Lola Shoneyin Launches Abuja Literature Festival in 2026

Lola Shoneyin, founder of the Book Buzz Foundation (BBF) and festival curator, announced the inaugural Abuja Festival of Literature and Ideas (AFLI) during a press conference in Lagos. Scheduled for October 9-10, 2026, in Abuja, the festival aims to position the city as a significant cultural destination for literary and intellectual exchange.

The event is organized by BBF in partnership with the European Union delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with participation from the embassies of Italy, Spain, and Sweden. Shoneyin, who serves as AFLI’s director, emphasized the festival's focus on serious intellectual discussions addressing global issues such as peace, technology, identity, and democracy.

Notable international guests include Sergio Jaramillo, former High Commissioner for Peace in Colombia, and Zimbabwean writer Simukai Chigudu. The festival will also feature discussions on northern Nigerian Women’s fiction and youth perspectives on the future.

Shoneyin called for increased support from Nigerians and government entities to enhance the festival's impact.