Author Archives

Rachel Knighton is a PhD student in the Faculty of English at the University of Cambridge. Her research looks at postcolonial African prison narratives.

• Walter Bgoya: Interview and Review of his Keynote Speech, ASAUK 2014

  By Rachel Knighton on 17 September , 2014 • ( 1 )

  

   ‘50 Years of Independence: Reflections on the Role of Progressive African Intellectuals’ As Walter Bgoya took to the microphone to begin his keynote speech at the African Studies Association UK’s biennial conference, I was immediately struck by his wisdom and… Read More ›

• ‘Beyond the Novel: Developing Contemporary African Writing’: Review, Africa Writes 2014

  By Rachel Knighton on 30 July , 2014 • ( 3 )

  

  Saturday 12th July found me seated in the conference auditorium of the British Library, expectantly awaiting the start of a panel entitled ‘Beyond the Novel: Developing Contemporary African Writing’. Comprising one of the many events scheduled at Africa Writes 2014,… Read More ›

• Blogging the Caine Prize: Billy Kahora’s ‘The Gorilla’s Apprentice’

  By Rachel Knighton on 6 June , 2014 • ( 5 )

  

  A note of intro. from Africa in Words: Last year we took part in ‘Blogging the Caine Prize’ – a carnival of week-by-week blogging around the shortlist for the annual Caine Prize for African writing.  While there is no ‘organised’ carnival… Read More ›

• The Exhibition and Plenary Lecture at the African Popular Cultures Workshop: Review

  By Rachel Knighton on 17 April , 2014 • ( 1 )

  

  The second half of the African Popular Cultures Workshop at Sussex was held in a modern studio space called the ‘Creativity Zone’. Made up of three adjoining rooms, each of these exhibited different elements of work brought together under the… Read More ›

• ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ (2013 Film) – review

  By Rachel Knighton on 25 March , 2014 • ( 4 )

  

  For Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie readers in the UK, the film adaptation of Half of a Yellow Sun has been a long time coming. Widely anticipated by online forums including Adichie’s Facebook page, Half of a Yellow Sun’s world premier took… Read More ›