‘At Quramo, we remain committed to our vision to equip creatives for the expansion of the creative industries while fostering visibility for literary works that mirror real Nigerian and African experiences. QFEST is an annual celebration of these unique stories, conversations and cultural perspectives’
AFTER four event-full days of workshops, panel discussions, film screening, poetry slam, drama, and general camaraderie among literati and their varied patrons, the 2023 Quramo Festival of Words (QFEST), the 7th edition, ends today with the award of the Quramo Prize for Literature worth N1 million and a publishing rights.
Presented by Quramo Publishing Ltd., the festival started on October 4 in the ballroom of the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, and has featured scores of resource persons — writers, instructors creative entrepreneurs, and others, reflecting on the theme, “Connecting The Dots,” which the convener of the festival, Gbemi Shasore, says reflects the “ability to build bridges where there are none.”
“The recent exodus of key players in the Nigerian creative industries to other climes provides a major opportunity for cross-continental collaborations and high-level export of cultural values and literature,”, stated Mrs Shasore, CEO Quramo Publishing,
Connecting The Dots, continued Shasore, “is a subject that brings to the fore opportunities for creatives and stakeholders in film, literature, theatre, and publishing among other players in the creative and media spaces to interact, identify and explore likely collaborations across borders.
The speakers and panelists in the five-day romp have included Yahaya Maikori, the lawyer, and researcher; Adedotun Eyinade, cofounder of Rovingheights, Anwuli Ojogwu, cofounder of the Society of Book and Magazine Editors of Nigeria, Dr. Karen King-Aribisala, author and lecturer at the University of Lagos and James Murua, one of Africa’s leading literary journalist from Kenya. A special guest has been Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Peter Ryan, who, on Day 4 Saturday, October 7, aside being a panelist on the session on “Nigeria & Ireland, Commonalities Amongst Former Colonies”, also co-anchored with the poet/literary activist, Aduke Gomez, a thrilling storytelling session with the “Siamsa & Tales by Moonlight” using the Irish storytelling format. It was a most exhilarating session as guests were encouraged to tell their individual stories no matter the content or form. The pretext, according to the Festival Curator, Ms. Gomez, was the fact that stories keep humanity warm and the world informed and educated. Sharing human experiences is the best antidote to keeping our world going, she said.
Aside from the Prize award ceremony tonight, the high-point of the programme will be the “conversation” at 2 pm between the convener, Gbemi Shasore and a leading light of the creative industry in Lagos, Sarah Boulous, founder of the Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria, SPAN, which will also be performing at 2 pm. Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Toke Benson-Awoyinka is expected to give a keynote, followed by goodwill messages by select guests. This is at 3 pm. The prize award ceremony holds at 4 pm. The delectable Songstress, Yinka Davies, and her band, 5&6, will send the festival forth to the 2024 season.
The writers whose manuscripts make up the longlist of the QWP are Husna Yussif, Obinna Paul Ezeodili, Oluwasegun Odetola, Chidi Nwakpa, Emmanuel Chukwunweike Monyei, Zainab U. Imam, Bisola Faith Akintomide, Mujahid Ameen Lilo, Chiziterem Chijioke, David Vera Sorochi, Grace Aggrey-Fynn, and Ishaokanyie Otogbo. Others are: Sandra Uche Delumozie, Adejuwon Akande, Truth Bakare, Uduak Alphonsus Ikono, Chike Ibekwe, Darius Kwabena Partey, Chikezie Onwumere, and Chimezie Agumbah.
Quramo Writers’ Prize was opened in April 2017 for the first time for African writers all over the world to submit short stories of 3000 to 5000 words. The judges of the prize for 2023 are:
Dr. Eghosa Imasuen, a trained medical doctor, but better known as a writer and executive director, business development at Narrative Landscape Press Ltd. He is the author of two well-applauded novels, To Saint Patrick; and Fine Boy.
Lechi Eke, author of over 30 short stories and three unpublished long ones, who also freelances as editor for some publishing companies. She is the CEO of Finished Work Enterprises, a book printing, bookselling, and promoting outfit.
Anote Ajeluorou, a literary journalist and author of ‘Igho Goes to Farm’ longlisted for The Nigeria Prize for Literature 2019; a poetry collection, Libations for Africa, and a novella, Bride of Infidels.
Quramo Publishing is a Quramo Media company, sister company to Quramo Productions, makers of acclaimed documentaries, and other film productions.
The Quramo Festival of Words, which is currently in its seventh year, attracts thousands of attendees, every year, to participate in workshops/masterclasses, panel discussions, book/author chats and readings, literary competitions, and to watch stage plays, short films, and live music performances.
