Founder and director of the Aké Arts and Book Festival, Lola Shoneyin, has urged Nigerian writers and publishers to prioritise the growth of the local literary industry rather than measure their success by recognition from Western publishing markets.
Shoneyin said this during a press conference in Lagos on Thursday ahead of the 14th edition of the Aké Festival, organised by the Book Buzz Foundation, and scheduled for November 19 to 21 at Silkwood Hotel (formerly BON Hotel), Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
The festival’s director said that Nigerian writers should pay greater attention to publishing opportunities within the country and support institutions working to develop the industry.
“As a Nigerian, why is it that we measure our success by whether or not we are published abroad?” she asked.
“For me, that is not my focus. I am interested in being published here. I am interested in the people that are doing the publishing here. I am interested in how our success happens.”
She said established writers also had a responsibility to inspire younger people and serve as role models for aspiring authors and other creatives.
Shoneyin added that Aké Festival’s success was measured not only by attendance figures or public perception but also by its ability to connect participants with their cultural heritage and create lasting experiences.
“One of the things that makes the festival unique is the goal we set for ourselves every year. We want each edition to be better than the previous one,” she said.
She explained that the organisers aimed to create conversations and experiences that would remain with participants long after the event.
The festival’s cultural engagement efforts also extend to Nigerians in the diaspora who want to reconnect with their heritage but have concerns about security and negative perceptions of the country.
Shoneyin said she had brought together Nigerians living in the United Kingdom and other countries who were interested in visiting the country but had been discouraged by reports about insecurity.
She said the initiative offered them an opportunity to rediscover Nigeria and explore its artistic and cultural offerings beyond attending the festival.
Shoneyin also expressed appreciation to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for supporting the festival, disclosing that the state government is offering a book grant to some Lagos residents below 25 years who wish to attend the festival to purchase books of their choice.
She said the initiative would encourage reading and give young people the opportunity to acquire books during the festival.
Meanwhile, Sterling Bank has reaffirmed its support for the festival, with its Chief Marketing Officer, Donatus Okpako, highlighting the importance of education, arts and culture in developing African knowledge.
Okpako said the bank’s partnership with the festival had provided opportunities for learning and engagement through discussions on education and the creative sector.
“Education is one of the key pillars of our work, and it is an important area in which we have established partnerships. Through the festival, we create opportunities for conversations around education, arts and culture,” he said.
He said this year’s theme, ‘Native Intelligence’, would encourage conversations about artificial intelligence and its growing influence on African knowledge, communication, technology and creativity.
“AI has become central to many aspects of our lives, and it will play an increasingly important role in the future, particularly in the development of African knowledge,” Okpako said.
According to him, expanding access to knowledge would require sustained investment in education and infrastructure to equip people with relevant skills and create new opportunities.
“Education is one of the ways we can achieve this. We must continue to support the infrastructure and initiatives that help people learn, develop their skills and access new opportunities,” he said.
He added that the bank’s support was intended to enable participants to engage with guests, exchange ideas and build meaningful relationships.
