LABAF at 25:Reflections On Our Civil Strife And A Retrospective Session

 Tough Questions on Nigerian History

Perfectly stacked between the Biafran Narratives and From History to Here:Birth by LABAF are two gripping conversations:The first conversation, titled Was There Ever a Glorious Moment in our Post Colonial History  chaired by Mr Kunle Ajibade,the Executive Editor,of The News focused on A Measure  of Grace,by Akin Mabogunje and Then Spoke Thunder by Peter Enahoro.In this first presentation,the Executive editor of the News,talked in admiring and enthusiastic tones of the two authors, and stressed their immense contributions to the country and outside the shores of Nigeria some few years after independence.In the second tough question  on,The Future Glimpsed From The Past,the same presenter,explained how he was reluctant to the request of Dr  Femi Olugbile,the author of Pelewura,the charismatic leader of the market women and how he accepted to write the preface because he admired the audacity, and the networking skills of this popular leader of the Association of Lagos Market Women who traversed the political and economic storms of the colonial society.

First photo:Posters of some of the festival guests.Second photo:on the left,Mr Kunle Ajibade,Executive Editor of the News,during the session on Was There Ever a Glorious Moment in Our Post-Colonial Past,in the middle is Barrister Tade Ipadeola and on the right is Mr Anote Ajeluoru,Third photo,on the left is Dr Femi Olugbile,the author of Alimotu Pelewura,during the session on The Future Glimpsed From The Past

Biafran War Narratives

The views professed by the organisers of the festival that our civil war defines Nigerian politics and remains a substantial part of our historical production was demonstrated in the course of a reading and conversation forum captioned Biafran Narratives:War Without End. In one exchange the moderator described the essence of, On a Darkling Plain an argument on our civil war and  the perception of this work in  different Nigerian quarters.It was during this exchange that Barrister Jide Bello,made this abrasive note  I am from one of the minority areas in Nigeria, and I can say that this is an objective material,during his review of Oil Politics and Violence:Nigeria's Military Coup Culture, 1966-1967 written by Max Siollun.

First photo:on the left is Barrister Jide Bello,in the middle is the moderator of the session on Biafran War Narratives and Miss Adedoyin Olejede,the 2023 winner of the KS-W literary award.Second Photo:on the left is Miss Kemi Bakare,in the middle is Mr Kiki,the moderator of the session on From History to Here:Birth of LABAF and Mr Oko Owo Ocho,on the right

A Retrospective Session 

Literary Historians and Reading public specialists were given a special treat in two spurts during this 25th anniversary titled From History to Here:Birth of LABAF. This writer missed the CORA Youth Assembly,reputed as the festival plenary kickstart. However he saw the  theatrical performance that was typical of this generation of Cultural landscapists.In the second spurt, Mr Oko owo Ocho and Miss Kemi Bakare,recounted with delight how the festival enabled them to attain their goals in the creative and entertainment sectors and stressed the need to carry the ideals of LABAF to other states of the federation.And at the end of the event,when I told  Mr Kiki,the moderator, that the retrospective session was quite successful he replied,I agree with you,I am duly impressed,but don't forget that I asked them before the presentation,if they had prepared something special,they answered me negatively!

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