Taking Aké Beyond Lagos: Why Nigeria’s Top Literary Festival Should Go On The Road

By JULIET EKANEM

THE 2025 Aké Arts and Book Festival once again lit up Lagos with its trademark mix of book launches, film screenings, panel discussions and vibrant cultural exchange. The city’s energy and visibility make it an ideal home — but its central role also exposes a growing gap. As the festival expands, the question becomes more urgent: should Aké remain Lagos-bound, or begin rotating across Nigeria?

For many young readers and emerging writers outside Lagos, attending Aké is simply unaffordable. Travel costs, accommodation, and Lagos’s high-paced environment put the festival out of reach for creatives in Enugu, Abuja, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Jos and Benin — cities with strong literary communities of their own. These places boast universities, art centres and active book clubs that would welcome an event of Aké’s scale.

A travelling Aké Festival could break those barriers. Hosting an edition in another city every few years would give thousands of students and local talents access to the experience they currently only follow online. It would also spotlight regional voices, strengthen cultural participation and allow the festival to draw on the unique stories and audiences each city offers.

Beyond accessibility, decentralising Aké would enrich Nigeria’s literary landscape. It would distribute cultural opportunities more evenly and reinforce the idea that African storytelling thrives across regions, not just in a single urban hub.

Aké has already secured its place as a leading African literary gathering. Expanding its footprint to other cities would be a natural evolution — one that broadens its reach, deepens its impact and celebrates Nigeria’s diverse creative heartbeat.