Lagos witnessed history on Saturday, March 15, 2025, as Afro Romcon, Nigeria’s first-ever romance convention, unfolded in a spectacular showcase of African love stories.
The highly exciting event, themed “Romance Through the African Lens,” brought together bestselling authors, Nollywood screenwriters, and literary enthusiasts in a vibrant celebration of romance in African storytelling.
The day began with a very warm welcome from incredible host Happiness Ogwamhenlu, setting the stage for a lineup of heated, engaging discussions and creative showcases. Attendees settled in for the first session, a captivating book chat was moderated by Ebimoboere featuring Zainab Imam Uche and Adesuwa O’man Nwokedi. Uche took the audience on a journey through her creative process, revealing that her upcoming book, Love, Lagos & Other Complications, set for release on March 25, was initially intended as a screenplay. However, as she allowed the story to unfold organically, she found herself crafting an engaging story instead. She further disclosed that the book would be part of a trilogy, with the first installment arriving later this month.
Nwokedi, known for The Marriage Class and No Perfect Love, provided deeper insights into romance as a literary genre. She recounted how she fell in love with books at an early age, developing a fascination with love stories that eventually inspired her own writing. In contrast, Uche admitted that she had little interest in books until she turned thirteen, a revelation that drew amused reactions from the audience. The contrast in their literary journeys highlighted the diverse paths to storytelling, making the discussion all the more engaging. The session was a deep dive into the intricacies of writing romance, touching on character development, narrative voice, and the personal experiences that shape love stories.
The conversation on romance continued with a thought-provoking panel led by Praise Vandeh featuring Modupe Daramola, a lawyer and the visionary founder of Noisy Streetss. She began by sharing the origins of Noisy Streetss, explaining how her passion for supporting emerging writers led her to create a platform that nurtures and amplifies their voices. Recognizing the challenges young writers face, such as frequent manuscript rejections, Daramola started a blog that eventually evolved into Noisy Streetss. She also introduced their latest anthology, A Man and a Woman & Other Stories, highlighting the collaborative effort behind its creation and the awesome world of romance included in it.
During this session, an engaging discussion emerged from the audience regarding the distinction between a romance novel and a love story. Referencing Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah, participants debated whether the book falls into the category of romance or love story. Daramola, with her characteristic wit and eloquence, navigated the conversation, noting that while romance novels typically focus on the romantic relationship as the central plot and often conclude with a “happily ever after,” love stories can encompass a broader range of narratives, not necessarily ending on a positive note.
In a shift from discussion to performance, poet Jesimiel Williams took the stage, delivering an emotive spoken-word piece that held the room spellbound. His words painted vivid images of love, loss, and longing, adding a lyrical depth to the convention’s storytelling atmosphere.
The energy remained high as screenwriters Ufuoma Bakporhe and Nosa Isibor delved into the art of crafting romantic comedies for the screen. The session moderated by Joy Omuya, a Christain content creator and also a literary enthusiast, Bakporhe and Nosa Isibor drew from their experiences in Nollywood, the nuances of character chemistry, humor, and emotional tension, shedding light on the intricate balance that makes love stories both engaging and relatable.
Tomilola Coco Adeyemo, known for A Very Gidi Christmas, took the audience on a journey through her writing process, highlighting the role of Lagos as both setting and character in her romance novels. Her session which was again controlled by the incredible culture journalist screenwriter, Praise Vandeh sparked conversations on the impact of environment and cultural context in shaping authentic love stories.
A playful yet profound discussion followed, as Jesimiel Williams and Oluchukwu Nwabuikwu led a session moderated by incredible poet, HR Consultant and a “rizz leader”, Emmanuel Faith, titled Men, Love & Other Mushy Things. The conversation challenged stereotypes and offered refreshing perspectives on male emotional expression in relationships. While their insights resonated with some, sparking laughter and nods of agreement, many women in the audience pushed back, offering counterpoints that led to a spirited debate on the nuances of love, vulnerability, and gender expectations.
The rise of indie publishing in Nigeria took center stage as Aminat Sanni-Kamal (Rebound) and Mobolaji Olanrewaju (Finding Solace) shared their journeys as independent romance authors. Their discussion which was moderated by Faith Nwani provided practical insights into self-publishing, distribution, and the challenges of carving out space for African love stories in the global literary market.
As the day drew to a close, attendees participated in interactive games that fostered connections and camaraderie among lovers of African romance literature. The event concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks, acknowledging the speakers, organizers, and passionate audience that made Afro Romcon a resounding success.
More than just a convention, Afro Romcon 2025 was a movement—a celebration of love in all its forms and a testament to the power of African storytelling. It was a day of insight, inspiration, and affirmation that romance, in the African context, deserves its place in the spotlight.
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
