#LIPFest2020 brings you an exciting array of FREE events. Plug in from anywhere and join the conversation.
The festival opens for its 10th edition with its first decennial Special Recognition and Lifetime Achievement Awards going to Jumoke Verissimo, Sage Hasson and Niyi Osundare. Don’t miss performances by Q Dance, Dagogo Hart, Obii Ifejika, Elliott Fant, and more.
October 24th, 2024
6:30pm
📍 Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
🎫Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Everything around us that is concrete was and continues to be imagined. This class will use storytelling to understand our place in the built world around us. We will explore the challenges of writing speculative fiction and learn how to weave in our lived realities to produce more grounded writing.
October 24th, 2024
3:30 pm
Virtual/In-person (Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi)
₦5,000
Wana Udobang’s acclaimed Comfort Food workshop makes its Lagos debut at LIPFest 2024, following successful runs in Edinburgh, Chicago, Berlin, and Accra. Using food as a motif, Wana will work with participants to develop poems that explore memory, history, joy and healing, transposing the succor and sustenance we derive from food into words that become toolkits for survival.
“What I am discovering is that Comfort food isn’t just about poetry or for people who write. It is for any and everybody who is looking to connect with themselves through storytelling. I am looking forward to sharing space and learning new recipes of joy, love, growth and beauty from people and communities from across the world.” – Wana Udobang
October 24th, 2024
1:00 pm
📍 Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
🎫 ₦5,000 naira
Drawing from an archive of Black poetry, poetics and traditions, Mahogany Browne will guide participants through innovative exercises that challenge perception and form and generate writing that illuminates and delights – poetry as a portal of discovery.
October 25th, 2024
12:30 pm
📍 American Corner, 5 Jeremiah Ugwu Str., Lekki Phase I, Lekki
🎫 ₦5,000
Prince Uhunoma’s multidisciplinary exhibition blends film, poetry, and performance art to reimagine the metaphysicalities of the inanimate world and our relationship to the environment. Where Butterflies Come to Rest opens at 3:00 PM and will be open to the public for the duration of the festival.
October 25th, 2024
3:00pm
The Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
In this hybrid conversation moderated by Deji Toye, renowned poet Niyi Osundare, whose oeuvre challenges our relationship with the natural world, joins Amy Shimson-Santo, and Dr. Nnimmo Bassey to explore how poetry and art can bridge the gap between scientific data and public understanding, potentially reshaping our approach to climate action.
October 25th, 2024
3:00pm
Hybrid: Online/In-person at Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi)
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Titled after the Nigerian poet Kechi Nomu’s essay, written in response to the rumoured decline of Nigerian poetry and literature, this special 10th-anniversary performance event showcases some of the best of Nigerian poetry in the last ten years with performances and readings by Zaynab Iliyasu Bobi, David Odiase, Michael Imossan, Kamnelechukwu Susan, Muiz Ajayi, Tobi Abiodun, and Abu Bakr Sadiq. Hosted by Obii Ifejika.
October 25th, 2024
7:00pm
The Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
This powerful one-man spoken-word poetry theatre production follows the journey of Captain Alfred, a World War II veteran grappling with PTSD and personal betrayal. Written and performed by Abuja-based poet and spoken-word artist Pariolodo, this haunting narrative reflects on the lasting impact of war and loss. Its evocative rendering draws audiences into the psychological landscape of one man’s search for redemption.
October 25th, 2024
8:15pm
The Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Elizabeth Johnson joins poet and essayist Umar Sidi to discuss his foray into fiction and to unravel his new and mysterious novel, The Incredible Dreams of Garba Dakascus.
Umar Abubakar Sidi is a poet, soldier, aviator, and author of Masobe’s first poetry collection “Like Butterflies Scattered about by Art Rascals.” A helicopter pilot with the Nigerian Navy, he attended the prestigious Nigerian Military School, Zaria and the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna. He is also the author of the poetry collection, “The Poet of Dust.”
Sidi uses Sufi and Surrealist perspectives to interrogate our relationship with the natural and metaphysical. His works have appeared in Brittle Paper, Transition Magazine, Jalada, Saraba Magazine and elsewhere.
The Incredible Dreams of Garba Dakaskus is his first novel, described in the Daily Review as “refreshing in its complex deployment of discursive narrative and intertextual techniques not common to modern African fiction.
October 26th, 2024
12:15 pm
The Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Renowned journalist, writer, and cultural innovator, Fu’ad Lawal, guides this craft conversation on how beauty and precision elevate product outcomes in literature and tech. Joined by award-winning poet Tade Ipadeola and renowned product designer Ted Oladele, this multidisciplinary dialogue will uncover shared creative principles and explore where art and functionality intersect to make elegance a universal language. A panel for true craftsmen looking to create lasting work.
Tade Ipadeola is the winner of the 2013 NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature, for his collection The Sahara Testaments, a sequence of one-thousand quatrains on the nuances of the Sahara.
Ted Oladele is the CEO of Mira and Archiving’s product/design lead, he was Flutterwave’s Founding Designer and VP of Design, managing product development.
October 26th, 2024
1:30 pm
The Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Celebrate a festive afternoon of poetry and spoken word with a community of artists from across the city. Catch performances by Nigerian-Irish poet Dagogo Hart, Juliet Nnaji, Aremo Gemini, Amy Shimson-Santo, Ruth Mahogany, Mide Fash, Saheed Sunday, Classic Mike, thatPoetClem, Tobi Abiodun, and lots more. Special guest appearance by Sage Hasson!
Activities will include Sip n’ Paint, live performances, and a chance to win 100, 000 cash at the open mic! Register to perform at the open mic by sending an email to irishopenmiclagos@gmail.com with your name and age.
Proudly supported by Culture Ireland, Embassy of Ireland | Nigeria and Friends of Ireland.
October 26th, 2024 3:00 pm Glover Memorial Hall, 4 Customs Steet Marina Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
This unique dialogue between poet Wana Udobang and scientist Dr. Ify Aniebo brings together two influential voices from different disciplines to explore the profound connections between poetry and science through the lens of their respective careers. Though their mediums differ, both are united by a relentless curiosity about the world and a shared commitment to questioning the status quo.
Against the backdrop of LIPFest 2024’s theme, The Science of Things, this conversation will explore how poetry and science serve as complementary lenses for understanding the complexities of the human experience. Udobang’s emotive storytelling and Aniebo’s scientific rigor will highlight the power of inquiry, imagination, and experimentation in pushing boundaries and creating sustainable futures.
October 26th, 2024
2:45 m
The Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
As artificial intelligence (AI) and data play an increasing role in shaping historical narratives, the question of who owns history and how it is remembered becomes more complex. This panel will explore how AI is used in historical preservation, its impact on access to information, and its impact on existing power dynamics. Moderated by beloved journalist and Managing Editor at Paystack, Aisha Salaudeen, Future Histories will examine how technology serves as a tool for both liberation and control – who benefits from these advances and why? She will be joined by Dr Raphael James, Director General of the Center for Research, Information, and Media Development (CRIMMD), Olalekan Ojumu, historian and Research Associate at Archivi.ng, and Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún, writer, linguist, and scholar.
Hosted by Archivi.ng
October 26th, 2024
4:00 m
The Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Garden State poets Dr. Helena D. Lewis, Kween Moore, Mayowa “Godsent” Okubanjo, and Elliott Fant join Elizabeth Johnson for an in-depth conversation on how poetry and art shape how we interact with cities and make urban experiences more livable. Acclaimed New Jersey-based poets, the panelists will explore the intersections of urban life, cultural identity, and artistic expression, examining how poetry serves as both mirror and catalyst in our understanding of city spaces.
October 26th, 2024
5:30 pm
The Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Experience Lagos like never before through Of Words and Movement, a stunning performance exhibition that combines dance, poetry, and music to reflect the energy, politics, and identity of Africa’s most dynamic metropolis. This Lagos story invites us to reflect on the present-day state of the city and imagine its many possible futures.
Curated by Obiajulu Ozegbe, widely known as ‘Valu’ – Dancer, Choreographer, Activist, Artist, and Community Organizer based in Lagos Nigeria.
October 26th, 2024
6:45 pm
The Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Step into the world of Quantum Poetics, where words, rhythm, and performance collide to show the infinite dimensions of poetry. Hosted by Wana Udobang, this event brings together an eclectic lineup of acclaimed poets and performers, including Ameerah Shabazz-Bilal, Onias Landveld, Kweku Abimbola, Chuma Nwokolo, Mahogany L. Browne, Dr. Helena D. Lewis, Kween Moore, Bash Amuneni, Dagogo Hart, and Jeffrey Jaiyeola (Plumbline), Tobi Abiodun.
October 26th, 2024
8:00 pm
Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
₦5,000
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Experience Lagos like never before through Of Words and Movement, a stunning performance exhibition that combines dance, poetry, and music to reflect the energy, politics, and identity of Africa’s most dynamic metropolis. This Lagos story invites us to reflect on the present-day state of the city and imagine its many possible futures.
Curated by Obiajulu Ozegbe, widely known as ‘Valu’ – Dancer, Choreographer, Activist, Artist, and Community Organizer based in Lagos Nigeria.
October 26th, 2024
6:45 pm
The Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Garden State poets Dr. Helena D. Lewis, Kween Moore, Mayowa “Godsent” Okubanjo, and Elliott Fant join Elizabeth Johnson for an in-depth conversation on how poetry and art shape how we interact with cities and make urban experiences more livable. Acclaimed New Jersey-based poets, the panelists will explore the intersections of urban life, cultural identity, and artistic expression, examining how poetry serves as both mirror and catalyst in our understanding of city spaces.
October 26th, 2024
5:30 pm
The Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
As artificial intelligence (AI) and data play an increasing role in shaping historical narratives, the question of who owns history and how it is remembered becomes more complex. This panel will explore how AI is used in historical preservation, its impact on access to information, and its impact on existing power dynamics. Moderated by beloved journalist and Managing Editor at Paystack, Aisha Salaudeen, Future Histories will examine how technology serves as a tool for both liberation and control – who benefits from these advances and why? She will be joined by Dr Raphael James, Director General of the Center for Research, Information, and Media Development (CRIMMD), Olalekan Ojumu, historian and Research Associate at Archivi.ng, and Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún, writer, linguist, and scholar.
Hosted by Archivi.ng
October 26th, 2024
4:00 m
The Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
This unique dialogue between poet Wana Udobang and scientist Dr. Ify Aniebo brings together two influential voices from different disciplines to explore the profound connections between poetry and science through the lens of their respective careers. Though their mediums differ, both are united by a relentless curiosity about the world and a shared commitment to questioning the status quo.
Against the backdrop of LIPFest 2024’s theme, The Science of Things, this conversation will explore how poetry and science serve as complementary lenses for understanding the complexities of the human experience. Udobang’s emotive storytelling and Aniebo’s scientific rigor will highlight the power of inquiry, imagination, and experimentation in pushing boundaries and creating sustainable futures.
October 26th, 2024
2:45 m
The Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Celebrate a festive afternoon of poetry and spoken word with a community of artists from across the city. Catch performances by Nigerian-Irish poet Dagogo Hart, Juliet Nnaji, Aremo Gemini, Amy Shimson-Santo, Ruth Mahogany, Mide Fash, Saheed Sunday, Classic Mike, thatPoetClem, Tobi Abiodun, and lots more. Special guest appearance by Sage Hasson!
Activities will include Sip n’ Paint, live performances, and a chance to win 100, 000 cash at the open mic! Register to perform at the open mic by sending an email to irishopenmiclagos@gmail.com with your name and age.
Proudly supported by Culture Ireland, Embassy of Ireland | Nigeria and Friends of Ireland.
October 26th, 2024 3:00 pm Glover Memorial Hall, 4 Customs Steet Marina Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.Renowned journalist, writer, and cultural innovator, Fu’ad Lawal, guides this craft conversation on how beauty and precision elevate product outcomes in literature and tech. Joined by award-winning poet Tade Ipadeola and renowned product designer Ted Oladele, this multidisciplinary dialogue will uncover shared creative principles and explore where art and functionality intersect to make elegance a universal language. A panel for true craftsmen looking to create lasting work.
Tade Ipadeola is the winner of the 2013 NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature, for his collection The Sahara Testaments, a sequence of one-thousand quatrains on the nuances of the Sahara.
Ted Oladele is the CEO of Mira and Archiving’s product/design lead, he was Flutterwave’s Founding Designer and VP of Design, managing product development.
October 26th, 2024
1:30 pm
The Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Elizabeth Johnson joins poet and essayist Umar Sidi to discuss his foray into fiction and to unravel his new and mysterious novel, The Incredible Dreams of Garba Dakascus.
Umar Abubakar Sidi is a poet, soldier, aviator, and author of Masobe’s first poetry collection “Like Butterflies Scattered about by Art Rascals.” A helicopter pilot with the Nigerian Navy, he attended the prestigious Nigerian Military School, Zaria and the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna. He is also the author of the poetry collection, “The Poet of Dust.”
Sidi uses Sufi and Surrealist perspectives to interrogate our relationship with the natural and metaphysical. His works have appeared in Brittle Paper, Transition Magazine, Jalada, Saraba Magazine and elsewhere.
The Incredible Dreams of Garba Dakaskus is his first novel, described in the Daily Review as “refreshing in its complex deployment of discursive narrative and intertextual techniques not common to modern African fiction.
October 26th, 2024
12:15 pm
The Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
This powerful one-man spoken-word poetry theatre production follows the journey of Captain Alfred, a World War II veteran grappling with PTSD and personal betrayal. Written and performed by Abuja-based poet and spoken-word artist Pariolodo, this haunting narrative reflects on the lasting impact of war and loss. Its evocative rendering draws audiences into the psychological landscape of one man’s search for redemption.
October 25th, 2024
8:15pm
The Alliance Française | Mike Adenuga Center, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi
Free admission. Seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
