Irish festival explores Nigeria’s thriving writing industry

At the International Literature Festival Dublin (ILFD), held in Ireland in May, Nigerian-German writer Olumide Popoola and literary agent Bibi Bakare-Yusuf discussed the past, present and future of Nigerian and, more broadly, African writing.

“There’s a renewed energy and excitement, and I want that to continue across the African literary landscape,” says Bakare-Yusuf, founder of Cassava Republic Press.

The publishing house was founded in 2006, with its headquarters in the Nigerian capital of Abuja. Since then it has been at the forefront of promoting Nigerian writing to Nigerian, African and global audiences and now also has offices in the United Kingdom and the United…