Ibadan Book Club to Spotlight Literary Duo JP Olatunde and Lisa Olakunle at September Book Dialogue

 

IBADAN BOOK CLUB TO SPOTLIGHT LITERARY DUO JP OLATUNDE AND LISA OLAKUNLE AT SEPTEMBER BOOK DIALOGUE

 

The Ibadan Book Club (IBC) has announced that the September edition of its prestigious Ibadan Book Dialogue will be headlined by two Ibadan-based writers, JP Olatunde and Lisa Olakunle. The event is scheduled to hold on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 12:00 PM in the Board Room of the Oyo State Library Board, strategically located opposite the iconic Cocoa House in Dugbe, Ibadan.

The Ibadan Book Dialogue stands as one of the club’s flagship literary initiatives, meticulously designed to cultivate a vibrant reading culture, celebrate the work of authors, and stimulate profound intellectual conversations centred on literature, society, and national development. This platform has consistently served as a confluence for both established and emerging voices in Nigerian writing, fostering meaningful discourse with the public.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the upcoming dialogue, Wole Adedoyin, Founder of the Ibadan Book Club, highlighted the significance of featuring the two guest writers. He noted that their distinct backgrounds and creative journeys promise to enrich the conversation immensely. “JP Olatunde and Lisa Olakunle embody the remarkable diversity of Nigerian literary and intellectual talent. Their works and creative activism reflect the core values we hold dear—literary excellence, social consciousness, and dynamic creative engagement,” Adedoyin stated.

The Ibadan Book Club gratefully acknowledges the sustained monthly support of Mrs. Awele Ilusanmi. Mrs. Awele Ilusanmi is the President of the Literary Authors Cooperative Multipurpose Society of Nigeria and the Founder of the Book Marketing Class Africa (BMACA), whose partnership has been instrumental in the club's ongoing activities.

JP Olatunde brings a rich and multifaceted literary history to the dialogue. His journey began in the creative crucible of his family home in Oke’Badan, Ibadan, nurtured by his late father, the author and publisher Alex Adewole Olatunde. His passion was further ignited at the EduCare Trust & Exhibition Center, where he was mentored by literary stalwarts and became a serial poetry reader and writer, even coining his pen name in homage to the giant, J.P. Clark.

After a long and productive detour into music and songwriting, which saw him collaborate with various acts across Ibadan, Lagos, and Abuja, Olatunde describes his return to poetry as that of a "prodigal child." He is set to share insights from his upcoming poetry collection, #AfrobeatsUp, which creatively explores the Afrobeats music genre, its key elements, and pivotal moments in its evolution, marking a powerful homecoming to his first love.

The dialogue will also feature the vibrant voice of Lisa Olakunle, a budding thespian and writer from the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Ibadan. Born on May 17, 2002, in Ibadan, Olakunle is a passionate storyteller driven by themes of love, light, and purpose. She describes herself as “a Porsche with no brakes,” a testament to her bold spirit and unique narrative voice.

Olakunle has honed her craft through diverse roles, including content writing for organizations like The Wayout Media and the UI'SU Content Creation team, and as a choreographer and diarist in several university stage productions. Her recent acceptance into the prestigious Ebedi International Writers' Residency in Iseyin has provided a focused environment to refine her craft, leading to the publication of short stories and flash fiction on platforms like Medium.

This September edition promises a captivating exploration of literary paths, bridging experience and emerging talent. Attendees can expect a stimulating session of readings, discussions, and audience interactions, offering a deep dive into the creative processes of two distinct yet equally compelling Ibadan literary voices.

The event is open to the general public, students, literature enthusiasts, journalists, and members of the literary community. Attendance is free of charge. For further information, please call 08072673852.