Jos Festival Of Storytelling To Unveil New Project On River Niger, Convene International Artistes

The Jos International Festival of Storytelling 2026, with Stan Café, UK, will debut a new project on the River Niger titled ‘River Tour – The Niger.’

The project, one of the festival’s hallmark events, will present a visual representation of the results of research conducted by Egija Naija and Stan Café, tracing the river’s history, physical location, and passage across the continent.

Playwright, director and founder of the Egija Naija and the festival, Abraham Omale, said the findings/story related to the river will be imprinted on a 20-meter-long textile map and presented to the public during the festival. At the same time, veteran actress Olajumoke Olatunbosun will assume the role of the river narrating its story and history.

“The source of the River Niger is Fouta Djallon in the Republic of Guinea, and from there it flows past several African countries like Mali to get to Nigeria,” said Omale.

The three-day event, from June 26 to 29, 2026, will bring together artists from Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, and the UK. Activities include panel discussions, documentary storytelling workshops, and live performances.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP, Omale said this edition marks the festival’s international outlook since it was formally established in 2023.

“It started with a group of people from different fields coming together to tell and share their stories. But with the demand for more, we had to take a three-year break to make some changes to achieve what we have today,” concluded Omale.