Writers, publishers and other art enthusiasts converged at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, from October 4 to 6, 2024, for the eighth edition of the Quramo Festival of Words (Qfest 2024) themed ‘The Shifting: Empowering Voices… Inspiring Minds’.
The 2024 Quramo Festival of Words was exciting and filled with activities that highlighted the importance of storytelling and cultural dialogue.
It has been quite a journey for the event, which debuted in 2009 as the ‘Kuramo Conference’ and focussed on development themes. It transformed into the Quramo Festival of Words in December 2017 and has been held successively, happening as a virtual event in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The festival has made significant strides, and this year’s activities-filled event further reiterated its importance to Nigeria and Africa’s literary ecosystem in boosting upcoming writers and publishing.
There was no dull moment from the opening, with activities including the inter-school debate, tribute to Professor Wole Soyinka with the screening of two films centred on him, ‘Ebrohimie Road: A Museum of Memory’ and ‘The Man Died’, masterclasses, chats and panel discussions that explored the intersections of storytelling, social impact, and creative innovation.
Welcoming guests at the opening, QFest convener Mrs Gbemi Shasore described the festival as a celebration of storytelling, creativity and cultural dialogue.
She noted that the theme was significant because “it mirrors the global and continental changes we are experiencing. Across Africa, we are witnessing cultural, political, and economic shifts that call for fresh approaches to stewarding creativity. The landscape for creative expression is evolving, from the rise of new media platforms to political changes in regions like West and East Africa. Now, more than ever, we must embrace these shiftings and harness their power to drive innovation and transformation.”
Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, hailed the power of storytelling and its potency in transforming societies, empowering voices, and connecting minds. She hailed the festival as “a movement that brings together people from diverse backgrounds to celebrate the art of storytelling in all its forms.”
The Commissioner also reiterated Lagos’ support for creativity. “We recognise the invaluable contribution of arts to our social and economic development. At the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, we remain committed to creating an enabling environment that fosters creativity, empowers artists, and promotes cultural exchange. The creative sector has always been at the heart of Lagos, and we are proud to continue supporting initiatives like QFest that bring people together, inspire creativity, and tell our stories,” she said.
