IBADAN BOOK CLUB, ULLI BEIER SOCIETY TO HOLD MEMORIAL READING IN HONOUR OF LATE BUSARI AGBOLADE
The Ibadan Book Club, in collaboration with the Ulli Beier Society, has announced plans to host a special book reading and performance poetry session in honour of the late Elder Busari Agbolade.
The event, originally intended to be this year’s edition of the annual Busari Agbolade Memorial Lecture, was restructured due to logistical reasons. This change, however, has not diminished the essence of the tribute, which now shifts to a dynamic format celebrating literature and performance.
The memorial event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the Oyo State Library Board, located opposite Cocoa House, Dugbe, Ibadan. According to a press statement issued by the Founder of Ibadan Book Club, Wole Adedoyin, the event will begin at 12 PM and promises to provide a vibrant platform for young writers, poets, and literary enthusiasts to gather and commemorate the life and legacy of Elder Agbolade through words and artistic expression.
Adedoyin emphasized that the event will allow student-writers and performers to share their works, reflect on their literary journeys, and interact with an engaged audience comprising book lovers, fellow creatives, and stakeholders in the cultural community. The event seeks to continue Elder Agbolade’s legacy of promoting intellectual development, cultural engagement, and the preservation of Yoruba heritage through literature and the arts.
Over the years, the Busari Agbolade Memorial Lecture series has evolved into a significant platform for artistic reflection and cultural discourse. The inaugural edition held on May 29, 2021, was themed “Extending Creative Legacy”, and featured Murthada Lawal, who delivered a compelling lecture that underscored the importance of sustaining creative traditions.
The second edition, held on July 30, 2022, explored “The Importance of Drawing and Painting in Writing”, with visual artists Kola Akintola and Gbenga Akintayo delivering insightful presentations on the intersection of visual arts and literature, highlighting how illustrations can deepen storytelling and narrative expression.
The third edition, themed “Dance as an Expression of Culture”, took place on July 29, 2023, and featured renowned dancer and choreographer Christopher Emmanuel. His performance and lecture captivated audiences, demonstrating the power of movement in preserving oral traditions and community storytelling.
The most recent edition, held on July 27, 2024, featured Mr. Toyin Alade as the guest lecturer. Alade’s discourse focused on the “Impact of Atelier Practices on 21st Century Art” and offered a dreamscape view into the works of Abayomi Barber, enriching attendees with new dimensions of creative exploration and innovation.
One of the highlights of this year’s memorial reading will be a special performance by Damilare Olasunkanmi (Arole Akewi), a prolific actor, director, and choreographer known for his dynamic theatrical interpretations. Olasunkanmi’s work spans landmark performances across Nigeria, including cultural festivals and academic theatre productions, making him a befitting artist to honour the cultural legacy of Elder Agbolade.
The event will also feature poetic presentations by three emerging literary voices: Nwaobilor Vincent Chukwuebuka, winner of the 2024 Wittypel Poetry Competition and contributor to the Bridgett James Poetry Anthology; Asefon Abdulganeey Stephen, an ekphrastic poet and social critic; and other guest contributors who will lend their voices to the memory of Elder Agbolade through poetry and prose.
The Ibadan Book Club invites members of the public, writers, artists, cultural enthusiasts, and the entire literary community to be part of this memorable occasion. The event will not only celebrate Elder Agbolade’s life and contributions but also inspire a new generation to uphold the values he embodied—creativity, cultural awareness, and community development.
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