By Izunna Okafor
Awka, the capital city of Anambra State, is set to host a star-studded gathering on Saturday as it welcomes notable public figures, writers, intellectuals, literary enthusiasts, and book lovers to the 2024 Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture.
The event, organized by the
Society of Young Nigerian Writers (Anambra State Chapter), is a tribute to the
legacy of the iconic Nigerian author, Prof. Chinua Achebe.
Izunna Okafor, the State
Coordinator of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (Anambra State Chapter),
shared this update on Wednesday in Awka, detailing the association's preparations
for the event.
According to him, the Chinua
Achebe Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture, initiated in 2016 and now in its
9th edition, is an annual event organized in honor of the Nigerian literary
icon, the late Prof. Chinua Achebe, celebrating his life, works, and legacy. He
added that this year's event will, as usual, take place on Achebe's birthday,
November 16, 2024, at the Anambra State Central E-Library (also known as the
Prof. Kenneth Dike State Central E-Library) in Awka, starting promptly at 9 AM,
with many dignitaries and participants expected in attendance.
The theme for this year is
“Remembering Achebe... In a Time Like This.” Okafor revealed that the 2024
Achebe Memorial Lecture will be delivered by former Governor of Anambra State and
2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi. The current
Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, will be the Special
Guest of Honour.
This year's event will be
chaired by author and former United Nations official, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, who
also served as a former Secretary to the State Government in Anambra. Okafor
mentioned that the Royal Fathers of the Day will include H.R.H. Igwe Chidubem
Iweka, the award-winning writer and Traditional Ruler of Obosi; H.R.H. Igwe Pharm.
Alex Uzo Onyido, the Traditional Ruler of Ogidi, Achebe's hometown; and Igwe
Sir Ben Emeka, the Traditional Ruler of Umueri, who is a strong advocate for
education. Many other dignitaries are also expected at the event.
“The event will feature the 2024
Achebe Lecture, drama, spoken word poetry, the announcement of winners of the
2024 Chinua Achebe Essay Writing Competition for secondary schools, special
readings, award presentations, and other literary activities,” Okafor stated.
He also mentioned that the occasion will include the unveiling and presentation
of the 9th Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology, titled “Echoes from the
Anthills.” This anthology is the association's latest international collection
of poems and essays, published in honor of Achebe.
The annual anthology, he
explained, is a way to immortalize Achebe’s legacy. It features poems, essays,
and reviews contributed by writers from various countries. Reports indicate
that the Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture has attracted
numerous distinguished personalities to Anambra State and remains one of the
most prominent and sustained literary festivals in Africa, continuing to grow
since its inception nine years ago.
Okafor, an award-winning author
and journalist, further revealed that this year's open-to-all event will mark
Achebe's 94th posthumous birthday and the eleventh anniversary of his death.
The festival is expected to attract a host of literary icons from both within
and outside Nigeria, who will converge in Awka to honor the legendary Achebe.
Born on November 16, 1930,
Prof. Chinua Achebe hailed from Ogidi in Anambra State and was a pioneering
Nigerian writer, critic, and author of Things Fall Apart. He passed away on
March 21, 2013, at the age of 82. Since 2016, the Chinua Achebe Literary
Festival has been held annually on Achebe's birthday, continuing to celebrate
his remarkable contributions to literature.
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