Africa in Words Guest, Professor James Smith of the University of Edinburgh, writes: Professionally I research the role science and technology play in shaping Africa’s development. Thus I naturally have an interest in the writing of Lauren Beukes given her… Read More ›
Month: August 2013
Spotlight on…Akinwumi Isola
This post is the first in an occasional series of writer profiles, looking especially at those working in African languages. For readers and speakers of Yoruba, Akínwùmí Ìsòlá [pronounced Ishola] needs little introduction. A charismatic and stern-looking figure affectionately nicknamed… Read More ›
Q&A: Henrietta Rose-Innes – ‘New Voices from South Africa’ at the Edinburgh International Book Festival
Henrietta Rose-Innes is an award-winning South African writer based in Cape Town. I was lucky enough to be able to catch her at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in advance of her session, ‘New Voices from South Africa’, which is on the… Read More ›
New publication – Accented Futures: Language Activism and the Ending of Apartheid, by Carli Coetzee
This is a superb contribution to thinking about the teaching and transmutation of the culture of letters in South Africa. — Arlene Archer, University of Cape Town In this wonderfully original, intensely personal yet deeply analytical work, Carli Coetzee argues that… Read More ›
Preliminary Call for Interest: New Universities Project, South Africa
New Universities Project, South Africa School of Heritage, Northern Cape Preliminary Call for Interest Two new universities will open in South Africa in 2014/15. These are the first universities to be launched by the South African government since the move… Read More ›
The magic of African cinema comes to Scotland
AiW Guest Justine Atkinson on the upcoming ‘Africa in Motion‘ Film Festival: Fallous is a young Tunisian boy who is always running. We follow him as he journeys through his village, down winding paths bordered with lush green forests, greeting each… Read More ›
The ‘Broken Hill’ skull (Lusaka National Museum collection) – Pratchaya Phinthong @ Chisenhale Gallery, London
PRATCHAYA PHINTHONG | ‘BROKEN HILL’ Chisenhale Gallery, London | 26 JULY – 1 SEPTEMBER 2013 Chisenhale Gallery presents a new commission by Bangkok based artist Pratchaya Phinthong for his first solo exhibition in the UK. Broken Hill explores the… Read More ›
Reminder: CFP North African Cinemas (Journal of African Cinemas)
Call for Papers Journal of African Cinemas – Special Issue on North African Cinema Guest Editor: Dr Stefanie Van de Peer North African cinema has suffered from neglect in studies on African cinema. It’s hinge-like geographical position – is it… Read More ›
From the ‘African Booker’ to ‘The Booker’: NoViolet Bulawayo’s ‘We Need New Names’
NoViolet Bulawayo’s debut novel We Need New Names ends its first and last chapters with the same sensory detail: the alternately ‘dizzying’ and ‘delicious’ smell of Lobels bread. It is a smell that wafts through otherwise macabre scenes. In the first, a woman… Read More ›
South African authors (and more besides) at the Edinburgh International Book Festival -10-26 August, 2013
The Edinburgh International Book Festival, “the world’s largest public celebration of the written word, right in the heart of Edinburgh”, starts this Saturday, August 10th, and is celebrating its 30th birthday this year (fanfare! trrumpets!). Among the variety of dynamic… Read More ›
Borrowing the bookshelf: lessons in [virtual bookshelf] husbandry
I came across a meme recently “You know you’re a bookaholic when…” One was “when the first thing you look at in a friend’s house is the bookshelves”. I identified. I house sat for another Africa in Words writer recently,… Read More ›
Winning films from African Movie Awards 2013
by AiW guest Phoenix Fry On 20 April 2013 the African Movie Awards took place at “a glittering ceremony” in Yenagoa, southern Nigeria. You can read elsewhere about the glitz and the glitches – this blog focuses on the films… Read More ›