Column No.6: The internet, Nigerian lit fests, and the rest of the world

When I saw the Netflix film – The Social Dilemma – which shows the good, bad and very ugly aspects of the internet, social media, and related tech, I watched transfixed for the entire runtime of an hour-and-a-half.

Touted as a crucial documentary for this age, it takes on companies like Google, YouTube, and of course Facebook, among others. The experts spoken to by the filmmakers insist that these companies run on algorithms which are uncontrollable. The movie basically claims to show the dark underbelly of social media, fake news etc., which I shall discuss in a later column. This week, however, I’m pointing out the big boon which the internet and social media – with related tech – have proven to be to the literati, especially in the organization and attendance of literary festivals and even pop culture events around the world.

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During the global lockdown triggered by the Coronavirus pandemic, the 23rd of March to be precise, Kenya-based South African writer Zukiswa Wanner and some friends ignited a literary festival called Afrolit Sans Frontières, a play on Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). The online festival caught on, and like wildfire hosted thinkers and discussions from around the world, all from the comfort of one’s home. Stories and coverage followed, even on the New York Times, as well as well-respected literary portal BrittlePaper.com. By the time the show – done in ‘seasons’ – was done, it was clear that all had a rollicking great time, and a lot of good was achieved.

Then came along the Abuja Literary Festival, nicknamed AlitFest (in turn re-nicknamed ‘A Late Fest’ by me after a funny tardiness-related issue at last year’s edition where I was a guest). The excellent gathering of artists, writers and readers provided what has always been an oasis in the literary desert that is Abuja, so the pandemic-inspired stay-at-home order threw organisers off-kilter. But the internet, and social media, came to the rescue last August. The virtual fest lasted the usual three days, and had guests from Nigeria, other African countries, and beyond.

Currently prepping for an online start-date of October 22, is the Aké Arts and Book Festival, that four-day Lagos-based lit fest that is the best I’ve been to anywhere in the world (and believe me when I say I’ve been to many). Now in its 8th year, the upcoming one is bringing together over 700 artists from around the world, writers, poets, musicians, thinkers, etc. to dialogue and celebrate creativity on the African continent through panel discussions, workshops, book chats, poetry performances, a concert, and more, including your humble columnist. All online, too. See the pattern?

I recorded a couple of incredibly enjoyable panels, both of which I moderated, for Aké. Both had people from Nigeria, of course, and some from the United States, as well as Germany. From our screens you could see an almost-tangible need for human connection, something the ongoing pandemic is stifling, or in some cases prohibiting. But thanks to the internet, and good ol’ tech, we soldiered on as we discussed literature, Yoruba deities, Africanfuturism, illustration, Sci Fi, the craft of writing, and much more. It’s almost like, try hard as it may, Covid-19 is finding it hard to crush the human spirit, and that need to connect with others and share ideas.

Even the Cartoonists Association of Nigeria, is unfolding a virtual exhibition of work by its members, as well as hosting some October 1st-themed panel discussions and a conference. All that? Online. Outside Nigeria, even the biggest gathering of pop culture fans and practitioners, the famous San Diego Comic Con, was rebranded this year in July as ‘Comic-Con @ Home’. The Emmy Awards just recently wrapped their annual ceremony, also online. That’s not even counting more huge events that are moving online, and some brand-new ones being midwifed as children of necessity, all helped along by Zoom and other video chat programs, and apps. It’s all rather obvious that virtual is where it’s all virtually going to be this year, or at least till things cool down a bit.

Back to where we began, with the brilliant documentary The Social Experiment, which bandies the notion that fake news spreads six times faster than real news these days. To me, it means if literary events and their messages of promoting literacy and reading culture get their positive messages spread at that kind of heightened rate, then it must be a good thing. And good things are exactly what we need today, in these dark, uncertain times. Long live the internet!