‘Born on a Tuesday,’ ‘Frontiers of Jihad’, others for LABAF

Sixteen books including ‘Born on a Tuesday,’ (Elnathan John), ‘Indigo’ (Molara Wood) and ‘Frontiers of Jihad: Radical Islam In Africa,’ Yinka Olomojobi have been selectec for this year’s edition of the Lagos Book and Arts Festival (LABAF). Other books which will feature in the festival are ‘Eat the Heart of the Infidel: The Harrowing of […]

Sixteen books including ‘Born on a Tuesday,’ (Elnathan John), ‘Indigo’ (Molara Wood) and ‘Frontiers of Jihad: Radical Islam In Africa,’ Yinka Olomojobi have been selectec for this year’s edition of the Lagos Book and Arts Festival (LABAF).
Other books which will feature in the festival are ‘Eat the Heart of the Infidel: The Harrowing of Nigeria and the Rise of Boko Haram,’ (Andrew Walker); ‘Terrorism and the Politics of Fear,’ (David Altheide); ‘The Spirit of Terrorism,’ (Jean Baudrillard) and ‘THE Yacoubian Building,’ (Alaa Al Aswany).
The books ‘Jihad In The West: The Rise of Militant Salafism’ (Frazer Egerton); ‘Inside Terrorist Organizations’ Frank Cass; ‘Satans & Shaitans,’ (Obinna Udenwe); ‘Bury Me Come Sunday Afternoon,’ (Nike Campbell Fatoki); ‘A Love Like A Woman’s and Other Stories;’ (Razinatu T. Mohammed) are also part of the event.
‘After They Left’ (Edify Yakusak); ‘When Lemon Grows On Orange Tree’ (Diekara Oloruntoba-Oju); ‘The Great Divide: Unequal Societies And What We Can Do About Them’ (Joseph Stiglitz) and ‘Africa Must Be Modern Modern,’ (Olufemi Taiwo) are also on the list.
The annual book fest which is in its 18th edition is set to hold in the second week of November and is organised by the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA).
The line of up of events for the festival includes colloquium, Author’s convention, conversation, the festival party, film screening and symposium, Lagos of the poets and discourse.
The theme of the festival is ‘The Terror of Knowledge.’ According to a post by the organisers on their website: “Through this, we hope to address rising extremism against acquisition of knowledge and brain empowerment. The inspiration derives from the immortal words of the Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka that: “Books and all forms of writing are terror to those who wish to suppress the truth.”
They also said: “The festival is a comprehensive, four day programme of events; readings and conversations around books, art and craft displays, kiddies’ art workshops and reading sessions, book exhibitions, live music and theatre performance, capacity building workshops and exhibitions, and critical seminars for different sectors of the creative industries.”
For this year’s edition of the Festival CORA said: “We are expecting over thirty publishers taking stands and at least 10 exhibiting artist groups and sundry craft shops. The Festival is the one book event with high children participation. Last year, we hosted over 1500 children to workshops on painting, reading, photography; a range of experiences and, most crucially, discussions around books.
“This year, the festival is structured to have – 31 Books of the Festival, one book trek, one pre-festival cocktail to open the festival, one Publishers’ Forum, one Visual Art Exhibition, one Festival Colloquium, one Festival Conversation, 10 book events, 11 Children’s’ workshops, three workshops for teachers, two festival plays, three Music concerts / art parties (one hip-hop, one jazz, one high-life) making a total of 35 events.”