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Boldoz Book and Arts Festival
An annual celebration of literature, art, and culture
The Boldoz Book and Arts Festival returns next June to ignite an unquenchable fire of storytelling and beauty.
BBAF 2026: Sio Uyo
The 2026 edition of the Boldoz Book and Arts Festival was a call for creatives to speak up and be expressive.
Coming from a history of over 1000 attendees, authors from all over Nigeria, and a dedication to promoting literature, BBAF returned with bigger stories, a greater array of authors and deeper conversations about art and literature. .
Sio Uyo: Speak Up!
There are many voices, many tunes, many stories. However, the world does not always experience these stories. Often it is no fault of the artist. Some are crippled by fear and others have only become too familiar with their art; they have not seen the life-changing potential of a story, a song, a streak of paint.
It is for this reason that the 2026 edition of BBAF is Sio Uyo, an Ibibio phrase meaning “speak up”. A call for every artist, writer, singer, book enthusiast, and student to speak through their art, unashamed.
BBAF 2026 prompted a fresh desire for expression through exciting book chats; panel discussions ranging from AI and creativity to food as a subset of language; music; poetry; games; book signings, and more.
Reads: BBAF 2026
Authors
Literary giants that have appeared at BBAF through the years
Obari Gomba
Season 1: Mbuk NNyinObari Gomba is a multiple award-winning writer, is an Honorary Fellow in Writing at the University of Iowa (USA). He has been TORCH Global South Visiting Professor and Visiting Fellow at All Souls College, University of Oxford (UK). He is presently the Associate Dean of Humanities at the University of Port Harcourt in Nigeria. His poetry collection, The Lilt of the Rebel, won the PAWA Prize for African Poetry in 2022. In 2023, he won the Nigeria Prize for Literature for his work Grit.
Miracle Emeka Nkwor
Season 1: Mbuk NNyinMiracle blew onto the literary scene with her highly acclaimed debut, What Happened to Janet Uzor, which she talked about at the Inaugural edition of BBAF. Since then sh'es gone on to get published by Masobe: Boys Will Always Be Boys. She’s committed to bridging that gap by creating diverse, relatable stories for Nigerian youth and young adults. She splits her time between writing, mentoring, ministering, designing, and building Omaji Designs into a reputable brand that will outlive her and continue to impact communities and generations to come.
Michael Afenfia
Season 1: Mbuk NNyinMichael Afenfia is a legal practitioner, cultural bridging specialist, and the author of eight books, including the hit Niger Delta satire The Mechanics of Yenagoa and Leave My Bones in Saskatoon. His literary talent has earned widespread critical recognition, with his novel Don’t Die on Wednesday shortlisted for the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Prize for Literature, and Rain Can Never Know named a finalist for the prestigious Chinua Achebe Prize for Literature.
Olubunmi Talabi
Season 1: Mbuk NNyinOlubunmi Aboderin Talabi is a celebrated children’s author and the passionate mind behind Clever Clogs Books, a publishing imprint dedicated to creating beautifully illustrated, culturally relevant picture books. She is the author of several beloved children’s books, including Tobi Visits the Conservatory, Diary of a Toddler, Tobi Bakes A Cake, and Why Do You Wash Your Hands?. Dedicated to building a vibrant reading culture, Olubunmi is also the convener of the Akada Children’s Book Festival (ACBF), Nigeria's first and largest book festival dedicated entirely to children.
Hymar Idibie
Season 2: Breaking StereotypesHymar Idibie (popularly known as Hymar David) is an acclaimed Nigerian author, satirist, and digital storyteller. He is the author of the gritty contemporary crime-thriller The Gundown and the viral bestselling memoir, I For Don Blow But I Too Dey Press Phone. Originally breaking out as a massive self-published phenomenon that dominated indie bookstore bestseller charts, the memoir’s sharp literary merit led to its official acquisition and traditional publication by the prestigious Narrative Landscape Press. Hymar’s writing has earned critical acclaim for revolutionizing disability representation in African literature through brilliant wit and absolute dignity.
Adesuwa Nwokedi
Season 2: Breaking StereotypesAdesuwa O’man Nwokedi is a chemical engineer, investment banker, and highly popular contemporary romance author. Known for her relatable and addictive storytelling, she has written over 30 titles exploring love, marriage, and self-discovery in modern Africa, including Adanna, No Perfect Love, and the hit Ginika's Bridesmaids series. A self-professed hopeless romantic, Adesuwa publishes under Masobe Books and various digital platforms.
Rosemary Okafor
Season 2: Breaking StereotypesRosemary Okafor (Ozioma) is a Nigerian contemporary romance author, academic, and former journalist. Known for her unique blend of emotional depth, mystery, and cultural nuance, she writes highly engaging romance novels and psychological thrillers that explore love, identity, and spiritual warfare. She is the author of several celebrated works, including the popular Of God and Man series and the critically acclaimed novels Akwaugo and Black White Blur. When she isn't writing compelling fiction or managing her family’s business, she can be found gardening at her home in Nigeria.
Nkereuwem Albert
Season 3: Sio UyoNkereuwem Albert is an award-winning speculative fiction author and practicing dentist. He is the author of the debut urban fantasy novel The Bone River (Ouida Books). An Ignyte Award winner and BSFA Award longlisted author, his short fiction has appeared in FIYAH, Omenana, and Fusion Fragment. He won the 2023 Dream Foundry Prize for Emerging Writers and holds a Dental Surgery degree from the University of Calabar.
Tomilola Coco Adeyemo
Season 3: Sio UyoTomilola Coco Adeyemo is a bestselling Nigerian romance author, screenwriter, and dramatic arts graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University. Seamlessly transitioning from a successful career in Nollywood—with screenwriting credits on hit TV shows like Hush, Shuga Naija, and Nigeria's first feature-length animation—she has become a leading voice in modern African romance. She is the author of the acclaimed mainstream novels A Very Gidi Christmas, A Nollywood Christmas, and Efun’s Jazz (Masobe Books), which frequently spotlight female agency and Yoruba culture through the female gaze.
Nestor Udoh
Season 3: Sio UyoDr. Nestor Udoh is a public health physician, retired Permanent Secretary in the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service, and author. His historical memoir, Civil War Child, is an Amazon bestseller and was selected as the headlining book to kick off John Obot’s official Guinness World Record attempt for the longest read-aloud marathon. Widely recognized as a vital voice for documenting the war from the Akwa Ibom perspective, he is also the author of the political leadership study Leadership Secrets of Godswill Akpabio and was officially honored by StarBiographers for his contributions to Nigerian biography and documentation.
Oreva Ode-Irri
Season 3: Sio UyoOreva Ode-Irri is a bestselling Nigerian author, poet, and finalist for the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Prose Fiction Prize. A versatile creative, she published her first book at sixteen and has since released multiple novels, including the African Christian Fiction Award-shortlisted Avalanche. Also a celebrated spoken word artist with a globally streamed album, her latest release is the acclaimed short story collection, This Thing Called Love (Masobe Books).
Sponsors: BBAF 2026
Every great movement is backed my titans who believe in the fulfillment of astronomical dreams…
Roadmap to Now
2010s — The Groundwork
Boldoz Book Club spent over a decade building a literary community in Uyo through monthly book discussions, author visits, and open mic storytelling events.
June 2024 — Edition One: Mbuk Nyin
The first Boldoz Book and Arts Festival took place at the Ibibio Union Museum, featuring book chats, masterclasses, and authors like Michael Afenfia and Umar Abubakr Sidi.
June 2025 — Breaking Stereotypes
The second edition expanded nationally, introducing writing contests, trivia, and more diverse panel discussions on identity and storytelling.
2026 — Sio Uyo (Speak Up)
Entering its third year, BBAF scales up with a larger roster of authors and a stronger focus on cultural preservation and literary education.
What People Say About BBAF
"Meeting the authors of the books I loved and having one-on-one conversations with them is something I could never forget"
Ediomo
"It was amazing meeting with the authors and talking with them. I also enjoyed being engaged in the trivia session, and I won a prize"
Glory
"As someone who has only recently gotten into reading, the Boldoz Book and Arts Festival was a truly beautiful experience..."
Ekonyiabasi
"I thoroughly enjoyed the Boldoz Book and Arts event. The panel session was especially insightful, as it offered a glimpse into the minds and creative processes of the writers..."
Jemiabasi
Festival Gallery
Meet the Team
Enobong Etuk
Festival CuratorEnobong Etuk is a seasoned book professional, cultural curator, and business development expert with over two decades of experience across the book industry, entrepreneurship, and leadership development...
Eduek Moses
Festival Associate / Campaign WriterEduek Moses is a copywriter, neo-journalist, and creative writer specializing in brand storytelling and direct response copywriting. He has written strategic copy and content for organizations like The RootHub, TEDxIBBAve, and the Boldoz Book and Arts Festival...
Joel Emmanuel
Media LeadJoel Emmanuel is a Creative Director, Visual Communications Specialist, and the Media Lead for the Boldoz Book Festival. Blending analytical precision with strategic visual storytelling, he is the founder of the Joel Azzhow Agency and Creative Space Academy...
Phoebe Akpan
LogisticsPhoebe Akpan is an Executive Assistant and Project Manager experienced in supporting high-level operations across creative, tech, and administrative environments. Rooted in a background in Theatre Administration, she brings a distinctly systems-minded precision to every role...