Books in the cultural imagination in Nigeria are often connected with the idea of an efiko – a colloquial term for someone who cares only about books with no social life.
So, whether you’re a book lover or simply looking to expand your social circle, the upcoming Book Party is the perfect place for you.
“Goethe-Institut’s Book Party, scheduled for Saturday, May 27, 2023, promises an immersive experience,” a statement by the Head of Information and Library unit, Mr. Georges Gambadatoun, says. “Imagine sitting in a lush garden in Victoria Island, Lagos, feeling the balmy air, enjoying passionate dramatizations of books you might or might not have read, all set to atmospheric background music. The event features the launch of If An Eagle Cannot See by John Pascal Anakwue – a poetry book which explores socio-economic and political realities in contemporary Nigeria from the writer’s perspective. As part of the launch, the work will be dramatically performed by a group of professional voice actors, set to a background of ambient music.
“Other works to be performed include Kome Otobo’s Nigerian Gods, which details the rich diversity of divinity across Nigerian ethnic nationalities, Who’s Who in the Yorùbá Pantheon by Peju Akande, Toni Kan and Jahman Anikulapo, which showcases the mythologies and worlds of the Orisa, The Women in the Mirror by Achalugo Chioma Ilozumba, which explores the process of family and reconciliation, It’s Not About The Burqa, an edited anthology by Mariam Khan, which is composed of essays by Muslim women seeking to challenge stereotypes about their identity, People Live Here by TJ Benson, which explores the life-changing circumstances of a 25-year-old single mother on a quest to raise her son in the post-PMS subsidy removal crises of January 2012 in Nigeria, and L’Otor – The Devil’s Pilgrimage by Jude Idada, about a dramatic and cathartic reunion between a mother and son in Benin City, Nigeria, following a harrowing 10-year road trip to Italy.”
The statement further adds that there will also be games made available including Akọwe, a word game similar to scrabble, created by Beninoise creative Kevin Agbasso, which aims to increase players’ literacy in Yoruba, Ayo, a popular indigenous game that demands high intellect and mathematical skills, and Checkers, a popular strategy board game whose players often come from every walk of life.
Goethe-Institut Nigeria invites lovers of culture to discover these and many other amazing works by both Nigerian and foreign authors. Entry is free. There will be book discussions after each performance, both as a collective and privately with other attendees. It will be a fun afternoon filled with intellectual and creative stimulation.
