Virtual Book Launch & Review: The City He Never Returned To

Virtual Book Launch & Review: The City He Never Returned To

 Event Overview: 

Join us for the exclusive virtual launch and literary review of The City He Never Returned To, the gripping debut novel by Ibekwe Paul Chukwuemeka, published by Akajiofo Press (Brussels). 

Spanning sixty years and four generations, this deeply moving fiction 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. 

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)

What to Expect During the Broadcast. 

This virtual launch is designed as a cinematic, high-retention digital experience:

1. The Cinematic Deep-Dive (19 Minutes):  A highly polished video presentation walking you through the core narrative, the 60-year timeline, and the structural themes of the novel. 

2. Live Author Commentary:

 Experience an exclusive reading of select, precise excerpts from the book, giving you a direct look into the author’s precise and emotional prose.

3. Live Interactive Chat & Q&A:

 The author and publishing team will be live in the interactive chat box throughout the entire premiere. Bring your questions about the book’s history, writing process, and the family archive that inspired it.

Immediate Access to Ordering:

Who Should Attend?

•  Lovers of contemporary African literary fiction (fans of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Chigozie Obioma, and Helon Habila). 

• Members of the Nigerian and broader African diaspora exploring themes of exile, identity, and the meaning of “home.”

• Academics, students, and professionals working in transitional justice, history, peace studies, and post-colonial reconstruction. 

How to Participate: 

You do not need to download any special software or wait in a virtual lobby. Simply click the event 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.👉 Political Imagination