Anambra Book and Creativity Festival: Partaking in the Pleasures and Rewards of Culture and Knowledge Production

Abstract

What do book festivals do for writers and readers? What do they do for communities as a whole? In other words, why do book festivals matter? Books have always been harbingers of conversations and debates, friendships and rivalries and with the instrumentality of book festivals, more excitement, keenness and imagination will be generated to bring together readers of all kinds at intervals for enriching exchanges. Book festivals create an atmosphere which fosters support for local artists and businesses, support for local readers and love for reading in children. But the Anambra Book and Creativity Festival encompasses more than the above stated gains as it has over the years given the Fine arts, Music, Poetry, Fashion design and various genres of art, equal pedestal for a holistic development of the arts. Writing on the multi-dimensional concepts of the traditional Igbo festival complex, Meki Nzewi divided it into two parts, some which are realized as visual manifestations and others that are not so easily distilled from a mere superficial observation of the time-space panorama of a festival scenario. Since its inception, The Anambra Book and Creativity Festival (ANBUKRAFT) has achieved these two aspects of Igbo festival format within the context of a modern society. Founded in 2012, and now in its 5th edition, the festival has through these years been a means of bringing together the various aspects of art under the umbrella of one ceremonial celebration.