Ibadan Book and Arts Festival Presents — Invocations of the Word: A Day of Poetry and Conversations with Niyi Osundare
Revered statesman, scholar and multiple award-winning poet, Professor Niyi Osundare is set to headline the Ibadan Book and Arts Festival (ÌbàFest) series of events running through the year with an event on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at RovingHeights Bookstore, Prime Mall, 33 Awolowo Avenue, Opposite Domino’s Pizza, Bodija, Ibadan by 2 PM.
This special event will feature live readings from Professor Osundare’s poetry collections, followed by a thought-provoking conversation with leading journalists and scholars. As the headline prelude to the inaugural Ibadan Book and Arts Festival (Friday and Saturday, October 24–25, 2025), this event sets the stage for what promises to be one of Nigeria’s most vibrant celebrations of literature, culture, and ideas.
Professor Niyi Osundare is one of Nigeria’s most recognised and decorated poets. He is an Emeritus Distinguished Professor of English at the University of New Orleans, USA, and a celebrated poet, essayist, playwright, columnist, and public intellectual. For over five decades, he has been a courageous advocate for social justice, democracy, and the common good, using his pen and voice to amplify the struggles and hopes of ordinary people.
Born to a humble farming family in Ikere-Ekiti, Nigeria, Osundare’s journey from peasant roots to global literary acclaim embodies resilience and purpose. His poetry, rich in Yoruba oral traditions and deeply humanist in outlook, has earned him numerous awards, including the prestigious Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) in 2014, among countless other local and international honours.
About the Event
This event will showcase Professor Osundare’s enduring relevance as one of Africa’s foremost voices in literature and public discourse. Through live readings, critical discussions, and audience engagement, attendees will gain insight into his artistic vision, his lifelong pursuit of justice, and his reflections on Nigeria’s cultural and political landscape.
Event Details
- Date: Saturday, August 16, 2025
- Time: 2 PM
- Venue: RovingHeights Bookstore, Prime Mall, 33 Awolowo Avenue, Opposite Domino’s Pizza, Bodija, Ibadan.
- Admission: Free (Limited seats available. Please book your seat here: www.Bit.ly/OSUNDARE)
About ÌbàFest
The Ibadan Book and Arts Festival (ÌbàFest) is an annual celebration of African literature, creativity, and cultural dialogue. Rooted in Ibadan—a city renowned for its literary and cultural heritage—ÌbàFest brings together writers, artists, scholars, and cultural leaders to explore the power of stories and the potential of the Creative and Cultural Industries to transform education, community, and national development. The inaugural edition of the festival is scheduled to hold on Friday and Saturday, October 24–25, 2025.
Media Contact
Ibadan Book and Arts Festival (ÌbàFest)
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Website: www.ibadanfestival.org
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