AFAES at Helsinki Book Fair 2026

Tomi Falade is an award-winning Nigerian journalist, author and custodian of cultural memory. For almost two decades she has documented African arts, literature, music, fashion and screen culture.

She is the Life Editor at Independent Newspapers Limited and Vice Chairman of the Arts and Culture Writers Association of Nigeria (ACWAN). Her work sits where cultural preservation, intellectual property advocacy and creative enterprise meet.

As an author and dramatist, Tomi has published four books that move between historical drama and modern life:

• ỌLỌ́BÙN: Matriarch of Ondo, Mother of Legacy
• Ọrọmpọtọniyun: 12 Nights For A Crown
• Alayemore: The Twice-Crowned King
• Dates From Hell, a witty, sharp collection about contemporary relationships

She co-hosts Nollywood on Radio, a leading Nigerian weekly programme on cinema distribution, policy and creative rights, alongside screen legends. She recently anchored a fireside chat with filmmaker and theatre producer Bolanle Austen-Peters at the U.S. Consulate General's Iseda creative initiative, held with the Book Buzz Foundation and Ouida Books.

From covering international media events such as the YouTube EMEA press summit in Zurich to championing copyright literacy, Tomi connects the grassroots creative scene with international cultural dialogue.

Christopher Nnodim Iheuwa is a Nigerian actor, filmmaker, playwright and one of the pioneers of Nollywood. He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Ibadan and holds a master's degree from the University of Lagos.

His screen career spans three decades, from the classic Rattlesnake (1995) to Phone Swap (2012), La Femme Anjola and the Netflix series Blood Sisters. He has also served as vice chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria.

As a playwright, Chris wrote The Quest, a stage play rich in proverbs and poetry that explores themes from pre-colonial Igbo life that remain relevant in Nigeria today. He has said he wrote it to document history and celebrate African culture, the Igbo language and the value of community.

The Quest follows Chibude, a young man whose search for a wife leads him into supernatural encounters and a rivalry for the love of Ifeoma. It was recently staged to acclaim by final-year Performing Arts students at Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology.

Oluwafunmilayo Falade is a certified professional editor, book project coordinator and the founder of Akokeade & Co. She guides literary works from manuscript refinement all the way to digital ebook publishing.

Through Akokeade & Co., she has coordinated publishing projects for authors including Wonuola Adetayo, Solape Adesuyi and Tomi Falade, managing both the editorial quality and the technical rollout of their books.

She is also an expert in author branding and digital publishing infrastructure. She has built the official websites and digital platforms for authors Tomi Falade and Seun Oloketuyi, and most recently managed the full web presence for Oloketuyi's book How to Win Elections in Nigeria. She serves on the jury of the BON Awards and as its core digital strategist.

At the fair, Oluwafunmilayo joins Tomi Falade as her project coordinator, supporting conversations and presentations about Tomi's recent books. She is also keen to meet international peers and exchange ideas on digital publishing and online book promotion.