The Kid Lit Foundation has announced the inaugural edition of The KidLit Fest, set to be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, in line with their vision to shine a global spotlight on African-created children’s literature. The KidLit Fest is set to be Nigeria’s largest gathering of child creatives, promoting children’s literature as a tool to help shape a brighter future on both national and global scales.
While announcing the date and lineup of events for the festival, the convener, Ms. Sope Martins, explained that empowering Nigerian children with the skills necessary to tell their stories has proven to be one of the best ways to create a lasting positive impact on their future. “Our platform nurtures children as both readers and writers, empowering them to think beyond their immediate circumstances. By helping them tell their own stories, we’re shaping a future where their voices can make a global impact,” she said.
The 2024 edition of The KidLit Fest begins with registration for the KLF Story Competition, which will be held across schools in Lagos from October to November 2024. Schools are required to register students who have literary skills and can write original stories. All content submitted by students will be judged by an international panel of readers, and the top entries will be selected for mentoring.
These students will participate in weekly workshops on storytelling and public speaking to empower them with the skills needed to compete globally, while the top three winners will have the opportunity to publish professionally illustrated books. All winners will be announced at the festival finale on December 7th. Children aged 7-16 are encouraged to participate, and registration has been ongoing on their website, www.thekidlitfest.com, since Thursday, October 24th.
Children of all ages, along with their parents and guardians, will gather at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Ikeja, for a full day of fun and excitement to kick off their Christmas holiday in style.
The festival will feature musical performances by popular child artist Makayla Malaka, stage shows by children’s circuses and dance groups, prize awards, author-led readings, dramatisations of published books, and the presentation of the KLF competition picture books. There will also be outdoor experiences such as a bouncy castle, game zone, chill zone, story listening stations, and a Book Cafe with a variety of food and drinks.
“The KidLit Fest motto is ‘Stories Shape the Future,’ and our mission is to inspire creativity, foster a love for reading and storytelling, and provide a platform for young African voices to shine.
“We hope that Nigerian businesses and corporate brands will partner with us in helping to make this a memorable experience for the children, their families, and the many schools that will be represented,” Ms. Martins said.