Taxi Editorial Hosts Literary and Wellness Salon with Chiamaka Okike

Taxi Editorial, a Nigerian-based editorial platform dedicated to ideas and creativity, continues to build community through cultural writing and communal events. In collaboration with Chiamaka Okike — literary event planner and author of Seeri— alongside event sponsors DANG! Lifestyle, Tamed Lux, Ake Collective and Aunty Tanty, the platform hosted a communal literary and wellness salon on August 30th. The gathering was curated to foster a community of readers and encourage memory-making as a way of externalizing literature.

Set against the serene, airy backdrop of Tarkwa Bay, the salon invited attendees to bask in nature’s healing powers, forge connections with one another, and momentarily escape the fast-paced megacity that often stifles creativity. It was, quite literally, an invitation to “touch grass.”

Guests arrived to find seating mats arranged intimately among trees and greenery, all facing a central stage. Each mat was adorned with a gift bag containing a copy of Seeri, a personalized journal, and other keepsakes — small mementos designed to extend the experience beyond the day itself.

The event opened with warm words from Okike, who expressed her gratitude to guests for crossing both land and sea to attend, followed by an address from Taxi Editorial’s cultural editor, David Johnson. They outlined the day’s itinerary, which began with a guided writing session. Okike introduced this segment with a reading from Seeri, leading into a Q&A on themes of love, grief, friendship, and community. In alignment with these conversations, guests received custom stickers — including one designed by Okike herself that read: “We are survived by each other.” She explained that survival is a collective act — keeping each other’s memories alive.

Throughout the day, audience engagement remained central, supported by interactive games and activities. A “Conversation Quest” prompted lively exchanges as attendees raced to gather information and complete bingo-style conversation cards. Meanwhile, a reality TV-inspired “Confessional,” set in a rustic cabin overlooking the venue, invited guests to follow random prompts and record candid reflections on everything from romance to book fails.

As the literary portion wound down, guests shifted into a tea-blending session led by event sponsor Aunty Tanty. With herbal tea cards as guides, participants learned about the healing properties of various blends before crafting and naming their own teas — a ritual that encouraged slowing down and savoring the moment, while offering yet another keepsake from the experience.

The salon concluded with a book signing, where Okike inscribed personalized messages into copies of Seeri.

In conversation, Okike reflected on the event’s resonance with Aunty Tanty, noting that hibiscus tea (zobo) — a key motif in Seeri — is also central to many of Aunty Tanty’s blends, one of which was served on the day. She also highlighted collaboration as the cornerstone of the event’s success:

“The entire thing happened because Tobi, one of the culture editors at Taxi Editorial, had read Seeri and liked it. The Editor-in-Chief later reached out for an interview. I had done a couple of pop-ups in England, and we talked about possibly doing one together. When I moved back to Nigeria this year, I decided to follow up. I feel like we’re in an illiteracy crisis — people aren’t reading, analyzing, or thinking. One of my missions is meeting people where they are. I think people would love reading more if they had a community of readers and could attach memories to reading. That’s my mission with this event.”