After a successful first edition, the Boldoz Book and Arts Festival (BBAF) returns with bigger stories and a more vibrant community.

The second edition of the Boldoz Book and Arts Festival held recently in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, a follow-up to the debut edition in 2024, which featured a wide array of authors, creatives, artistes and book lovers with the theme “Breaking Stereotypes”, a call to move away from the mainstream and explore new directions.

It featured popular authors: Adesuwa O’Man Nwokedi, Hymar David, Nmadiuto James, and Rosemary Okafor, whose books were available for display and signings. Also at the festival were other notable guests like the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Akwa Ibom State, Lady Helen Obareki; Shalom Shaba of Gemspread Publishing; CEO of ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyoh; Ikenna Okeh; Dr. Eyoh Etim; David Ogunshola and more.

While books were the focus of the event, other avenues for engagement were explored through live poetry, musical performances, cultural troupes, panel sessions on food and fashion, and story readings.

The festival also featured panel discussions and book chats focused on many subjects, ranging from cultural identity to fashion, child education to the precarious question: “Why do men hate fiction?”

The festival curator, Enobong Etuk expressed her excitement about the ever growing book culture within Uyo and the South South and made a call for more stories to be heard.