Home » Events

FESTIVAL EVENTS

Over 20 outstanding events, from workshops to conversations to riveting readings and performances

Poetry After Dark: LIPFest 2024 Closing Party

Close out the Lagos International Poetry Festival with “Poetry After Dark,” an intimate silent disco experience where sensual verse meets rhythm. Don your headphones and lose yourself in a unique blend of erotic poetry and curated music, creating a personal soundscape under the Lagos night sky.

This adults-only event transforms the amphitheater into an immersive space where poetry whispers directly into your ears while your body moves to the beat. Dance, listen, or simply soak in the atmosphere as we celebrate the festival’s end with this innovative fusion of poetry and party.

Age restriction: 18+ Limited capacity. Arrive early to secure your headphones.

Free drinks at the Open Bar.

Note: This is a silent disco event. Headphones will be provided at the venue.

October 27th, 2024
9:00 pm – 11:00 pm
The Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
₦5,000

BOOK »

Open Mic. (Hosted by SharethyVerse)

Lagos poetry hub SharethyVerse hosts us to a late outdoor evening of poetry and spoken word. Bring a verse and step up to the mic. Performances by Mide Fash, IB, Juliet Nnaji, Prince Uhunoma, and thatPoetClem.

October 26th, 2024
9:30 pm
Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free

BOOK »

The Science of the Mind: Poetry, Art, and Mental Wellness

Join psychiatrist and poet Dr. Dami Ajayi, New Jersey-based poet Dr. Helena D. Lewis, and clinical psychologist and artist, Amanda Iheme for an illuminating conversation on the therapeutic power of creative expression. Drawing from their unique perspectives as practitioners in both creative and therapeutic spaces, this conversation will bridge the gap between clinical understanding and artistic practice to offer insights into how trauma and art shape and reshape our mental landscape.

This interactive session will cover therapeutic insights, personal narratives from poets, and interactive writing exercises to showcase poetry’s role in emotional expression and healing.

October 27th, 2024
11:15 am
Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.

BOOK »

Random Experiments in Bioluminescence

This intimate conversation dives into Amy Shimson-Santo’s innovative work, a rare craft accomplishment that bridges science and poetry, and examines how natural phenomena inspire artistic expression. Elizabeth Johnson joins Amy to discuss her latest book, Random Experiments in Bioluminescence, a remarkable collection of luminous poems for cherishing cultures, languages, and the earth.

Book signing to follow the session.

October 27th, 2024
12:30 pm
Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.

BOOK »

Refractions of Light: A Special Reading and Performance Event

Seven remarkable poets come together in a celebration of light, resilience, and collective healing. Refractions of Light features acclaimed voices Wana Udobang, Mahogany L. Browne, Obii Ifejika, Zaynab Iliyasu Bobi, Ameerah Shabazz-Bilal, Kamnelechukwu Susan, and Dr. Helena D. Lewis in a specially curated performance that insists on solidarity, transformation, and renewal.

October 27th, 2024
1:45 pm – 2:45 pm
The Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.

BOOK »

Poetics and Pillow Talk: Sex, Sexuality, and Criminalization in Africa

In this uniquely intimate session, we join writer and journalist Edwin Okolo, architect and trans activist Liber, and award-winning author Ani Kayode Somtochukwu for a candid conversation about sex, sexuality, and freedom in contemporary Africa. Set in a cozy, bedroom-inspired space, this discussion explores how colonial legacies continue to shape attitudes toward sexuality and gender identity, while examining poetry’s role in reclaiming narratives of intimacy and autonomy.

Through poetry and dialogue, Edwin, Liber, and Ani Kayode confront criminalization, identity, and queer expression in African societies, while celebrating the movements working to create more inclusive spaces for diverse voices and experiences.

Presented by Obodo.

October 27th, 2024
3:00 pm
Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.

BOOK »

Film Screening and Conversation: Ebrohimie Road: A Museum of Memory & Benin Did Not Die

This special double screening features two compelling documentaries with poets behind the lens. See David Odiase’s Benin Did Not Die for its very first screening and catch Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún’s well received Ebrohimie Road, a documentary on the place and events that characterized the moral courage of Africa’s most celebrated writer. They both join us for an engaging post-screening conversation on what their unique ways of seeing tell us about history, storytelling, and cultural memory.

Film presentations will start promptly at 4:00 PM. Join us after for an illuminating discussion with the directors.

October 27th, 2024
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
The Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.

BOOK »

LIPFest 2024 Poetry Slam

Get ready for an electrifying evening as poets go head-to-head in the LIPFest 2024 Poetry Slam! Under the dynamic leadership of Slam Master Bash Amuneni, this competitive showcase brings together powerful voices in a high-energy celebration of performance poetry.

Watch as poets battle it out with original works, competing for two million naira in prizes and a chance to represent Nigeria at the 2025 World Slam Championship. Experience the raw energy, creative wordplay, and compelling stories that make poetry slams an unforgettable spectacle.

Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Doors open at 5:45 PM. Come early to secure your spot for this crowd-favorite event!

Slam Master: Bash Amuneni

October 27th, 2024
6:00 pm
Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.

BOOK »

Folklores and Gyrations of the Oppressed

For Folklores and Gyrations of the Oppressed, we revisit pre-colonial traditions, advance into Afrofuturistic imaginations and bring the village square to life.

Bring a folktale, bring a song, and join us for a communal revival. We’ll have a story jar where the audience can participate by selecting a story or poem to share.

Hosted by Oloyede Tom.

📅 October 27th
🕒 7:45 pm
📍 Alliance Française| Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road Ikoyi
🎟️ Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.

BOOK »

Poetry After Dark: LIPFest 2024 Closing Party

Age restriction: 18+ Limited capacity. Arrive early to secure your headphones.

Free drinks at the Open Bar.

Note: This is a silent disco event. Headphones will be provided at the venue.

October 27th, 2024
9:00 pm – 11:00 pm
The Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
₦5,000

BOOK »