Participants of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus Trust Workshop pose for a photo. Credit: Chukwuebuka Ibeh.

The eleventh edition of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s creative writing workshop took place in Lagos from 20 November to 30 November 2018. Formerly the Farafina Trust Creative Writing Workshop, the event returned after its 2017 postponement as the Purple Hibiscus Trust Creative Writing Workshop, named after Adichie’s debut novel, which was marking its fifteenth anniversary, and sponsored by Trace Nigeria.

Twenty-two participants were selected, housed for ten days, and taught by Adichie, the American novelist Dave Eggers, the Malaysian novelist Tash Aw, and the Nigerian writer, publisher and Ake Festival organiser Lola Shoneyin. It was closed by the Purple Hibiscus Literary Evening. Here are photos.

Below is an exclusive video, published on our YouTube channel, of the participants receiving their certificates at the Literary Evening. Adichie calls each participant’s name, they come onto the stage, and she describes their writing with blurbable words, what caught her attention, before hugging them. Call it a series of blessings. If you missed the event, just don’t miss this inspiration.

Video credit: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Team.

Alternatively, the video can be watched on Brittle Paper‘s YouTube channel.