Benue Book and Arts Festival

Programme of Events for the Benue Book & Arts Festival (BBAAF) Nottingham Edition

Theme: Home and A-Way
Date: Saturday, 25th January 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Venue: Central Library, Nottingham
Livestream: Instagram and Facebook Live

10:00 AM – 10:20 AM: Arrival and Registration, Opening Remarks and Festival Introduction.

10:20 AM – 11:00 AM: Exhibition, Documentary Excerpt Screening and Informal Interactions

• Exhibition: Home in Frames featuring photographs and paintings from different artists including Praise Jola Ademola, Sefa Charles-Ayede, Carl Terver, and S. Agema.
• Excerpt of a Documentary: Reviving the Kwagh Hir Theatre by Terver Malu
• Opportunity for informal interaction as attendees explore the exhibition.

11:00 AM – 11:15 AM: Goodwill Messages

11:15 AM – 12:30 PM: Stories That Touch

A session featuring readings of poetry, short fiction, and creative non-fiction from notable artists, including Abiodun Abdul, Ogugua Ajayi, Jerry Chiemeke, Amaka Felly Obioji, MaryAnn Ifeanacho, Aishat Adesanya, Tom Oloyede, Olalekan Ayodele,and others.

12:30 PM – 12:40 PM
Break and Light Refreshments

12:40 PM – 12:50 PM
Performance: Puppets and Stories
Performer: Namse Udosen

12:50 PM – 2:00 PM
Panel Discussion: Finding Home, Forging A-Way: How migration, identity, and belonging shape creativity and influence the stories we tell. Practical ways to progress and build community at home and abroad, focusing on collaboration, innovation, and sustainable growth. Featuring award-winning creatives, innovators, and cultural enthusiasts including Kukogho Iruesiri Samson, Ibrahim Babatunde Ibrahim, Aayesha Abdulkareem, with Chimdinma Onwukwe Adimekwe

2:00 PM – 2:40 PM
Stories We Carry

• An interactive session where attendees and performers share personal anecdotes, reflections, or creative pieces inspired by the theme Home and A-Way. This session is interspersed with readings and performances by creatives such as Emmanuel Ayomide Sanusi,

2:40 PM – 3:10 PM Final Performances and Thanks
Keynote Performers: Bash Amuneni and Andrew Patience

• Vote of Thanks

3:10 PM – 3:30 PM
Networking and Informal Closing