CORA set to host Kenyan author Yvonne Owuor in Lagos

By Nehru Odeh

The Committee for Relevant Art (CORA) is set to host acclaimed Kenyan writer and literary activist Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor in Lagos. The conversation, which will focus on literature, history, and the status and future of Africa, will be held on Friday, 26 September 2025, at the CORA Library and Resource Centre, Freedom Park, Lagos. Time: 3:00 p.m.

According to a statement released by CORA, admission is free and open to the public, and the event will also be held virtually.

The statement read: “A Conversation with Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor”, to be held under the auspices of CORA’s flagship literary campaign project, CORA BOOKTrek, is in collaboration with AIESEC Alumni Nigeria – the global platform for young people to develop their leadership potential through international internships and volunteer opportunities (https://aiesec.ng/).

“It will feature the author reading from her award-winning book, Dust (published 2014), as well as an engagement with the writer on literature, history, and the fortunes of the continent, with a roomful of young literary activists and enthusiasts.

“The session, essentially exploring themes from her novels and essays – ranging from colonialism’s enduring shadows to Africa’s timeless storytelling traditions – will also spotlight Owuor’s profound reflections on history, memory, colonial legacies, and the haunting presence of the past in Africa’s present and future.

“It is part of the build-up to CORA’s flagship programme, the Lagos Book & Art Festival (LABAF), which will be held from 10 to 16 November at Freedom Park, Lagos, on the theme: CHANGE: Imagining Alternatives (www.lagosbookandartsfestival.com).

“The event is part of Owuor’s visit to Nigeria at the invitation of AIESEC Alumni Nigeria, during which she will deliver the 2025 Omolayole Lecture (OML Series), on the topic: “Plotlines of Prosperity: African Stories, African Rights & African Returns”, on Thursday, 25 September, at the Metropolitan Club, 13 Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. Time: 2:00 p.m.

“Join us for an unforgettable literary evening, which promises to be a thought-provoking gathering for writers, readers, scholars, and culture enthusiasts. This literary and conversational gathering continues CORA’s tradition of fostering dialogue around the arts, identity, and history – creating a space where stories shape understanding and inspire new generations.”

The event enjoys the support of Freedom Park and the Hawthornden Foundation.

Profile

Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor (born 1968) is the author of novels, short stories, and essays. She won the 2003 Caine Prize for African Writing for her story “Weight of Whispers”. She is the author of the critically acclaimed novels Dust (2014) and The Dragonfly Sea (2019). Her works interrogate the intersections of family, history, trauma, and the resilience of African stories in the global narrative.