Virtual festival RSVPs are open
Abuja, Nigeria: 25 Sept – 2 Oct 2021
Abuja Literary + Arts Festival 2021
BOOKS &
ARTPIECES
AUTHORS &
SPEAKERS
TOPICS &
DISCUSSIONS
ALITFEST21 Theme
Making Art Work
#ALitFest20 which is themed The Art of Empathy will mark the 3rd edition of the festival. For this edition, the Festival welcomes a wider participation to the growing literary community in Africa by going virtual. With this, we aim to breach geographical barriers through inclusion and Pan-Africanism. The Festival appoints this theme in hopes of highlighting the importance, beauty and need for diversity and difference as well as the role of the creative in building bridges within and across societies.
ABOUT Abuja Literary + Arts Festival
What is ALitFest?
For the past twenty years, the Abuja Literary Society has developed events which are held every almost Friday night and ranges from Open Mic Nights where writers, aspiring or established, present their pieces to members of the audience and receive constructive feedback; the ALS Book Club where the book for the month is discussed with in-depth analysis; and Book Jams where diverse authors are invited to speak ok their books and share their literary experiences. Other than the regular weekly events that are held, ALS also hosts a Poetry Slam quarterly where cash prizes and other additional benefits are awarded to the top three winners of the spoken word contest as well as the monthly Teen Talk which engages young adults on modern contemporary issues whilst encouraging their creative development.
RSVP your seat now
What to expect at ALitFest20
Author discussions & panels
Slam poetry & readings
Virtual yoga
Topics, tracks & times
Festival schedule
07:00am – 08:00am
(1-hour)
Poetry Workshop
TBC
online
8:00am – 9:00am
(1-hour)
Publishing Workshop
TBC
Online
TRACK #1
7:00am – 8:00am
(1-hours)
TRACK #1
(1) Creative Workshop
TBC
Online
7:00am – 8:00am
(1-hours)
TRACK #2
(2) Filmmaking Workshop
TBC
Online
8:00am – 9:00am
(1-hour)
The Creative & The Law
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
12:45pm – 13:15am
(30mins)
OPENING CEREMONY
Abuja Literary Society
& partners
Online
13:30pm – 13:45pm
( 30mins)
Break
Online
13:45pm – 14:30pm
( 1hour 15mins)
Creating in the pandemic
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
14:45pm – 15:00pm
Break
Online
15:00pm – 16:00pm
BOOKLOGUE: "Female Monarchs & Merchant Queens in Africa"
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
14:45pm – 15:00pm
Break
Online
16:15pm – 17:15pm
( 1hour)
Black Africans & black Americans, the role of empathy
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
17:30pm – 18:15pm
Break
Online
17:30pm – 18:30pm
( 1hour)
Can we write prejudice out of society?
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
18:45pm – 19:30pm
( 1hour 15mins)
FILM SCREENING
Film title
TBC
Director
TBC
Online
19:45pm – 20:00
Break
Online
20:00 – 21:00pm
POETRY READING CIRCLE
Poets
TBC
Online
21:00 – 23:00
MUSIC
SESSION
Musicians/Bands
TBC
Online
10:00am -11:00am
Writing faction, preserving African history through prose
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
11:00am – 11:15am
Self-publishing lessons & politics
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
12:15pm – 12:30pm
Break
Online
11:25 am – 12:25 am
( 1 Hour )
Booklogue: Vagabond - Walking through Africa on faith
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
13:45pm – 14:45pm
TRACK #1
Creating sustainable & successful African-owned creative spaces
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
13:45pm – 14:45pm
TRACK #2
Creative tech, lucrative livelihoods through digitization
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
14:45pm – 15:00pm
Break
Online
15:00am – 16:00am
The changing roles of black hair in history
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
16:00pm – 16:15pm
Break
Online
16:15am – 17:15am
To be or to be, pride in African societies
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
17:15pm – 17:30pm
Break
Online
17:30pm – 18:30pm
In her shoes, understanding sexual abuse
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
18:30pm – 18:45pm
Break
Online
18:30pm – 19:30pm
The evolution of Afro-lit festivals
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
19:30pm – 20:00pm
Break
Online
20:00pm – 22:00pm
GRAND POETRY SLAM
Various poets
Online
7:00am – 8:00am
e-Yoga with
Bukunmi Olukitibi
Yogi
TBC
Online
10:00am – 11:00am
TRACK #1
Art in
e-spaces
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
10:00am – 11:00am
TRACK #2
Little lit
children
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
11:00 pm – 11:15 pm
Break
Online
11:15am – 12:15am
The art of
the short story
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
12:15pm – 12:30pm
Break
Online
12:30pm – 13:30pm
BOOKLOGUE
Sacrament of Bodies
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
13:30pm – 13:45pm
Break
Online
13:45pm – 14:45pm
Writing the
new normal
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
14:45pm – 15:00pm
Break
Online
15:00pm – 16:00pm
Mental health:
Can art help?
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
16:00pm – 16:15pm
Break
Online
16:15pm – 17:15pm
Writing in African languages,
overcoming the
barriers of diversity
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
17:15pm – 17:30
Break
Online
17:30pm – 18:30pm
Writing political non-fiction,
learning from Nigeria
and Zimbabwe
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
18:30pm – 18:45pm
Break
Online
18:45pm – 19:45pm
KEYNOTE PANEL:
Does the artist
always have to unite
Panelist(s)
TBC
Moderator
TBC
Online
16:15pm – 17:15pm
CLOSING CEREMONY
& AWARD GIVING CEREMONY
Online
16:00pm – 16:15pm
MUSIC
SESSION
Online
Mentors and CEOs
Speakers.
Abubakar Adam Ibrahim
Author, Season of Crimson Blossoms
Amara
Activist
Amanda Shea
Spoken word artist
Amarachi Attamah
Performance poet & Author
Alisha Cowan
Actor & Writer
Amina Alaoui Soulimani
Author
Ashley Rose
Poet
Ayö Oyeku
Author
Billy Kahora
Author
Bisi Adjapon
Author
Chido Onumah
Journalist & Author
Chime Asonye
Author
Djibril Drame
Visual artist
Dorothy Njemanze
Activist
Dudu Busani-Dube
Author
Esther Mirembe
Managing Editor, Writivism
Eketi Edima Ette
Author
Edwige-Renée Dro
Author
Eriata Oribabhor
Poet & Essayist
Eugene Yakubu
Storyteller & Critic
Fumani Mabogoane
Performing Artist
Habibah Shehu Abana
Poet & Author
Hajo Isa
Poet
Helon Habila
Author
Innocent Chizaram Ilo
Author
Jama Musse Jama
Ethno-mathematician & Author
Jamil F Khan
Author & Activist
Julianna Imam
Lawyer
JJ Omojuwa
Blogger & Author
Kabura Zakama
Poet & Author
Karabo Kgoleng
Broadcaster
Kenza Sefrioui
Literary critic
Kiprop Kimutai
Writer
Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún
Author
Lerato Mogoatlhe
Author
Lori Tharps
Author
Lorraine Sithole
Publisher / Bookclub owner
Lucius Ndimele
Poet
Mapule Mohulatsi
Poet & Author
Marita Golden
Author
Masande Ntshanga
Author
Modupe Adeyemo
Multimedia Artist
Mohale Mashigo
Author
Mphuthumi Ntabeni
Author
Nduwhite Ndubuisi Ahanonu-
Curator
Nwando Achebe
Author
Obi Nwaegbe
Artist
Odafe Atogun
Author
Olugbenga Odeyemi
Entrepreneur
Pamela Adie
Activist
Raphael d'Abdon
Poet
Rena Anakwe
Artist
Romeo Oriogun
Poet
Sabata-mpho Mokae
Author
Sada Malumfashi
Writer
Sawad Hussain
Author
Stephanie Shonekan
Professor
TJ Benson
Author
Teniola Tayo
#ALITFEST20 - Festival Director
Tolu Daniel
Writer
Tolu Habib
Author
Tolu Ogunlesi
Journalist
Tonderai Chiyindiko
Actor & Creative Consultant
Tshepo Madlingozi
Literary scholar
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