The Benue Book & Arts Festival (BBAAF) is set to make its exciting debut in Nottingham on Saturday, 25th January 2025. The event, organised by the SEVHAGE Literary and Development Initiative and SEVHAGE Publishers, will take place at the Central Library in Nottingham from 10:00am to 3:30pm and promises to be a day filled with thought-provoking discussions, performances, and networking opportunities. This inaugural edition marks a significant step in SEVHAGE’s mission to create a platform for cultural exchange, celebrating literature, art, and the power of storytelling.
BBAAF has become one of Nigeria’s premier cultural festivals, celebrated for its ability to bring together creatives, thinkers, and cultural advocates. This year, with the theme “Home and A-Way”, the festival will delve into concepts of identity, belonging, and the fluidity of culture in an increasingly interconnected world. As part of its growing reach, the event will feature a mix of a panel discussion, spoken word performances, readings, and open conversations, all aimed at sparking dialogue and fostering creative collaborations.
Nottingham is the perfect location for this first UK edition. While the event is not in collaboration with the Nottingham City of Literature, their support is invaluable in bringing the festival to life in the UK. The festival is also proudly supported by several key partners, including the Goethe Institut in Lagos, Nottingham City Library, the Journal of African Youth Literature, Konya Shamsrumi, Small Business Big World, and Custodian of African Literature (COAL). It also enjoys the support of the Nottingham City of Literature.
The event will feature a wide range of guests, including Bash Amuneni, a renowned Nigerian poet and spoken word artist, slam champion Abiodun Abdul, award-winning authors Ibrahim Babatunde Ibrahim, Jerry Chimeke, Taiwo Michael, Amaka Felly Obioji, and other stars like Sodiq Alabi, Namse Udosen, Chimdinma Onwukwe Adimekwe, MaryAnn Ifeanacho, and many others. The festival has been carefully curated by Su’ur Su’eddie Vershima Agema, a multiple award-winning writer and culture curator, known for his work in bridging the gaps between African and global cultural movements and former Black History Month Curator at the University of Sussex.
The event will run from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM, featuring a theatre-style layout and access to a screen to showcase the works of the artists. The festival is free to attend and open to the general public, reflecting SEVHAGE’s commitment to ensuring that cultural spaces remain accessible to all.
The Nottingham edition of BBAAF is just the beginning. Following this, the festival will return to Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria, in February 2025, ensuring that the heart of the festival remains in its home country while continuing to expand internationally. Future editions are set to bring together creatives from around the world, with plans to extend BBAAF’s reach to other global cities, with hopes of making a lasting impact on the global literary and cultural landscape.
For more information or media inquiries, please contact the team at sevhagers@bbaaf.com or contact Oko Owoicho via WhatsApp at +2347030285995. You can also check the festival’s website at http://bbaaf.com.
About SEVHAGE and BBAAF
The Benue Book & Arts Festival (BBAAF) is an international literary and cultural event founded by SEVHAGE Literary and Development Initiative and SEVHAGE Publishers. BBAAF celebrates the arts through performances, panel discussions, workshops, and exhibitions, bringing together established and emerging voices from across the globe to promote cultural exchange and community engagement.
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