The Benue Book & Arts Festival (BBAAF) is making its highly anticipated debut in Nottingham on Saturday, 25th January 2025. Organised by the SEVHAGE Literary and Development Initiative and SEVHAGE Publishers, this inaugural event will take place at the Central Library in Nottingham from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM. The festival promises a full day of stimulating discussions, vibrant performances, and valuable networking opportunities, all aimed at creating a platform for cultural exchange and celebrating the power of literature, art, and storytelling.

BBAAF has become one of Nigeria’s most prominent cultural festivals, known for its ability to bring together creatives, thinkers, and cultural advocates. This year’s edition, themed “Home and A-Way,” will explore themes of identity, belonging, and the fluidity of culture in a rapidly globalising world. The festival will feature a mix of panel discussion, spoken word performances, readings, and open conversations, all designed to spark dialogue and foster collaboration across cultural boundaries.

The festival is proudly supported by key partners, including the Goethe Institut in Lagos, Nottingham City Library, the Journal of African Youth Literature, Konya Shamsrumi, Small Business Big World, and Custodian of African Literature (COAL). Additionally, the festival enjoys support from the Nottingham City of Literature.

BBAAF Nottingham will host a dynamic lineup of guests, including renowned Nigerian poet and spoken word artist Bash Amuneni, slam champion Abiodun Abdul, and award-winning authors such as Ibrahim Babatunde Ibrahim, Jerry Chimeke, Taiwo Michael, Amaka Felly Obioji, alongside emerging stars like Sodiq Alabi, Namse Udosen, Chimdinma Onwukwe Adimekwe, MaryAnn Ifeanacho, and many others. Curated by Su’ur Su’eddie Vershima Agema, a multiple award-winning writer and culture curator, the festival will bring together a rich diversity of voices, building on his experience as a former Black History Month Curator at the University of Sussex.

The event will run from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM, with a theatre-style layout and access to a screen for showcasing the works of participating artists. As part of SEVHAGE’s commitment to accessibility, the festival is free to attend and open to the public, inviting all to participate in this cultural celebration.

While the Nottingham edition marks a significant milestone, it is just the beginning of BBAAF’s expansion. Following this event, the festival will return to Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria, in February 2025, continuing its core mission to celebrate African culture and creative expression. The Makurdi edition is supported by the Goethe Institut, Eunice Spring of Life Foundation, Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative, Noirledge Publishers, IBA Fest, and COAL. Additionally, a version of the festival will take place in Abuja on 1st March 2025.

The Benue Book & Arts Festival (BBAAF), initiated in 2015 as the SEVHAGE Festival and rebranded in 2019, has grown into one of Nigeria’s premier cultural events. It traditionally explores pressing societal issues through the lens of creativity and promotes the cultural richness of Benue State and Middle Belt Nigeria, Nigeria, Africa and diasporas in Europe. Keynote speakers have included high-ranking scholars and cultural icons including Chuma Nwokolo and Professor Moses Tsenongu; Professors Niyi Osundare and Mbaiver Nyitse (2021); as well as Professors Hyginus Ekwuazi, Dul Johnson and Sule Emmanuel Egya (2022). Festival guests have included notable figures, celebrated writers, spoken word artists, and development practitioners such as H.E. Dr Eunice Ortom, Bash Amuneni, Eric Ngalle, T. J. Benson, Chinua Ezenwa-Ohaeto, Amara Chimeka, and Anselm Sesugh Ngutsav, as well as commissioners, officials, and cultural leaders from across Nigeria.

Looking ahead, BBAAF plans to extend its reach to other global cities, aiming to create long-lasting impacts on the international literary and cultural landscape, promoting cross-cultural understanding and collaboration among creatives from around the world.

For more information or media inquiries, please contact the SEVHAGE team at sevhagers@bbaaf.com or reach out to Festival Co-Director, Oko Owoicho via WhatsApp at +234 703 028 5995. You can also visit the festival’s website at http://bbaaf.com.

About SEVHAGE and BBAAF
The Benue Book & Arts Festival (BBAAF) is an international literary and cultural event founded by S. Su’eddie Vershima Agema and run by SEVHAGE Literary and Development Initiative and SEVHAGE Publishers. In partnership with various collaborators, BBAAF celebrates the arts through performances, panel discussions, workshops, and exhibitions, bringing together both established and emerging voices from across the globe. The festival serves as a vital platform for promoting cultural exchange and community engagement, contributing to the growth of global conversations on creativity, culture, and identity.