Nigerian author and journalist, Tomi Falade recently took African literature, visual art and traditional crafts to an international audience at the 2026 Helsinki Book Fair in Finland, leading a delegation of Nigerian creatives to the event.

The fair ran for four days, from October 22 to 25, at the Messukeskus Exhibition Centre in Helsinki, alongside the Helsinki Food and Wine Festival.

The Nigerian delegation was invited by Africans and the African-Europeans Association (AFAES ry), a Helsinki-based multicultural non-profit, which turned Stand 7f118 into an interactive space celebrating African heritage. Falade said in a statement that the exhibition drew strong interest from Finnish residents and Nigerians living in the diaspora.

Falade, whose writing explores indigenous history, introduced four titles to readers in the Nordic region. They include three historical dramas, “ỌLỌ́BÙN: Matriarch of Ondo, Mother of Legacy”, “Orompotoniyun: 12 Nights For A Crown” and “Alayemore: The Twice-Crowned King”, along with her contemporary short story collection, “Dates From Hell.”

The author admitted she had worried that language differences might limit the appeal of her books to visitors who do not read English, but said the response exceeded her expectations.

Some attendees were so keen that they insisted on buying digital copies available on Amazon. Because of the reception, her sister, Oluwafunmilayo Falade, is in talks with a few Finnish publishers about producing editions written entirely in Finnish to widen the readership. Falade said African stories are alive and, like anything alive, keep moving, growing and connecting people.

Before the main fair, the author joined a panel of speakers at a diplomatic event organised by the Council of Moroccans in Finland on October 21 at the International School of Vantaa. Discussing the cultural dimensions of regional development in Africa, she shared the stage with Morocco’s Mohammed Laraki, Finland’s Ari Petäjävaara and Mohamed Montasir of the Middle East, and stressed the role of culture as a link between communities and a driver of sustainable development across the continent.

The Nigerian delegation also featured professionals from other creative fields. London-based Nollywood pioneer and playwright Christopher Iheuwa showcased his work, “The Quest”, while Oluwafunmilayo Falade, a lawyer, professional editor and digital publishing strategist, supported the team. Renowned visual artist Abolore Sobayo’s works were a major attraction at the stand.

The showcase was organised by Fatima Usman and her team at AFAES ry, and highlighted growing international interest in authentic African narratives.