The 12th edition of the Lagos Book and Art Festival, LABAF, begins today, November 11 at Ocean View, Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. The Book and Art Festival is an 11-year-old event, established in 1999, the year of the nation’s return to democracy, to call attention to the importance of literacy. Organised by the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), a 19-year-old club of culture enthusiasts, it is CORA’s homage to the written word. But it’s much more than a book market; it’s a festival of the arts with a high book content.
The festival is comprehensive; it features readings, conversations around books, art and craft displays, kiddies’ art workshops and reading sessions, book exhibitions, live music and dance. It will run from November 11 to 14, 2010 at the large exhibition hall of the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.
The theme of this 12th outing, being the year of the country’s 50th Anniversary, is Literacy and Notions Of Freedom.
The outline of the programme is as follows:
Thursday, November 11
10am: Publishers’ Forum
This is the pre-festival programme, tagged Publishers’ Forum at Ocean View, Eko Hotel, VI, Lagos. It features a business and interactive session among key publishers in Nigeria on the best way to move the publishing industry forward.
2pm: Interactive session between publishers and the public.
Friday, November 12
9 am: My Encounter with the Book – Oluboludele Simoyan [author, The 8th Wonder of The World: Made In Nigeria
Opening Glee by Crown Troupe of Africa, featuring dance, drama and expressions
10am: The Festival Colloquium(I): Theme: Literacy and Independence
Readings, Reviews, and discussions around Then Spoke the Thunder– Tony Enahoro; You Must Set Forth At Dawn–Wole Soyinka; Nigeria: Africa’s failed asset?- Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, In-Dependence– Sarah Ladipo Manyika, To Saint Patrick– Eghosa Imasuen, When Citizens Revolt– Ike Okonta
1pm: Opening Of Visual Art Exhibition/Live Music Interlude; Drama Skits, Wordslam
3pm: The Festival Colloquium (II): Theme: A nation of stories
Readings, Reviews, and discussions around Tenants Of The House–Wale Okediran; Just Before Dawn– Kole Omotosho; Half Of A Yellow Sun – Chimamanda Adichie; In My Father’s Country-Adewale Maja Pearce
Saturday, November 13
10am: Children’s Programme: Talking Books with CATE – You, Too, Can Write!
A roundtable discussion on: The Land of Kalamandahoo – by Ruby Igwe [for 6-10yrs], The Missing Clock– by Mai Nasara (Adeleke Adeyemi) [for 9-13yrs]
11am: Town Talk: Can a book make you rich?
A top-notch panel of discussants review the role of books in economic empowerment and the financial dynamics of book publishing from the author’s perspective. Books: The Outlier, by Malcolm Gladwell, Minding Your Business By Leke Alder, 17 Secrets Of High Flying Students, by Fela Durotoye
Musical Interlude/Live Performance
2pm: Writers Angst
Four young authors discuss the pains and joys of writing.
3pm: Lagos: 2060
What will be the fate of Lagos 100 years after independence? A panel of discussants will be set up to discuss the future of the mega-city and its continued role in inspiring, infuriating and enchanting writers across generations, taking a cue from the Lagos: 2060 project by DADA books.
4pm: Festival Birthday Party
Uzor Maxim Uzoatu @50, Patrick Doyle at 50, Taiwo Obe @ 50, Dele Momodu at 50, Odia Ofeimun at 60, Eddie Aderinokun @70, Ambassador Olusola at 75, Fred Agbeyegbe @75, Mabel Segun @80, Chinua Achebe @80 .
Sunday, November 14
2pm: Stampede- Theme: Folklore in Literature, Drama and film
A panel discussion on the presence or absence of folklore influences in the literature and film of our time. Books to discuss include The Adventures of a Sugarcane Man: Femi Osofisan’s adaptation of Fagunwa’s Ireke Onibudo; Praying Mantis By Andre Brink; The Hidden Star by Kabelo Sello Duiker, Allah Must Be Obliged-Ahmadou Koroumah
Kiddies Segment: Presentation of works from the Children’s Creativity Workshop. The Green Party – Fun! Fun! Fun!
6pm: Festival Play at Terra Kulture: Killing Swamp by Onukaba Adinoyi Ojo to commemorate 15 years of the death of Ken Saro- Wiwa.
http://www.labaf10.blogspot.com/
*As expected at a fair of this kind, there would lots of books and artworks for sale. Of course, Farafina would be there; some of your favourite Farafina titles would be sold at 50% discounts! Do visit our stand!
Farafina Books 
great one
Thank you for your comment!
Thank you for your comment. Hope you were there!
I have bookmarked your site, keep up the good work.
Thank you for your comment. We sure will keep up the good work. Please visit our website, http://www.kachifo.com for our list of books.
Thank you. We will keep up the good work.
i would have liked to be there, but i just cant help missing this motivational occasion. well i am looking for publishers to look into my write ups and give me reply. my problem with farafina is that they don’t give a feedback on why the cant publish somebody. it is not fair.
Thank you for your comment. Asides this festival, there are several literary events you could be a part of. Keep checking, we give information on these events from time to time. Unfortunately, we can’t reply every mail we get as we receive hundreds daily. But keep trying!