The Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) has successfully hosted the Festival of African Literature, Poetry, Drama, and Prose, a landmark event that brought together some of the continent’s most celebrated literary figures, scholars, and culture enthusiasts.
The two-day festival, held on January 29 and 30, 2025, at the Pavilion International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja, served as a powerful reminder of the vibrancy of African literature and its growing global significance. Writers, poets, and academics engaged in conversations that underscored the importance of storytelling in preserving cultural identity and shaping the continent’s future narratives.
In her opening address, CBAAC Director-General, Hon. Aisha Adamu Augie, highlighted the festival’s role in promoting African literary excellence and cultural heritage. She called for sustained investment in African literature, urging institutions and the private sector to support writers and publishers. “This festival is a celebration of who we are as Africans—our stories, our voices, our heritage,” she said, stressing the need to expand African literature beyond borders on its own terms.
A major highlight of the event was the keynote lecture by Professor Mabel Evwierhoma of the University of Abuja, who examined the intersection of African literature and technology. Speaking on the theme, “Re-imagining the Future of African Literature in the Age of Tech,” she explored how digital advancements are influencing storytelling traditions and raised questions about whether technology serves as a tool for preservation or a threat to Indigenous narratives.
Language and identity took centre stage during the panel discussion, “Found in Translations: Writing in Indigenous Languages,” where authors Khalifa Isah, Baseball Babale, and Samin Yunusa engaged in a spirited debate on the significance of writing in native tongues. Moderated by Ibrahim Sheme, the discussion emphasized the urgency of preserving African languages in literature. “Every language lost is a worldview erased,” one panellist remarked, echoing the concerns of many attendees.
The issue of Western appropriation of African narratives was also tackled in the session, “From Africa to the World: Why Our Stories Matter.” Writers Richard Ali, Deborah Johnson, and Umayamah Abdullahi shared personal experiences of seeing African stories repackaged through a Eurocentric lens. The conversation, moderated by Abdullahi Denna, explored the critical question of ownership in storytelling, with participants advocating for Africans to reclaim and amplify their voices on the global stage.
Beyond discussions, the festival was a visual and literary experience, featuring an art exhibition in collaboration with the National Gallery of Arts. The showcase included paintings, sculptures, and installations that brought African storytelling to life in vivid forms. Additionally, a poetry slam and literary competition gave young writers and poets a platform to express themes of heritage, resilience, and social justice through powerful performances.
The festival concluded with a compelling panel on women in publishing, moderated by Eugenia Abu. Prominent figures such as Hadiza el-Rufai, Salamatu Sule, Amina Al-Hassan, and Juliana Imam addressed the challenges faced by women in the literary industry, including gender bias and limited publishing opportunities. The discussion, however, was one of optimism and determination. “African women have always been storytellers. It’s time the world listens,” a panellist affirmed.
As the festival drew to a close, it was clear that it had left a lasting impact. More than just a literary gathering, the CBAAC Festival of African Literature reinforced the power of storytelling as a tool for cultural preservation, dialogue, and transformation. With its resounding success, the event reaffirmed that African literature is not only thriving but is poised to shape global narratives on its own terms.
