A lot has been said of poetry, that it is language at its most distilled and most powerful; that it is frosted fire; an eternal graffiti on the heart’s wall; and the truth in its Sunday clothes. Yet, not enough has been said and could be said of poetry and the art of it.
For the first five days in the month of November, Lagos will host 30 poets, writers and artists from across the globe for the third edition of The Lagos International Poetry Festival. This year’s festival promises to be quite exciting with 3 evenings of performances, 9 panels, 6 workshops, a party and an adventure to Badagry.
“It’s going to be very exciting. We have a diverse guest list with poets from North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and across Africa,” said Efe Paul Azino, founder and director, LIPFest. “This year’s theme, Bridges From Walls, explores arts capacity to unite us around our common humanity and we have put together a series of events that express the universal desire for love, joy and the fulfilment that comes from engaging our talents.”
LIPFest17 features an amazing guest list including US-based Nigerian writer Chris Abani, South African sensation Koleka Putuma, multi-faceted artist, Victor Ehikhamenor and multimedia journalist, poet and filmmaker, Wana Udobang.
Events to look forward to include Poetry Masterclass with Chris Abani to take place on the 2nd of November, 10am at Goethe Institut, City Hall, Lagos Island; Collective Amnesia: An Evening with Koleka Putuma and Sabrina Mahfouz, happening November 2nd, 6pm at Bogobiri, 7, Maitama Sule, off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi; and Poetry After Dark: Poems Apostle Must Not Hear, taking place on the rooftop of Goethe Institut, on Friday, November 3rd, 6 pm till late.
Festivals like LIPFest are an expression of the creative ferment taking place in Nigeria and across Africa, with diverse artistic expressions fashioning new narratives and expanding the creative economy. So it’s another year of words, song, and all the awesomeness in between. Come November 1st, 2017, which is next week, as a matter of fact, all roads lead to Freedom Park, where the third edition of LIPFest opens.
The Lagos International Poetry Festival is sponsored by Nigerian Breweries. Visit www.lagospoetryfestival.com for the full program and other details.
