After a successful inaugural edition last year, the 2025 Boldoz Book and Arts Festival will be held this Friday, 20 June, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The two-day festival, with the theme “Breaking Stereotypes”, is expected to bring together authors, artists, and book and art enthusiasts across Nigeria for author sessions, panel discussions, book chats, book signings, and creative performances.

This year’s festival seeks to challenge conventional thinking, promote diversity and inclusion, highlight diverse voices, experiences, and perspectives in literature, and create a space for underrepresented groups to share their stories, according to the organisers.

“There’ll be hands-on workshops for people who are interested in (learning) writing,” Enobong Etuk, the founder of Boldoz Bookstores, Boldoz Book Club, Uyo, and the curator of the festival, said in a pre-event video released a few days ago.

“You’ll have the time to meet your favourite authors (and) get your books signed, join the community. In fact, (you can) even do a book swap,” she added. “This is a celebration of powerful stories.”

Adesuwa Nwokedi, author of Adanna; Rosemary Okafor, author of Akwauko; Eyoh Etim, a poet and author of Virtual Chants, and Nestor Udoh, author of Civil War Child, are among the authors expected at the festival.

Others are Anietie Usen, award-winning journalist and author of Village Boy; Hymar Idibie, author of I for don blow but I too dey press phone; and Mmadiuto James.

Helen Obareki, the coordinator, Office of the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, is among the dignitaries expected at the festival.

Boldoz Book Club has existed for over 10 years, and the festival director, Mrs Etuk, envisions developing the Akwa Ibom literary space, inspiring book tourism, and creating a safe space for authors, writers, poets, book lovers, publishers, and others to thrive.

“In Akwa Ibom, we don’t just read books; we create and build culture,” Mrs Etuk said in the pre-event video.