The Lagos Art & Books Festival 2023, popularly known as Labaf, runs in venues in Lagos, Nigeria from November 13 – 19, 2023. The festival theme is “The Reset: History and the Darkling Plan.”
The Lagos Book & Art Festival is an annual arts festival founded by the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), a Nigerian-based cultural organisation in 1999. They have been hosting activities like musical performances, book readings and launches, film screenings, a publishers’ forum, book and art exhibitions, panel discussions, symposiums, cultural exhibitions, and much more. Many of the leading names in the Nigerian and wider African literary community have been hosted at this storied gathering.
Earlier in the year, the organisers announced the theme and the dates for the events for mid-November. They have now given those who wish to attend more information. The theme for the 2023 edition is THE RESET: History and the Darkling Plain, and it is designed to reflect on the various critical points in the history of Nigeria-and by extension the histories of the rest of Africa and the world- through written texts and performances in drama, music, poetry and the visual arts.
Those who attend can expect panels, readings, reviews, and sessions on writing and publishing, exhibitions of books and visual arts, workshops and mentoring sessions for young people, and performances in poetry, drama, music, dance, etc. There will also be arthouse celebrations of eminent artistes and culture workers who have registered their names and footprints in the cause of nation-building – the idea is to set them up as role models for both old and young people – to inspire hope, motivate them to aspire to greater accomplishments in their chosen careers or vocation.
With younger attendants in mind, there will be the “Green Festival” devoted to students in Junior and Senior Secondary schools in partnership with Children And The Environment, CATE. There will also be the “CORA Youth Creative Club” for mentoring and training in their natural talents and acquired skills in partnership with Events By Nature.
For more information on the happenings in Lagos starting on November 13, please visit their official Facebook page.
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