Tag Archive | Dami Ajayi

Lagos International Poetry Festival Makes its Debut with a World Class Line Up

Sep8

(The post below was culled from Olisa.tv | Olisa.tv is a lifestyle platform created to showcase the very best of Africa. Over the past decade, a social, economic and Cultural Revolution has taken place on the African continent. Visit their website and check them out).

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Great news. West Africa’s first international poetry festival will be making its debut in Lagos from the October 28th – November 1st 2015 with the Lagos International Poetry Festival.

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Headlining this year’s festival are some of the biggest names in the global literary space, poetry and spoken word, including Warsan Shire, London’s first young poet laureate, winner of the first edition of the Brunel University African Poetry Prize and one of the most important voices in contemporary poetry.

Also slated for this year’s festival are Safia Elhillo, joint winner of the Brunel University African Poetry Prize for 2015, South Africa’s eminent poet and activist, Lebo Mashile, foremost poet, novelist and director of the famed Ake Book and Art Festival, Lola Shoneyin, Inua Ellams, TJ Dema, Wana Udobang, Bassey Ikpi, Titilope Sonuga, Dami Ajayi, Jumoke Verissimo, Sage Hasson, Chuma Nwokolo, Odia Ofeimun, Chijioke Amu Nnadi, Dike Chukwumerije, AJ Dagga Tolar, Iquo Eke, Akeem Lasisi, Audu Maikori, Donna, Elizabeth Ayoola, with a special keynote by Prof. J.P. Clark.

The five day festival will feature master classes, riveting performances, panel discussions, artistic exhibitions, and a planned closing concert and party unlike no other.

The theme for this year’s edition of the Lagos International Poetry Festival is Borderless Words, which according to festival director, Efe Paul Azino, is geared towards exploring poetry’s capacity to break racial, ethnic, gender, language and cultural divides, and help forge creative collaborations across the continent.

Venues for the event include Freedom Park, University of Lagos, Terra Kulture and others. The events are free and open to the public and details will be up subsequently on the festival website: www.lagospoetryfestival.com.

The Lagos International Poetry Festival is proudly supported by Star Larger Beer and Freedom Park.