Now in its eighth year, the Aké Arts and Book Festival 2020 is set to take place online from 22 – 25 October under the theme ‘African Time’. This year the festival will be free to access around the world. The free programme will be comprised of book chats, workshops, panel discussions and performances from inspiring figures across Africa and the Diaspora.
“Our world has changed forever. And when the world turns, we turn with it. The magnitude of recent world events cannot be ignored so we have changed the theme for the 8th edition of Ake Arts & Book Festival. In 1918, African nations were in the clutches of imperial forces that denigrated our stories, culture, history, language and belief systems. A century later, a new pandemic finds Africa struggling with the colonial hangover of poor leadership and a predatory global order. Africa must reject the old normal and seize the opportunity of the moment to recalibrate and break the cycle of betrayal by those elected to lead. This may be our last chance to shape Africa and define the continent of our dreams. It may have come later than expected but, for the children of Africa everywhere, this is African Time,” reads the festival website.
Guests for the 2020 edition of the festival include, Wole Soyinka, Maryse Conde, Tayari Jones, Esi Edugyan, Marlon James, Petina Gappah, Kehinde Andrews, Elias Wondimu, Zukiswa Wanner, Molara Wood, Bolu Babalola, Okechukwu Nzelu and more.
The Aké Arts and Book Festival has brought over 700 artists, writers, poets, musicians, dancers, filmmakers, actors, filmmakers and thinkers together to dialogue and celebrate creativity on the African continent through panel discussions, art exhibitions, workshops, storytelling, book chats, poetry performances, a concert, stage play and film.