A Festival To Remember

Despite noticeable shortcomings, the annual Lagos Book and Arts Festival, LABAF, which focused on the place of books in our national life and conflict ends on a high 

The theme of the festival and the venue struck a significant chord in a historical sense. Freedom Park, where the three-day ceremony held, torments the memory with its status as a hitherto notorious colonial prison where politicians, activists and their supporters were tortured at any provocation, no matter how slight. Even though the Committee for Relevant Arts, CORA, organisers of the annual Lagos Book and Arts Festival, LABAF, refrained from opening old wounds during this year’s gathering, the theme, “Narratives of Conflict” did not entirely divulge the despicable memory of a place that, courtesy of a private-public sector partnership has become an upscale arts centre. Toyin Akinosho, Secretary-General of CORA, explained that the theme was chosen to reflect the upheavals that Nigeria has been through this year, beginning with the countrywide protest against fuel subsidy removal in January and the menace of insecurity, particularly the Boko Haram attacks in parts of the country.

Throughout the duration of the ceremony, from 16 to 18 November, book lovers, artists and their ilk discussed books and their function in the society. For the opening ceremony, Bishop Matthew Kukah led the children on a discussion with the theme, “My Interaction with the Book”. The cerebral cleric admonished young people to seek more the knowledge buried in the book than the flashy enjoyment they derive from games, truancy and idle discussions. Kukah who is the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, later led a plenary on a discourse of his book, Witness To Justice.

The same day, four books harping on the theme of the fest were the focus of discussion. Moderatd by critic Tunji Lardner, speakers at the special session analysed the relevance of  Akachi Ezeigbo’s Roses and Bullets, a fictional narrative based on the Nigerian Civil War. Out of the Shadows, a political memoir on the struggle to end military rule in Nigeria written by John Kayode Fayemi; Open Graveyard by Wale Osun, and Chinua Achebe’s  There Was A Country, which has been the source of a raging socio-political disagreement because of allegations leveled on the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the memoir. In spite of the boorish submissions by some of the texts the conclusion was that Nigeria direly needs a single acceptable narrative that captures the wishes and aspirations of her citizens.

Perhaps it was the session featuring the reading of Tina Okpara’s My Life Has A Price, a personal memoir, that captured audience’s attention. As the youngster read her book which chronicles her ordeal and multiple rape by her France-based former Nigerian international footballer, Godwin Opara who adopted her, she drew tremendous pathos from the audience at the conference room of the Kongi Harvest Building.

The festival was not wholly about books. There was “Interrupted Lives”, an arts exhibition curated by versatile artist, Nkechi Nwosu-Igbo. The visual arts section of the fest categorically “examines the role of contemporary artists in the documentation and faithful recordings of recent global events and the fluctuating paradigms of our existence”, the curator said in an introductory note.

The second day was dedicated to the nascent form of book business. Top on the agenda was the emerging trends in electronic book and its effect on the reading culture of the people. Experts led by Toki Mabogunje also examined e-books as a lucrative income stream for writers and other stakeholders in the book business. The festival concert which held later that night drew a large crowd. Comedian and radio presenter Steve Onu, a.k.a. Yaw, musician Olarewaju Fasasi better known as Sound Sultan, as well as Idowu Nuel or Koffi and other entertainers were on hand to thrill revelers.

On Sunday, the flagship plenary, “My Story, Our Country”, took centre stage. Renowned university don and technocrat, Professor Akin Mabogunje shared his experiences chronicled in his book, A Measure of Grace with those in attendance. Journalist and writer, Kunle Ajibade who moderated the session prodded the acclaimed international consultant to speak on the impact of his work and his staying power after working with several organisations on consultancy or advisory capacity for decades without blemish. Mabogunje told his listeners that, “Given my character, if I try to be a politician, I will fail. You need to have a clear mind on what you will give those who ask for your advice. The quality of advice you give is what matters. The say knowledge is power, I will rather have that type of power.”

Book-related discussions for this edition of LABAF ended with an interaction on the legacy of the folkloric afrobeat maestro, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Ace newspaper columnist and radio presenter, Benson Idonije, who was Fela’s first manager and promoter, read excerpts from his forthcoming book, Dis Fela Sef! A Legend’s Memoir. Documentarist Chike Ofili also discussed his book, Fela Rearranged.

Attendance at this year’s festival may not have matched the previous year’s. Most expatriate guests who attended the 13th edition of the programme stayed away from this year’s. A member of LABAF project planning committee who declined being named told TheNEWS that CORA’s lean finances and the economic downturn in the country accounted for the low turnout of people. He noted that the group got only a paltry sum from its sponsors and this hindered the implementation of the lofty programmes they had designed. The organisation of activities however did not sag. The availability of space at the park and a large pool of facilitators made events flow seamlessly. Besides talk shops and arts exhibitions, there were performances. Some of these, including children performances, dance dramas and stage plays held simultaneously at different settings, providing alternative entertainment for those who felt ill-at ease with any of the other activities, while the art feast lasted.

—NKRUMAH BANKONG-OBI