Virtual Book Launch & Review: The City He Never Returned To
May 30 – June 27
Virtual Book Launch & Review: The City He Never Returned To
About the Event
Join us for the official virtual launch and literary review of The City He Never Returned To, the highly anticipated debut novel by Ibekwe Paul Chukwuemeka, published by Akajiofo Press (Brussels).
Spanning sixty years and four generations, this deeply moving narrative is drawn from real-life history and family archives. The story follows the Nwankwo family from the bustling streets of Lagos in 1965, through the trauma of the Nigerian Civil War, into the hardships of refugee camps, and through the landscape of the infamous post-war £20 flat settlement policy. Decades later, the journey culminates in a daughter’s fierce quest to build the institutions and administrative procedures required to preserve a nation’s truth.
This is not a traditional war story—it is a masterclass in memory, accountability, the silence of survivors, and the profound architecture of institutional repair.
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Event Schedule & Experience
This virtual launch is designed as a cinematic digital experience streaming globally. When you join the broadcast, you will experience:
* The Cinematic Deep-Dive (15.03 Minutes): A highly polished video presentation walking you through the core narrative, the 60-year timeline, and the structural themes of the novel.
* Live Author Commentary: Experience an exclusive reading of select, precise excerpts from the book, giving you a direct look into the author’s emotional prose.
* Live Interactive Chat & Q&A: The author and publishing team will be live in the interactive chat box throughout the entire premiere to answer your questions in real-time.
* Immediate Access to Ordering:
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Event Details
* 📅 Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026
* ⏰ Time: 7:00 PM CET (Brussels) / 6:00 PM WAT (Nigeria)
* 📍 Location: Streaming globally via YouTube Premieres
* 🎟️ Admission: Free (Open to the public)
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How to Attend
You do not need to download any special software or register for an account. Simply click the link below, head to the official YouTube page, and tap the “Remind Me” bell icon. YouTube will automatically alert you right as our cinematic countdown begins.
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💡 Pro-Tips for Your Web Page Layout:
* The Image Placement: Place your newly created Gold and Tan Invitation Banner right at the top of this page as the main featured image.
* Button Style: If your website allows you to add an action button for the YouTube link, make sure to style the button using your exact custom website brand gold color to keep the design completely unified.