The Book Buzz Foundation, Sterling Bank, and other partners and sponsors of the 2025 Aké Arts and Book Festival, holding in Lagos next week, from November 20 – 22, are set to reclaim the truth, in line with the theme of the festival, ‘Reclaiming Truth’.
Holding at the BON Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, the three-day Aké Festival, which is the 13th edition of the festival, will immerse Africa’s creatives and arts lovers in conversations and activities that challenge stereotypes and narratives that endanger truth.
The festival will feature bookchat, book quiz, panel sessions, film, music, poetry, bookstore, and bedtime stories, among others. It will also feature the Aké Review, the annual literary magazine of the festival.
Furthermore, the festival will also honour two literary giants lost this year: Kenyan writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o and Nigerian author Mabel Segun.
A statement from Sterling Bank’s website captured the theme as “A call to pause the noise, question narratives, and rewrite the stories that define us.” The bank added that it “Is proud to power the truth.”
Since 2018, Sterling Bank has stood with Aké Festival, and his year, the bank stated that it is championing conversations and movement of reclaiming the truth and rewriting the story.
“We live in a time where misinformation spreads faster than facts. That’s why this year’s theme, ‘Reclaiming Truth’, matters more than ever. It’s a reminder that honesty is strength, and that our stories have power when told truthfully.
The bank urged art lovers and creatives to “Expect bold panel sessions, powerful performances, and conversations that challenge bias and celebrate authenticity.”
In a press conference on Tuesday in Lagos, the Director of Aké Festival, Lola Shoneyin, said, “We can’t wait to have you” at the festival, as she explains why they are interested in ‘reclaiming truth’.
Shoneyin revealed that 67 international guests representing 17 nations, from Ukraine and Palestine to Belgium, Barbados, Namibia, Congo, Kenya, Jamaica, and members of the Nigerian diaspora will attend the festival.
According to the organisers, the theme of the festival is a clarion call, especially at a time when narratives are engineered to obscure realities.
“We live in times of selective empathy and disinformation. Many people cannot discern truth, and many voices of truth are being muffled. The one thing we get from reading is empathy. If the politicians read, the country wouldn’t be this way,” Shoneyin said.
At the Tuesday press conference, Sterling Bank, represented by Donatus Okpako, said they are interested in the H.E.A.R.T.S. of the economy.
Okpako noted that the ‘E’ in H.E.A.R.T.S. means education, which he said Aké does by promoting reading.
“Reclaiming truth is not negotiable. A current issue in Nigeria is that many are not willing to speak truth to power,” he said.
Other sponsors and partners of the 2025 Aké Festival include the Lagos State government, Open Society Foundation, Annoying Logo, Ouida, Windham Campbell Prize, European Union, and the United States Consulate General.
