Exciting day at the Abuja Literary Society's Monthly BookJam

Left to right: Lady InspiroLogos, Ken Ike, and a cross-section of the audience
during the National Poetry Slam held on 6th July 2012 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.
Photos by Inside Track. 

Bookjam holds this Good Friday, March 29, at Lifestyle Bookstore, Silverbird Entertainment Centre. Time: 7pm prompt. ALS features: Lady Inspirologos (Yellow Eyes Gone White), a true story of the author's struggle with sickle cell anemia; Sally Williams (Bird Eye), her debut anthology with an elegant twist; and R & B, pop and soft rock singer, Age Beeka.

NB: Book of the Month (April), Death and the King's Horsemen by Wole Soyinka and Book of the Month (May), There Was a Country by the late Chinua Achebe.

ABOUT ALS
ALS meets every, 1st Friday of the month at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, 7p.m; Second Friday @ Silverbird Entertainment Centre Abuja 7pm, Third Fridays @ Salamander Cafe, Abuja; BookJam holds every Last Friday of the month at Silverbird Entertainment Centre Abuja 6pm; Abuja Poetry Slam (performance Poetry competition) holds in March, June, September, and the Grand Slam will be in December. Special Guest writers will normally feature at the First Friday readings @ the Hilton. Special workshops, retreats and exchanges are part of our programmes. ALS can help you with manuscript editing ,organize a book presentation, marketing or special literary nights/events.

FMI, SMS: Chinelo: 08067958680; Ken: 0803-155-2555; or Victor: 0803-311-7246.

35 events to choose from at the Lagos Book and Art Festival - 14th Edition

Toyin Akinosho, Publisher of Africa Oil & Gas Report and Secretary General of the CORA Art & Cultural Foundation, has announced that the 14th Lagos Book & Art Festival will take place on the 16th to 18th of November 2012 at the Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos Island, Lagos, with a pre-event Publishers’ Forum and Cocktail holding on the 15th.


A theme has also been announced for the festival, The Narrative of Conflict, which focuses on how the written word and the literacy it engenders interrogates the different conflicts that surround current existence and recent past. The festival is dedicated to the veteran artist Bruce Onabrakpeya who turned 80 this year and whose work and dedication to the arts continue to be a source of inspiration to generations of Nigerians.

The Lagos Book & Art Festival, or LABAF as it’s often called, is a landmark event on the nation’s culture calendar with sprawling book displays, exhibitions, live music and drama performances, and an array of literary events that take time out to dig deep into the content of books.

According to Akinosho: “LABAF is self-styled as Africa’s Biggest Culture Picnic because we don’t just put together a book fair, a performance concert, a literary festival or an art expo. What we do is a healthy fusion of all four in a festival atmosphere, and for the past 14 years, the festival has become an important destination for families, literary and art enthusiasts, culture producers, children and even lovers. We have had people who came as children years ago still attending now as young adults. We have also had people who met at the festival grounds for the first time years ago, still attending as married couples. What keeps them coming back is the way the festival allows them to engage with culture in a fun atmosphere, that is why it is Africa’s Biggest Culture Picnic."

For a complete timetable of the activities, CLICK HERE...

Institut Français hosts literary festival, children's day, drama workshop and more...

The Institut Français in Nigeria invited the general public to “A Vous de Lire” (For You to Read), an annual celebration of books and readings, held on the 24th to the 26th of May, 2012, at the French Institute (a.k.a French Cultural Centre) in Abuja.

In collaboration with the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) - Abuja Chapter, The Abuja Literary Society, Cassava Republic Press and Arojah Royal Theatre, the Institut Français presented three days of literary-themed events for the whole family, with the aim of promoting a love of reading and writing in Nigeria.

In celebration of Children’s Day, the Institute also hosted a special series of programmes for children on the 24th and 25th of May. The events culminated on Saturday 26th May in a drama workshop for invited schools at the Institute and a representation by the French School of Abuja of some scenes from the French play ‘l’Avare’ by the famous classic author Molière.

For youngsters, there was also a Children’s Fair hosted by Cassava Republic Press on Saturday, 26th May, at shop, No. 62b in the Arts and Crafts Village, Opposite the Abuja Sheraton from 12 noon to 6pm

The French Institute is located at 52, Libreville Street, Off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja (behind M. Biggs).