Postcards from QFEST 2023

While Day 2 had us super excited, Day 3 was a dream come true. With panel sessions that left attendees charged and interesting panelists who did not mince words as it concerned their topics, creatives, business persons and art lovers were blessed with fresh insight and perspective into food, culture
and literary issues.

The first panel discussion was a conversation that explored the process, pain and passion behind the work of shortlisted candidates of the Quramo Writers’ Prize. The candidates held nothing back as the moderator, Feyi Ijimakinwa asked salient questions that cut through the complexities of the language leaving truth and vulnerability for the audience to enjoy. Two of the writers fingered the pandemic as their Launchpad to writing as they found calm and a sense of purpose when panic was the order of the day.

The Fintech as a Catalyst to Nigerian
Creativity panel with Bode Abifarin, Blessing Abeng, Daniel Orubo, Renike Olusanya moderated by Ngozi Chukwu of Tech Cabal shed more light on opportunities for growth and how new financial services companies empower creatives to save money and execute industry-expanding projects. Creatives were enjoined to look out for opportunities to identify products and opportunities to hone and share their craft with the world.

The Travelling Sauce Cross Border Food
Collaborations panel with Chef Rotimi, Chef Imoteda, Chef Obafeyikemi and Chef Feyikewa moderated by Otunba Michael took the audience back in time as each chef shared stories of their foray into cooking. Chefs Rotimi and Feyikemi took out time to remind us about the need to review and appreciate our natural resources and ingredients which are healthy, unique and organic. Chefs Imoteda and Obafeyikemi encouraged the audience to embrace intuition and tap into knowledge from the cooking community when necessary.

The Telling Our Own Business Stories
panel with Olumide Soyombo, Damilare Dosunmu and Sade Onabowale (curated by RovingHeights) reviewed the Vantage book written by Olumide Soyombo, a business guru and venture capitalist. He sheds more light on the importance of building strategic relationships with people before needing their help and posited that there is power in using knowledge and time as a currency for exchange and creating priceless opportunities.

The Keynote Address on the festival theme, Connecting
the Dots by Dr Bada Akintunde-Johnson took audience on an enlightening journey. In his speech, he examined how ideas can be presented and executed in a manner that promotes visibility on global stages. The interactive discourse reviewed
the relationship between different creative expressions and how this connection can be explored for revenue generation and showcase of authentic African stories.

Shortly after the eye-opening speech, attendees were treated to a short spoken word piece on love by Mr. Abu Ibrahim. This was followed by the screening of The Wave, a Ugandan film showcasing the challenges of families at the height of Covid19 started. The audience could not hold back their excitement as the movie took them on an emotional rollercoaster and left them thinking about the realities of surviving after a major disaster.

The Chyrstallis Conversation tagged
Connecting the Dot – From There to Here and Everything in Between had the hall silent. It was a deep, heartfelt conversation that shed light on leading comedienne’s life experiences and lessons, Chioma Chigul Omeruah. Moderated by the seasoned journalist, Kemi Ogunleye, the key lesson for the discerning was the fact that no experience is a waste and every challenge faced is life’s way of preparing one for a bigger opportunity in future.

The day ended on a high note with the Word Slam Contest that saw talented spoken word artists compete for the prize of N100,000 naira. Hosted by Ms. Koromone, a seasoned poet, there was anticipation in the hall as all twenty contestants brought their A-game to the poetry competition.

After 120 minutes of entertaining the crowd with various creative pieces, Afolabi Olayinka-Bello emerged as the winner of the night with a spoken word piece that set the hall on fire while Saheed Sunday emerged as the first runner up winning the sum of N50,000 for his effort.

Day 3 was all shades of interesting, it was a full day of manifold creativity and reward for performances well done.