DAY6@LABAF26.0… AriseTv anchor, Ojy Okpe mentors students on importance of ‘Books’
SATURDAY, November 16 marks. the 6th day of the week-long Lagos Book & Art Festival, LABAF, ongoing at the Freedom Park, Lagos and virtually, as had been the case since Monday, November 11 when the festival began, a renowned public figure will be mentoring the over 300 students that have been gathering daily at the festival village, Freedom Park, Lagos Island.
International Super Model and anchor of The Morning Show on Arise TV, Ojinika Anne Okpe, will be on call at 11 am to mentor the students on theme: MY ENCOUNTER WITH BOOKS, also known as “The Book in My Life.” The event takes off at 11am, and will hold at the Green space of the park, a formal colonial prison, converted to an art space by the Architect-culture activist, Theo Lawson.
On Day 5 of the festival, Friday, November 15, the veteran actor Bimbo Manuel, spoke to a total of 358 students from 25 schools who assembled at the venue. For over an hour, Manuel, who had to abandon his rehearsal set to render the altrusitic service, mentored the students and also fielded questions from them.
A flagship of the 26-year-old festival, the Mentoring session has been key menu since the beginning of the festival project in 1999, when the actor Richard Mofe-Damijo, gave the maiden session. RMD, as he is popularly known returned last year for the 25th anniversary of the project. In the past the session has featured renowned celebrities and artistes including the veteran actress Ajoke Silva, the actors-activists, Kate Henshaw, and Stephanie Okereke, among others.
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About LABAF 2024:
LABAF 2024 runs November 11-17 at its traditional base, Freedom Park, Lagos Island and virtually.
The theme: BREAKOUT: HOPE is a STUBBORN THING.
The 2024 edition is tagged #The SOYINKASession — dedicated to commemorating the 90th birthday anniversary of Africa’s illustrious ‘Son of Letters’ and, preeminent Global Humanist.O
Though a week-long feast of campaign for Literacy through literature, performing and visual arts, the heart of the festival lies in the three weekend days of Friday November 15 to Sunday November 17, when the 15 main books of the festival are discussed.
The ‘CONVERSATION’ (Colloquiums, Seminars, Symposiums, BookTreks, Booklogues, Mentorships etc) is the major plenary assembly of the LABAF.
Dubbed the biggest cultural carnival on the continent, LABAF has held consistently since 1999 when it was staged as main event of the maiden (but now rested) “National Creativity Day” to commemorate the return of Professor Chinua Achebe back to Nigeria since he left in 1991 after an auto accident that left hm confined to wheel chair till the end of his life in March 2013 at age 82.
Organised by the Committee for Relevant Art, CORA. the overarching objective of the festival is growing the HUMAN CAPITAL CAPACITY (Development) of Nigeria (and the continent, by extension) through LITERACY — that promotes and deepens spread of EDUCATION. ENLIGHTENMENT. EMPOWERMENT of the populace across ages, creeds and persuasions.
Other Highlights of the festival fr Saturday, November 16, include:
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DAY 6: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16
9am: GREEN FESTIVAL @ Food court
Creative workshops and expressions by the children/students segment of LABAF continue
11am: MENTORSHIP @ Foodcourt
Synopsis: A well-known public intellectual of celebrity status – actor, writer, musician, OAP, designer etc — but of high cerebral networth mentors students on importance of reading and education. Session is also called MY ENCOUNTER WITH BOOK.
Guest of Honour: ORJINIKA OKPE, international model, OAP, co-anchor of The Morning Show on ARISE Tv
1.30pm: SYMPOSIUM @ Kongi’s Harvest Art Gallery
Theme: The Redress?
Reading and conversations around
- Mukoma Wa Ngugi: We, The Scarred
- Antje Krog: A Change of Tongue
Moderator: Tade Ipadeola, Poet-lawyer
Discussants: Toni Kan, writer-literary activist |Daggar Tolar, Poet-activist |
Precious Nzeokwor, literary enthusiast | Funke Awodiya, writer, literary activist
3.30pm: SYMPOSIUM @ Kongi’s Harvest Art Gallery
Theme: Subtheme: The Persistence of Hope
Readings and conversations around:
- Edward W. Said and Daniel Barenboim: “Parallels and Paradoxes: explorations in music and society” (About a possibly plural society including Israelis and Palestinians
- Andre Brink:‘Imaginings of Sand
Discussants: Toki Mabogunje, writer-lawyer; | Aduke Gomez, Poet-Lawyer |
Armsfree Ajanaku, writer journalist; | Biyi Olusolape, writer-literary enthusiast
Moderator: Femi Odugbemi, storyteller-filmmaker
5pm: AUTHORHOUSE CONVERSATION @ Kongi’s Harvest Art Gallery
Subtheme: Hope Will Win
Reading and Discussions around:
- Chigozie Obioma’s: The Road to The Country
Moderator: Tade Ipadeola, poet-lawyer
Discussant: Olakunle Fadairo, writer-literary activist | Mercy Timilehin Kelani, writer-literary activist
6pm: BOOKTREK @ Kongi’s Harvest Art Gallery
Readings and conversations around
- Behind The Doors Of Fate (Prince Nduka Alum; Grand Touch Media Services Ltd; 2024)
- Gbogboe; (Obanya Obanya; 2023)
- Yamtarawala, The Warrior King (Henry Akubuiro; Abibiman Publishing; 2023)
- This Fiction Called Nigeria: The Struggle for Democracy (Adéwálé Májà-Pearce; Penguin Random House, 2024)
7pm: DRAMA @ Amphitheatre
Event: Stage reading of MAREN – an immersive play on the enigma of the Wole Soyinka persona, written by Babatunde Odubanwo
Synopsis: Celebrating Wole Soyinka’s legacy as a poet, dramatist, and advocate for change, Maren captures the extraordinary life of Wole Soyinka, tracing his rise from humble beginnings to literary icon and activist. Set against political turmoil, it explores his struggles, triumphs, and unwavering fight for justice.
8pm: FILM SCREENING @ Foodcourt
Film: Kongi’s Harvest (Dir. Ossie Davies; USA/Nigeria 1975)
Synopsis: This is a notable 1970 Nigerian film, directed by the acclaimed Ossie Davis and based on a screenplay by Wole Soyinka, who adapted it from his 1965 play of the same name. In a remarkable blend of art and reality, Soyinka not only wrote the screenplay but also played the lead role, portraying the dictator of an African nation with intense realism.
(Co-curated by Foundation for Promotion of Documentary Films in Africa, iREP), and Culture Advocates Caucus, CAC)
