By PRISCA SAM-DURU- LITERATURE

“Beneath the Skin” is interesting because it helps us as Africans, have a conversation on how we see ourselves. Even as Africans, we say negative things about ourselves but I do appreciate the potentials of Africans, the giant strides they make in every field. However, I’m bothered about the things that limit us especially due to the fact that they are generated within.” Those were the words of the Director, Ake Arts and Book Festival, Lola Shoneyin during a press briefing announcing the 2016 edition of the Ake Arts and Book Festival.

This year’s edition is the fourth and it takes place between 15-19 November at Arts and Culture Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta with an array of world class writers, thinkers, artists, film makers, musicians, book lovers and art enthusiasts.

Themed “Beneath this Skin” the distinguished Kenyan Professor, renowned writer, and literary icon Ngigi  wa Thiong’o is the headliner and has been billed to sit in conversation with Okey Ndibe about his life and works while having conversations centered on his latest book,5 Birth of a Dream Weaver.

Speaking further on the festival theme, Shoneyin stated that “Its a question of looking in wards, what are we doing with our blackness, how has our blackness translated to greatness  especially on this continent. How do we get past the things that limit us? What do we think about how the world looks at us. These are some of the things we intend on addressing.”

•A scene from last Ake festival

She also disclosed the contribution of the Festival to Nigeria’s tourism industry saying, “Ake Festival is not just about literature but entertainment and its also, highly contributing to tourism industry. On a yearly basis, we bring in people from across the globe into Nigeria and that boosts our tourism industry.”

Introducing for the first time since inception of the festival, is a musical concert which supports Shoneyin’s disclosure that the festival is not only about literature. The acoustic music concert features music stars,  Brymo, Falana, Adunni and the Nefertiti band who will entertain guests at the Festival.

Also 9 book chats featuring 18 authors such as Helon Habila, Laila Lalami, Teju Cole, Panashe Chigumadzi, Tendai Huchu, Chinelo Okparanta, Noviolet Bulawayo, Jowhor Ile, Sarah Ladipo Manyika, Odafe Atogun, Tade Thompson, Toni Kan, and many more will address some of the issues affecting literary industry.

In 12 stimulating panel discussions that will engage both new voices and established ones, the festival will focus on identities, race, gender, mental health in fiction, the rise and fall of African economies. It will also explore exciting genres such as erotica, horror fiction, and prison stories.

At the 2 art exhibitions, we will see the works of Laolu Senbanjo whose “Sacred Art of the Ori” featured on Beyonce’s latest album ‘Lemonade’; and Fatima Abubakar who captures the lives of the people of Borno State in a stunning series of photographs.

This year’s festival Film is the documentary Hissene Habre, a Chadian Tragedy, that gives an account of the horror inflicted on the Chadian people during Hissen Habre’s rule. This promises to be very informative as well as emotive.

Other highlights include workshops, poetry, Drama etc.

File:08/11/2016\Arts festival  (pix) 08/11/2016\Arts festival