Welcome to the new website
A new home for news, events, books and writing by Helon Habila.
News · Readings · Festivals · Lectures
News
News, announcements and new work from Helon Habila, and where to meet him: readings, literary festivals, university lectures and writing workshops around the world.
Events
Upcoming
New dates coming soon
There are no public events listed right now. To invite Helon Habila to a festival, university or reading series, please contact his literary agent.
Contact the agentLatest news
Named an RSL International Writer
The Royal Society of Literature has named Helon Habila one of its 2025 International Writers, a lifelong honour.
Honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award
At the 2024 Kaduna Book and Arts Festival, Helon Habila received KABAFest’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to literature.
Curator in Residence at the International Literature Festival Berlin
Helon Habila is the first Curator in Residence of the international literature festival berlin, shaping its 24th edition, 5–14 September 2024.
Invitations
Contact the agent
Invite Helon Habila
Festivals, universities, bookshops and reading series can invite Helon Habila through his literary agent.
Readings & conversations
Readings from his novels followed by an on-stage conversation and audience Q&A, for bookshops, libraries and reading series.
Festivals & keynotes
Talks and panels on African literature, migration, memory, the environment and writing under political pressure.
Workshops & teaching
Fiction workshops and masterclasses drawing on many years of teaching creative writing.
Past events
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1Oct 2025Panel
The Canon 65 Years Later: Nigerian Literature and the Post-Colonial Perspective, with Lola Shoneyin and Nnedi Okorafor
McCosh 50, Princeton University · Princeton, NJ · 6:00–7:30 pm
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5Sep 2024Festival · Curator in residence
24th International Literature Festival Berlin
Haus der Berliner Festspiele · Berlin, Germany · 5–14 September
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2024Lecture
Hayes Writers Series
College of William & Mary · Williamsburg, VA
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2021Panel (virtual)
Litprom Literature Festival
Germany
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2020Conversation (virtual)
Miami Book Fair: in conversation with Jennifer Makumbi
Miami, FL
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2020Talk & reading (virtual)
Auckland Book Festival
Auckland, New Zealand
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2020Panel (virtual)
James River Writing Show
Richmond, VA
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2019Festival
Aké Arts and Book Festival
Lagos, Nigeria
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2019Festival
Brooklyn Book Festival
Brooklyn, NY
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2019Festival
Albany Book Festival
Albany, NY
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2019Festival
Miami Book Fair
Miami, FL
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2019Appearance
Venice Biennale
Venice, Italy
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2019Festival
Bergen International Literature Festival
Bergen, Norway
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2018Festival
Abantu Book Festival
Johannesburg, South Africa
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2018Festival
Interkontinental Book Festival
Berlin, Germany
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2017Festival
Singapore Writers Festival
Singapore
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2016Festival
Aké Arts and Book Festival
Nigeria
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2016Festival
Ubud Writers & Readers Festival
Bali, Indonesia
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2015Festival
Aké Arts and Book Festival
Nigeria
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2015Festival
FLICA Literature Festival
Cachoeira, Bahia, Brazil
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2015Festival
International Literature Festival Berlin
Berlin, Germany
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2015Festival
ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival
Jaipur, India
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2014Book fair
Leipzig Book Fair
Leipzig, Germany
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2014Talk
University of Basel
Basel, Switzerland
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2014Book fair
Le Salon Africain, Geneva Book Fair
Geneva, Switzerland
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2013Festival
Literaturfest München
Munich, Germany