Akada festival champions African stories for young readers

The Akada Children’s Book Festival serves as a vital platform for championing African stories and nurturing a future generation of storytellers, according to its convener, Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi. The annual event, now in its eighth year, gathered authors, illustrators, educators, parents, and children in Lagos to celebrate literature and creativity.

This year's festival, themed "Big Dreams, Brave Stories," aimed to inspire children to pursue their aspirations and develop resilience by confronting challenges through storytelling. Aboderin-Talabi emphasized the festival's role in connecting children with authors and illustrators, making books relatable and accessible. "By bringing writers, illustrators and young readers into the same space, we are helping children see that books are not distant objects on a shelf, but stories created by people whose experiences they can relate to," she stated.

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By bringing writers, illustrators and young readers into the same space, we are helping children see that books are not distant objects on a shelf, but stories created by people whose experiences they can relate to.

Aboderin-Talabi noted that the Nigerian children's book market, valued at approximately $52.25 million in 2024, has long been dominated by foreign publications. These often lack cultural relevance and fail to represent the experiences of Nigerian children. The Akada festival was established to counter this trend by promoting authentic African narratives that can build identity, imagination, and self-assurance in young readers.

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The festival was established to bridge that gap by promoting authentic African stories capable of fostering identity, imagination and confidence among young readers.

Since its inception in 2019, the festival has seen significant growth, far exceeding initial expectations. The first edition attracted between 1,400 and 2,000 attendees, demonstrating a strong demand for local children's literature. Cumulatively, over 10,000 people have attended the festival, and more than 5,000 books have been distributed to schools and communities to enhance access to reading materials, especially for underserved children.

Beyond promoting literacy, the festival actively addresses systemic issues within Nigeria's children's publishing industry. These include piracy, inadequate distribution networks, funding shortages, and limited print runs. Aboderin-Talabi pointed out that many creators resort to self-publishing due to the high costs of illustration, production, and marketing. The festival provides a crucial space for emerging authors, particularly women, to gain visibility, expand their readership, and connect directly with schools and libraries.

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Since then, cumulative attendance has surpassed 10,000 people, while more than 5,000 books have been donated to schools and communities to improve access to quality reading materials, particularly among underserved children.