The Lagos International Poetry Festival 2022 will be hosted in venues in Lagos, Nigeria as well as online from October 27 – 31, 2022.
The Lagos International Poetry Festival brings together poets, writers, artists, and thinkers from across the world to Lagos for a week of conversations, readings, performances, workshops and adventure. Founded in 2015 by poet Efe Paul Azino, it has established itself as one of the continent’s annual art and culture highlights.
Earlier in the year, festival organisers revealed that the festival would be happening in the last weekend of October with the theme “Babel… A New Language.” A better theme for a poetry shindig cannot be imagined. It will be hosted at the Goethe Institut, Terra Kulture, British Council, Rovingheights Bookstore, Freedom Park, hFACTOR Lagos Island as well as online.
They have since told us the artists that will be starring at this year’s event including award winners and nominees from Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, India, Germany, Spain, the US, Scotland, England, and Belgium. These artists include Aja Monet, Amarachi Attamah, Amy Shimshon-Santo, Aremu Gemini, Dami Ajayi, Debris Stevenson, Dike Chukwumerije, Elizabeth Johnson, Henneh Kwaku Kyereh, Joel Francois, Jolyn Phillips, Kọ́la Túbọ̀sún, Loveth Liberty, Mbali Malimela, Mukoma Ngugi, Nadine Aisha Jassat, Nana Asaase, Obii Ifejika, Omar Bin Musa, Puja Changoiwala, Raymond Antrobus, Renaud Dossavi, Rudy Francisco, Su’eddie Vershima Agema, Sboniso Dlamini, Siphokazi Jonas, Sunnah Khan, Sylvia Arthur, Titilope Sonuga, TJ Benson, Tobi Abiodun, Toni Kan, 78thpsalmist, and Umar Sidi.
Those who attend can also take advantage to learn more about their craft with masterclasses by Rudy Fransisco and Dami Ajayi as well as workshops by Titilope Sonuga, Chekwube Danladi, and Romeo Oriogun. Apart from these you can also attend panels, film screenings, as well as poetry events. Also launching this year is the festival’s annual print journal Márọkọ́.
For those who can, we recommend that you try and make it to the different venues and enjoy one of the continent’s premier celebrations of poetry in all its forms.
