Internationally acclaimed Nigerian writer and multidisciplinary artist Eloghosa Osunde has officially accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Mia Mottley to participate in CARIFESTA XV, marking a major addition to the festival’s literary and interdisciplinary programme.
Osunde’s participation is set to amplify the festival’s global resonance, bringing a unique voice and boundary-pushing artistry to audiences across Barbados. The writer’s celebrated works, including the award-winning Vagabonds! and newly released title, Necessary Fiction (July 2025), will be available for sale throughout the festival.
Known for a dynamic approach to literature, visual art, fashion, theatre, and cultural consulting, Osunde’s appearances at CARIFESTA XV will be a multi-faceted exploration of storytelling, resistance, and creative imagination.
Osunde is a cultural visionary whose influence transcends genres and geographies, whose work has been lauded by The Atlantic, British Vogue, People Magazine, and NPR. In addition to Osunde’s literary achievements, the artist has contributed a monologue for Naomi Campbell in the 2023 Victoria’s Secret World Tour and collaborated with Orange Culture for New York Fashion Week.
Recipient of the 2023 MoAD African Literary Award and 2021 Plimpton Prize for Fiction, Osunde was recently named one of the 100 Most Influential Africans and featured as a Publishers Weekly Cover Star in May. Osunde’s visual art has been exhibited on four continents, and writing has appeared in top publications such as Granta, Paris Review, DAZED, Berlin Quarterly, and LitHub.
Confirmed appearances during CARIFESTA XV of the celebrated author include Literary Luminosity, being held on Sunday, August 24, at Gun Hill Signal Station. This sunset reading event will also feature distinguished Caribbean and international writers. Osunde will deliver a 15-20 minute performance/reading as the sun sets over one of Barbados’ most iconic landscapes. The multidisciplinary artist will also participate in Power, Paint, and Politics at the Big Conversation on Tuesday, August 26, at the CARIFESTA XV Village. Osunde will join a compelling interdisciplinary dialogue on the role of the artist in a fractured world, exploring themes of resistance, regionalism, and the expansive power of imagination. Osunde is the guest of honour at the Literary Roots, Global Reach Gala, on Thursday, August 28, at the Hilton Barbados. This formal evening will celebrate literary excellence across the Caribbean and African diaspora. As the guest of honour, Osunde will be recognised among cultural leaders and luminaries who continue to shape the global literary landscape.
(PR)
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