Ake Festival Set to Reclaim its Truth At the 13th Edition

One of Lagos’s cultural cornerstones, Ouida, is gearing up to host another edition of the Ake Arts and Book Festival. This November, the festival’s reach extends further than ever before, with Book Buzz Foundation Director Lola Shoneyin announcing an impressive roster of 67 international guests representing 17 nations, from Ukraine and Palestine to Belgium, Barbados, Namibia, Congo, Kenya, Jamaica, and members of the Nigerian diaspora. It’s a true melting pot of voices converging under one powerful banner.

This year’s theme, Reclaiming Truth, strikes a particularly resonant chord in our fractured global climate. Shoneyin contextualizes her choice: “We live in times of selective empathy and disinformation. Many people cannot discern truth, and many voices of truth are being muffled.” This urgent call for clarity and honesty explains why journalists occupy center stage at the 13th edition. Shoneyin is committed to nurturing the next wave of truth-tellers, whether they’re traditional reporters, content creators, or independent voices.

But Shoneyin’s vision extends beyond professional journalism. She believes reading itself is a radical act. “The one thing we get from reading is empathy,” she stated. “If the politicians read, the country wouldn’t be this way.” For Shoneyin, Ake Festival’s broader mission is nothing less than raising mighty readers who evolve into writers, a generation equipped to reshape Nigeria’s narrative landscape.

The festival’s guest list reads like a who’s who of contemporary literature. Booker Prize laureate Bernardine Evaristo tops the bill as a special guest, participating in a showcase event in Ikoyi co-hosted with the British Council and potentially Alliance Française Lagos. Nigerian romance sensations Fatima Bala and Bolu Babalola will share space with fantasy authors Marve Anson and Nkereuwem Albert, alongside Olayinka Yaqub and numerous others.

Beyond literary discussions, the festival promises rich cultural programming. Independent Afro-Rock collective The Reccurence will launch proceedings with an opening night concert. Day two features a screening of Ema Edosio’s film When Nigeria Happens, while the beloved Palmwine and Poetry tradition—showcasing 11 poets- will close out the festival. The festival opens with Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka delivering a tribute poem to Fidel Castro, setting a tone of gravitas and remembrance.

The event will also honor two literary giants lost this year: Kenyan writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o and Nigerian author Mabel Segun. Shoneyin has promised this year’s festival will eclipse all previous editions, pointing to the largest-ever Ake Review as evidence of their ambition. She credits her three decades of literary experience and her exceptional team for making each year’s impossible logistics possible.

Sterling Bank, Ake Festival’s partner since 2017, continues its crucial support. Sterling representative Donatus articulated the bank’s philosophy at the press conference: “We are interested in the H.E.A.R.T.S. of the economy. The E means education, and the Ake Festival is necessary for education. Ake does that by promoting reading.” On the theme, he added, “Reclaiming truth is not negotiable. A current issue in Nigeria is that many are not willing to speak truth to power.” Additional partnerships with Lagos State Government and the Open Society Foundation (now in their third year of collaboration) round out the festival’s institutional support.

Following closing remarks from the Book Buzz team and a heartfelt acknowledgment from Shoneyin, the press conference concluded with anticipation crackling in the air. Ake Festival runs from November 20th to 22nd, 2025.