ANA Festival 2026 Reimagines Africa Through Literature, Cinema and Technology
The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Festival 2026, held on Saturday, June 20, at the ACE Conference Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), spotlighted the reimagination of African creative expression through literature, cinema, and technology.
The event emphasised African creative works that are rooted in Africa, reflect African realities, and are produced for African audiences. It explored the intersection of culture, emotion, philosophy, and technology in shaping contemporary African narratives.
The festival featured a rich blend of artistic performances, including poetry recitations, fiction showcases, music, dance, and film screenings, all centred on African futures grounded in post-colonial realities, indigenous knowledge systems, and cultural histories.
The programme attracted distinguished scholars and creative professionals, including Prof. Gbemisola Adeoti (Department of English), Prof. Tchokossa Pascal (Department of Physics), Prof. Taiwo Adepoju (Faculty of Education), Prof. Adegbile, Dr Toyin Ogundeji, and Seyi Lasisi, among others.
In his welcome address, Prof. Adeoti, who served as chief host, commended the organisers for their commitment to promoting arts and humanities. He also expressed concern over what he described as the growing tendency to downplay humanities disciplines in Nigerian universities.
He referenced recent discussions around the classification of certain courses as “unproductive,” warning against policies that may marginalise the humanities. According to him, literature and related disciplines remain central to understanding human society.
“The world is incomplete without the humanities, where literature plays a fundamental role,” he said.
Speaking on the theme “Africanfuturism and the Nigerian Creative,” writer Wole Talabi, who joined virtually, explained that African societies have long engaged in imagination and cultural projection through storytelling and philosophy.
He noted that Africanfuturism seeks to decolonise Western narrative frameworks by centring African histories, cultures, and perspectives in speculative fiction.
“Africanfuturism is about centring African histories, cultures and philosophies, and projecting them into the future. It is about perspective, about where we stand when we imagine possibility, and what the future of Africa could look like,” he said.
During a panel session examining the future of African literature, mythology, and Nigerian cinema, film critic Seyi Lasisi emphasised the importance of recognising both mainstream and non-mainstream artistic contributions.
He noted that creative expression in literature and film should reflect diversity and inclusiveness across different artistic spaces.
“It is important not to forget those doing significant work outside the mainstream. Both popular and elite literature are essential to the continued growth of African creativity,” he said.
The Editor-in-Chief of ANA OAU, Temi Ojo-Fakuade, while discussing the screening of the film OBA, directed by Femi Oladigbolu, addressed the influence of social media and technology on literary production.
He observed that African cinema has traditionally engaged themes such as colonialism, oppression, and cultural identity, while noting the evolving impact of digital platforms on creative expression.
“The internet has influenced creativity, especially in experimental forms of writing such as poems structured like WhatsApp messages or Instagram posts. Writers must define how they want to engage their audience,” he said.
He further noted that while artificial intelligence is transforming creative industries, it should be viewed as a tool that complements rather than replaces human creativity.
The event also featured award presentations, including a Meritorious Service Award presented to Prof. Adeoti in recognition of his support for the Association of Nigerian Authors, OAU (ANA OAU).
An Excellence Award under the 2026 Gbemisola Adeoti Prize for Poetry was also presented to Joemario Umana, who was represented by his brother after emerging winner of the poetry competition.
The festival concluded with reflections on Africanfuturism as a framework for reimagining African identity, literature, and cultural narratives. It reinforced the importance of centring African voices in storytelling while engaging indigenous knowledge systems, cultural histories, and contemporary realities.
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