Kid Lit Fest Debuts, Showcases Young Talent, Celebrating Storytelling

Tosin Clegg

The city of Ikeja recently came to life as kids of various age groups stormed the Balmoral Convention Centre, by Sheraton, with parents and teachers for the maiden edition of The Kid Lit Fest. A statement by OAP and author Sope Martins, the organisers said the occasion featured a variety of activities: author readings, paint-and-sip, VR games, board games, quizzes, and a child author showcase.

There was also a panel session where they discussed the importance of storytelling and the need to encourage children to read and write. One of the biggest highlights of the fest was the author reading session, where various authors such as Ayo Oyeku, Ugo Anidi, and Bunmi Familoni sat with children to read and engage them with Q&As about their books.

It was a delightful sight to see so many children gather around the authors to participate in the reading session. Speaking on the event, Martins said, “I was pleasantly surprised that so many children joined the reading session even though they had the option to play around or jump on the bouncy castle.”

Another highlight of the day was the panel session, which urged parents to encourage their children to write and communicate more. It was an engaging session that ended with a short video of some kid authors who talked about how they started writing with the support of their parents. Other entertainments of the day included a circus performance by GKB Academy, a dance performance by Starkids, and a special performance by the headline act of the day, Makayla, who thrilled guests with an electrifying set from her catalogue of hits. The event was hosted by MC Prophecee, who led guests through all the activities of the day.