If Benin City were a person, she’d be that friend who somehow knows everyone: artists, thinkers, dreamers, hustlers, and still finds time to throw the biggest party in town.
This year, that party has a name: The Benin Arts and Book Festival (BAABFEST), and the theme is “Converging Currents.”

Now, before you roll your eyes and ask, “What does that even mean?”, this is where it gets hot: Converging Currents isn’t just fancy talk, it’s a whole mood. It’s about everything and everyone flowing into Benin, ideas, art, culture, and stories, meeting everything that’s already bubbling here. It’s where ancient meets modern, tradition meets innovation, and yesterday’s spirit dances with tomorrow’s vision.

Because let’s face it, Benin has always been that girl; Benin has always been more than a city; it’s a heartbeat, pulsing with creativity, history, and art. From bronze casters whose works travel across continents to young writers, painters, and performers reshaping narratives, Benin has quietly, yet powerfully, positioned itself as Nigeria's cultural hub.

Its streets hum with inspiration, where tradition meets modern expression, and every wall, stage, and open field feels like a blank canvas waiting to tell a story. It’s no wonder that events like the Benin Art Festival are born here, in a city that lives and breathes artistry.
Centuries ago, the ancient Bini Kingdom was the plug. Trade routes, royal diplomacy, creative genius — name it. The city was a crossroad for power, art, and influence long before Google Maps existed.
And now? Benin is doing it again. But this time, it’s not ivory and bronze that’s being traded, it’s ideas, art, and pure creative energy.

From November 27th to 29th, 2025, the Victor Uwaifo Hub, MOWAA, will transform into the beating heart of creativity. Think of it as a giant creative playground; artists, writers, performers, and culture lovers coming together to vibe, create, and reimagine what African brilliance looks like.

This year’s festival isn’t just an event; it’s a celebration of everything that makes Benin, Benin: the rhythm, the resilience, the pride, the people. It’s where stories are told, art is born, and the future is handcrafted with the same passion that built empires.

So yeah, Converging Currents isn’t just a theme.
It’s a reminder that when cultures meet, something powerful always happens.
And in Benin City, that power feels electric.

But behind all the magic, there’s a woman quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) steering the ship — Ejiro Elizabeth Edward. She is a poet, visionary, community builder, and one of those rare people who don’t just talk about art, they make it happen.

Ejiro isn’t your typical “literary type” who hides behind a desk with tea and metaphors (though, to be fair, she writes poems that hit the heart). As the Co-convener of the Benin Arts and Book Festival, she’s turning her love for literature into a movement, creating spaces that don’t just celebrate stories but also the people behind them.

A winner of the Antoa Poetry Contest (2021) and a published voice in Lolwe, Isele, Olney, Native Skin, and Down River Road, Ejiro’s work speaks softly but hits hard. Her words explore identity, community, and healing, themes that naturally flow into her work with BABF.

And just when you think that’s enough, her organization goes ahead and earns recognition from the Mellon Foundation, a nod that says, “Yes, this is the future of African creativity.”

For Ejiro, the festival isn’t just about showcasing art; it’s about reclaiming space, reminding the world that Benin isn’t a city of forgotten relics but a living, breathing creative hub shaping what comes next.

In this exclusive conversation with Zeal News Africa, Ejiro opens up about the heart behind the festival, her journey as a writer, and what it means to build a community that thrives on creativity, collaboration, and cultural pride.

As the conversation unfolds, Ejiro speaks with a calm fire, the kind that only comes from passion and purpose. She takes us through her beginnings, the birth of the festival, and the journey of turning an idea into a movement that now defines Benin’s creative scene.

Let’s begin.

Interview with Ejiro Elizabeth Edward, Co-convener, Benin Arts and Books Festival

Question 1: Aside from being the Convener of the Benin Arts and Books Festival, who is Ejiro Edward?

I am an artist, a fiction and nonfiction writer, and I’m also involved in stage play production. In addition to that, I’m currently a Master’s Student in Creative Writing and Environment. I also serve as a a professor of English 1500,where I teach Critical Thinking and Communication, at the Iowa State University

Question 2: How do you balance being both a student and a professor?

Thankfully, my schedule is flexible. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I lecture; while on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I become a student. Weekends are for preparation; I plan my lectures, grade assignments, and work on my coursework. Whenever I get an academic task, I try to complete it immediately. It’s all about discipline and structure.

Question 3: What inspired the creation of the festival, and what gap did you hope to fill in the Nigerian art space?

The Benin Arts and Books Festival was born out of passion and the desire to leave a legacy before graduation. I wanted to see people come together and be part of a literary community, especially since Benin City is the hub of art.

There was also the need to challenge the stereotype that people in Benin don’t read or lack creative talent. I wanted to prove that Benin is filled with gifted artists and writers whose work deserves recognition. That’s how the idea for BAABFest began, and our first edition was held in 2022 at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub.

Question 4: Were there moments you felt like giving up?

Oh yes, several times. The one that stands out the most was when my co-convener and I had to trek all the way to GRA under heavy rain; it was flooding badly. I remember looking at her and saying, “I can’t go on.” But our passion kept us going. The desire to bring our vision to life always outweighed the urge to quit.

Question 5: Bridging creatives in Benin and those in the diaspora seems to be a core goal. How has that been so far?

We’re a consortium of like-minded creatives within Edo State who share a vision of achieving Connectivity, Accessibility, Visibility, and Enlightenment (CAVE) among budding and seasoned writers in and from Edo State.

So far, the progress has been great. Our long-term plan, within the next two years, is to fly in creatives and facilitators from different countries to participate. It’s not just about bridging the gap; it’s about giving visibility to emerging artists in Benin while celebrating established creatives and their wins.

But we’ve been able to have our very own residency, which we called the Rongo Residency; it was inspired by the Maori Concept of Rongo. The residency is a sanctuary for artists to escape from the bustle of life. We had visual artists, writers, and performance artists who participated. They were provided with fully funded accommodation, meals, access to equipment, and a conducive workspace.

Question 6: Do you wish you had the kind of opportunities you’re now creating when you were growing as a creative?

I actually did have some opportunities. While I was still in Lagos, I attended the Lagos Poetry Festival and had the privilege of working with one of the biggest hosts of book festivals. Those experiences shaped my understanding of community and literary growth, something I wanted to replicate in Benin.

Question 7: This year marks the fourth anniversary of the festival. Were there challenges along the way, and how has the journey been so far?

Definitely. After the first year, we had exhausted most of our resources. The second year, we managed better, but by the third and fourth years, we began attracting external sponsors, which was a big relief.

What truly kept us going were the workshops, trainings, and the feedback from participants whose creative journeys we’ve helped shape.

The second year was particularly tough because I lost my mum during that period. I wanted to stop everything. But I knew that if I didn’t keep going, I’d live with regret, and I didn’t have space for that. So I kept pushing.

Question 8: Is there something you’re planning to do this year that hasn’t been done in previous editions?

Absolutely. This year, we’ll be introducing a cultural display day, where performers will dance through the streets of Ugbowo in traditional attire.

We’ll also have a film screening in collaboration with the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), showcasing the past, present, and future of Benin City. There will be contemporary performances too, and this time, workspaces won’t take center stage. We’re bringing more art, movement, and expression to the streets.

Question 9:What would you say to creatives who’ll be attending the festival for the first time, or to those who still need a little convincing to show up?

I’d tell them to come with an open heart. The Benin Arts and Book Festival isn’t just another art event; it’s an awakening. It’s where different creatives get to be together and experience the true power of creativity.

You don’t have to be an artist to belong here. Just come as you are, and you’ll leave changed; inspired, connected, and seen.”

Since we’re partnering with the ELSA Creative Writers Forum, we will be able to reach students across Benin. We want every young writer, every budding creative, to know there’s a space for them here. That they don’t have to wait to be seen, they can start now, right where they are. The festival is theirs too.

Conclusion

By the time we wrap up, it’s obvious that the Benin Arts and Book Festival isn’t just another fancy event with microphones and stage lights; it’s a love letter to Benin City. You can feel it in the way Ejiro talks about her team, the rain-soaked hustle, the long nights, and the dreams that refused to die.

And as Ejiro prepares to welcome a new wave of writers, performers, and dreamers this November, you can tell this is just the beginning. The current is moving, and it’s carrying every creative in Benin along with it.

Because when passion meets purpose, even the smallest city can shake the world.