My Umuofia Festival Experience: Honouring Achebe, Sharing Impunity, and Breaking Through Writer's Block.

This past weekend, I had the incredible honor of attending the Umuofia Art and Book Festival—a celebration not just of literature and art, but of legacy, culture, and courageous storytelling. From the moment I arrived, I could feel the spirit of Chinua Achebe pulsing through the air—through the murals, the poetry recitations, the vibrant panel discussions, and the gathering of writers who, like me, have drawn strength from his words.

Speaking on Impunity: Telling Hard Stories

I was invited to speak about my book, Impunity—a story that deals with the uncomfortable, the ignored, and the deeply human. Talking about this book in front of an audience that got it—that understood the necessity of naming injustice—was both humbling and affirming.

People asked me: Why write this? Was it hard? Did you feel safe telling these stories? And the answer is: it was never easy. But it was necessary. There’s something powerful about standing in a room of thinkers, artists, and truth-tellers—where silence is not demanded but dismantled. I got to peel back the layers of Impunity, from the raw inspiration to the discomfort of truth-telling, and that made every hour spent writing worth it. The Writer’s Block That Tried to Win During my panel session, someone asked: How did you overcome writer’s block? I laughed—because honestly, sometimes I didn’t. I sat with it. I hated it. Then I surrendered to the fact that not writing is still part of the writing process. There were months when the manuscript stared at me in judgment. But slowly, I learned that creativity isn’t a tap—it’s a river. Sometimes it flows; sometimes it waits. But when it moves, you better be ready. That’s how Impunity was born—not just through fire, but through stillness. A Festival Like No Other The Umuofia Art and Book Festival wasn’t just an event—it was an encounter. An awakening. A beautiful rebellion against erasure. We honored Chinua Achebe, but we also celebrated the next generation of fearless storytellers—of which I am proud to be a part. To everyone who listened, bought my book, asked questions, and shared their own stories—thank you. You reminded me why I do this. ⸻ 📚💬 Let’s keep the conversation going: #UmuofiaArtAndBookFestival #HonoringChinuaAchebe #ImpunityByFaithOse #BookChat #ArtAndBookFestivalInNigeria

“Faith Ose Ebhodaghe Debuts Unpublished Poems at Battle of Stanzas, Anthology Launch Highlights Local Voices”

Recently in Benin City, the Battle of Stanzas—a poetry and spoken word extravaganza co-hosted by Naija Poetry Fest and the Benin Writers Society—became the stage for a landmark literary moment. There, celebrated fiction writer Faith Ose Ebhodaghe (author of Impunity) stepped into the spotlight to perform two yet-to-be-published poems: “In Remembrance of Adesuwa” and “Idia Manifesto.” Her reading was featured in the first anthology born of the event, Stanzas from the Bronze Capital, which showcases creative reflections rooted in the rich heritage and modern pulse of Benin City.

Context and Cultural Significance; The Battle of Stanzas—a poetic renaissance—was held at the Edo Creative Hub, Sir Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, Airport Road, Benin City, on August 30, 2025. The event brought together poets, spoken word artists, and literary creatives to celebrate and contribute to a growing literary community in Edo State. Central to the event was the unveiling of the anthology Stanzas from the Bronze Capital, a collection intended to poetically archive the soul of Benin City—its mythology, heritage, present-day struggles, and cultural identity.

Faith Ose Ebhodaghe’s Contribution; In this convergence of voices, Faith Ose Ebhodaghe offered a poignant addition: “In Remembrance of Adesuwa” and “Idia Manifesto”, both debuting for the first time. These poems are part of her broader essay-based creative project—though not quite framed as an anthology yet, they’re strongly thematic and deeply rooted in Edo cultural narratives.

While her published fiction, such as the novel Impunity, has already made waves—highlighting systemic power, corruption, and resilience—these poems mark a personal, poetic doorway into her ongoing exploration of history, memory, and identity.

What It Means for Her and the Community; This appearance signifies more than just a performance; it positions Ebhodaghe at the intersection of fictional narrative and poetic heritage. By contributing to Stanzas from the Bronze Capital, she aligns her creative voice with the collective literary expression of Edo’s past and present.

Readers and attendees alike are invited to glimpse the evolution of her work—from gripping fiction to lyrical evocation. The poems “In Remembrance of Adesuwa” and “Idia Manifesto” suggest a blending of historical homage (Adesuwa, possibly referencing a figure from Benin lore) and artistic manifesto—what might be called a vision for cultural reawakening.

As Stanzas from the Bronze Capital takes its place among contemporary anthologies, its contributors—led by strong voices like Faith Ose Ebhodaghe—offer readers a layered tapestry of Benin’s identity. For those following Ebhodaghe’s journey from Impunity to these newly unveiled poems, there’s a compelling trajectory: a writer grounding her creative force in both narrative and poetic tradition.

“IDIA MANIFESTO” Page 68 “In Remembrance of Adesuwa” Page 66 Tag: Battle of Stanzas/ Edo State/ Stanzas from the bronze capital