Civil War (1967 to 1970).
It was a night of poetic reflection and tributes to Okigbo that had Prof John Pepper Clark-Bekederemo as a guest of honour at the Amphitheatre. The generous supply of palmwine and small-chops added flavour and serenity and calmness to the tributes.
It would be recalled that writers gathered in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, for a commemorative event in Okigbo’s memory by the Christopher Okigbo Foundation.
Tagged: “An Evening for Okigbo 50 years after”, the session fostered the continuous remembrance of the works of Okigbo while reintroducing him to younger poets.
Prof Clark read from Okigbo’s newly-published posthumous collection of poetry, entitled: “Moonsong” and other poems”.
He took the audience through the history of Nigerian poetry, the civil war (popularly referred to as the Biafran war), the actors, events and other related issues of the war, among others.
The event was anchored by founder and co-ordinator of Poets In Nigeria (PIN), Eriata Oribhabor. Upcoming and younger poets engaged Okigbo by penning reciting lines to the late poet.
LABAF celebrates Olurunyomi, holds publishers forum
Day four, which began with the 8th CORA Publishers’ Forum with the theme: “A New Consciousness in Reading and Publishing”, also featured the ARTHOUSE FORUM in honour of the CEO of Premium Times, Olurunyomi.
The publishers’ forum explored the possibility of a paradigm shift in reading and publishing culture in the country in response to the changing socio-political climate both globally and locally. The forum was jointly organised by CORA and Quramo Publishing Company, with the support of Goethe Institut, Lagos. It held a four-session of robust exchange of ideas and sharing of camaraderie among professionals in the book chain – writers, readers, publishers, dealers and literary enthusiasts.
On the other hand, the forum for Olurunyomi, who turned 60, was designed to commemorate his birthday which was on November 8. It had in attendance journalists and literary giants, such as Prof Niyi Osundare, Odia Ofeimun (who gave the keynote address), Ayo Obe and Omatseye, among others.
With the theme: “Courage under Fire: A life of/in professional journalism”, veteran journalists and academics redefined and explored journalism practice in Nigeria.
Ofeimum, a poet and activist, reviewed journalism and activism trajectory through Olurunyomi’s career as an investigative journalist. In his keynote speech, he said: “Olurunyomi is easily the most fitting example of courage under fire in relation to media practice in Nigeria.”
He ex-rayed Olorunyomi’s experiences and the host of other vibrant journalists during the military era, adding that despite the lean wages, perilous persecutions and virulent victimisations, through courage and investigative journalism they were able to discharge their duties in a noteworthy manner.
The panel chaired by Obe, also involved Prof Ropo Sekoni and Lare Arogundade, pondered how courage should be built under fire in a future without newsprint, oil or livestock. Concepts of fake news, grudges against journalists and curtailing the flow of information were also explored.
While speaking on courage under fire in the journalism profession, Omatseye argued: “Courage should be built in journalism profession before building institutions, when there is no courage, no institution will survive. Building courage is the first thing a journalist needs to overcome the fire under the profession of journalism”.
In response, Olurunyomi commended the efforts of all the veteran journalists, who contributed to the discussion, while thanking LABAF for deeming it necessary to celebrate him and his journalism arts.
CORA celebrates culture/art icons
CORA also celebrated the landmark birthdays of other distinguished contributors to the Nigerian cultural life, such as actor/broadcaster, Ihria Enakimio@70; TV Producer, Tunde Oloyede@70; media entrepreneur/publisher, Yemi Ogunbiyi@70; the columnist/media entrepreneur, Tunde Fagbenle@70; theatre manager/academic, Muyiwa Awodiya@70; dancer-choreographer, Peter Badejo@70; art administrator, Iyabo Aboaba@70; costumier/make-up artist, Peju Sonuga @70, and playwright/academic,Ahmed Yerima @60.
