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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