ALITFEST22 gears up to hold October 2 – 8
All is set for the fifth edition of the Abuja Literary and Arts Festival (ALITFEST22), scheduled to kick start on October 2 and run through to October 8, 2022.
Keeping with the ALITFEST tradition, the one-week-long festival with the theme “The ~struggling~ thriving artists” will be heralded by pre-festival activities and succeeded by post-festival activities.
This year’s pre-fesival activities include a hybrid book jam on September 30 featuring award-winning poet Sueedie Vershima Agema and a reading circle.
A creative workshop which will see Efe Paul Azino (poet), Yewande Omotosho (writer) and Kukogho Ireusiri Samson (writer, poet and art administrator) facilitating workshops on the themes of building a career as a poet and writing compelling characters is part of the main festival activities.
Both workshops will be held virtually from 2–4 p.m. each day, starting with the Writing workshop on October 3 and the poetry workshop on October 4.
While one of the post-festival activities tentatively scheduled to take place in November is a series of activities geared toward teen engagement. Others include the announcement of the short story competition winners sponsored by Roving Heights.
Last year’s short story competition, which saw several people winning cash prizes, can be downloaded here
One of the highlights of ALITFEST22, which interestingly is a new addition to the festival, is the fashion show which is “a mis-mash of young and promising brands in Abuja who cater to street styles, corporate work wear and even fun and spontaneous staples” says the ALITFEST22 fashion event lead, Aida Olugbemiga.
Another high point is a stage play by Dike Chukwumerijie’s Simply Poetry titled “Man-made Gods”. The tickets for this can be obtained independently of the festival or with the festival’s here and here.
“The regular N2500 ticket for ALITFEST22 grants you access to the workshops, opening ceremony, poetry slam and closing session, which includes a fashion and music event. The stage play will be held at Merit House and comes at an additional cost of N2000 or N1000 (with PVC). Tickets for the stage play can be bought at the venue or online at a total cost of N4500 or N3500. The breakdown of the festival and venues will be emailed to everyone that buys a ticket,” explains the Festival Director, Teniola Tayo
ALITFEST is an annual week-long multi-genre festival organised by the Abuja Literary Society (ALS) based in Nigeria’s capital city.
See the working schedule of the event list below.
Bamas Victoria
ALITFEST22, Head of External Communications.
Working schedule
- Hybrid book Jam and reading circle
Featuring Sueedie Vershima Agema
Venue: MilkShop
Date: Friday, September 30, 2022
Time: 7-9pm
- Stage Play
Man-Made Gods by Simply Poetry
Venue: Merit House
Date: Sunday, October 2, 2022.
7pm – 9pm
- VIRTUAL WRITING WORKSHOP
Writing Compelling Characters facilitated by Yewande Omotoso and Kukogho Iruesiri Samson.
Date: Monday, October 3, 2022.
Time: 9am – 11am (WAT)
Venue: Zoom
- Virtual Poetry Workshop:
Building A Career As A Poet by Efe-Paul Azino.
Venue: Zoom
Date: Tuesday, October 4, 2022.
Time: 2pm-4pm WAT
- VIRTUAL ANIMATION WORKSHOP
Introduction To ANIMATION 101 by Franklin Fache.
Date: Wednesday, October 5, 2022.
Time: 2pm – 4pm (WAT)
Venue: Zoom.
- VIRTUAL TOWNHALL MEETING
Breaking into Film in Nigeria
Date: Wednesday, October 5, 2022.
Time: 6pm – 8pm (WAT)
Register: bit.ly/BreakingIntoFilm
- VIRTUAL PANEL
The Past, Present and Future of Nigerian Literature.
Date: Thursday, October 6, 2022
Time: 4pm – 5:30pm
Venue: Zoom
- OPENING CEREMONY
Date: Thursday, October 6, 2022.
Time: 6pm – 7:30pm
Venue: RovingHeights Bookstore, Garki, Abuja.
- VIRTUAL PANEL
Diamond In The Rough: Creative Non-Fiction
Date: Friday, October 7, 2022.
Time: 4pm – 5:30pm
Venue: Zoom
- POETRY GRANDSLAM
Date: Friday, October 7, 2022.
Time: 7pm – 9pm
Venue: Transcorp Hilton
- YOGA WITH HEARTS HEARTIST
Date: Saturday, October 8, 2022
Time: 7am
Venue: BMT Garden, Wuse 2.
- BOOKS AND ART FAIR
Book Swap/Workshop for children.
Date: Saturday, October 8, 2022.
Time: 10am – 4pm
Venue: BMT Garden, Wuse 2.
- KEYNOTE PANEL
The Struggling Thriving Artist
Date: Saturday, October 8, 2022.
Time: 4:30pm – 6pm
Venue: BMT Garden, Wuse 2.
- FASHION/MUSIC CONCERT & CLOSING CEREMONY
Date: Saturday, October 8, 2022.
Time: 6pm – 9pm
Venue: BMT Gardens, Wuse 2.