Mxolisi Dolla Sapeta is perhaps best known for his work as an artist and sculptor. In 2019, he made his literary debut with his first collection of poems, Skeptical Erections, published by Deep South. Reading Skeptical Erections makes it quickly… Read More ›
Poetry
In other Words… AiW news and July’s wrap
As we move through the changed circumstances, timelines and spaces of now, we catch up on our monthly round-up of ‘other words’ – news on AiW’s radar, collated from across our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Please be in touch with… Read More ›
Review: A Sojourner’s Tale – Kola Tubosun’s ‘Edwardsville by Heart’
AiW Guest: Tade Ipadeola. “Light tornado alert tonight at Edwardsville. Stay indoors please, when you hear storm alerts!” a text said. ‘Tornado’, p.33 We look out for the traveler’s tale especially. They bear that extra flavour of the road not… Read More ›
2013 Africa Writes #P&P – Q&A: Poet, writer and educator Warsan Shire
AiW Note: this republication of a 2013 in-depth (long) and rich (vibrantly so) conversation between poet and activist Warsan Shire and Katie Reid of AiW marks the first post in our second day of Africa Writes #Past&Present revisits over this… Read More ›
“I wish for my poems and music to do away with things I’m sure about. I wish for them to undo me, to unmake me”: Q&A with Petero Kalulé.
AiW Guest: Esther Mirembe. Petero Kalulé is a composer, poet, and multi-instrumentalist. Their music can be bought and listened to via Bandcamp, and their collection of poems Kalimba was published by Guillemot Press in May 2019 – you can buy… Read More ›
Q&A: Words on the Times – Jumoke Verissimo
“A Small Silence feels like an act of literary disruption. Hypnotic, expertly crafted and full of subtle power, it challenges cultural norms around silence, darkness and solitude, leaving the reader changed in ways that are hard to define.” Irenosen Okojie, Guardian… Read More ›
“A Thousand Tentative Tendrils”: Review of The Only Magic We Know: Selected Modjaji Poems 2004 to 2019
AiW Guest: Susanna Sacks. AiW note: This review is the fourth, and last, in a series of posts on the release of two anniversary collections from feminist indy press Modjaji Books – the short story anthology published last year, Fool’s Gold: Selected… Read More ›
Call for Submissions: Wasafiri New Writing Prize (Deadline: 15 June)
One of the many impacts of COVID-19 has been on writers’ schedules and headspace. Wasafiri– a dynamic platform for mapping new landscapes in contemporary international writing – is acknowledging this by extending the deadline for their new writing prize. The… Read More ›
Q&A: Deep South’s Robert Berold on Poetry and Publishing in South Africa
Robert Berold is a South African poet and editor, author of four books of poetry and four books of non-fiction. Between 1989 and 1999 he edited the poetry journal New Coin and went on to edit a selection of New… Read More ›
In other Words… AiW news and April’s wrap
As we move through the changed circumstances, timelines and spaces of now, our round-up of ‘other words’ – news on AiW’s radar, collated from across our platforms – has moved to a monthly edition for April. Please be in touch… Read More ›
Q&A with writer Olumide Popoola: “If we can’t imagine anything different, we can never strive for change”
AiW note: This conversation follows on from our cast back to last March (2019) and Chelsea Haith’s review of the Q&A’s main text, Popoola’s 2017 novel, When We Speak of Nothing: ‘Experimental…Representative and Complex’ – #PastAndPresent . AiW Guests: René… Read More ›
Event: TJ Dema at Lyra, Bristol Poetry Festival, UK (22 March)
TJ Dema, recent winner of the Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry, will be at this year’s Lyra Festival, Bristol’s poetry festival on 22nd March. In a session titled Habitat: An Eco-Poetry Workshop, TJ Dema will lead an engaging… Read More ›
Review – Against conventions: on Femi Morgan’s Renegade (2019)
AiW Guest: Tọ́pẹ́ Salaudeen-Adégòkè. Sometimes, impositions on our spaces and feelings – in the form of law, tradition or custom – try to curtail our inclinations and stifle our freedom of expression. In some nations subject to despotic regimes, restrictions are… Read More ›
Event: Crater Literary Festival, Enugu (12-14 December)
In partnership with AfricaWeek UK, the 3rd edition of Crater Literary Festival will be held in Enugu, Nigeria from 12 to 14 December, 2019. The theme is ‘Literary Renaissance in Africa’. The 3 day event is a celebration of African literature, art, drama, poetry, and… Read More ›
Event: Sierra Leone National Book Fair (05-07 December)
Sierra Leone National Book Fair 05- 07 December At the National Book Fair in Sierra Leone this year, there will be book exhibitions, book launches, reading sessions, panel discussions, poetry competitions, and much more. There will be opportunity to meet… Read More ›
Event: Ake Arts & Book Festival, Lagos (24-27 October)
The theme for the 7th Edition of the Ake Arts and Book Festival is Black Bodies | Grey Matter. Ideas and ideals abound on the shape and form of the African body, but these are rarely formulated by those to whom… Read More ›
Call for Applications: Rari Poetry Workshop (Deadline: 30 October)
Rari, a new Pan-African community for emerging African poets, is offering an exciting opportunity this year. The organisers are currently accepting applications for their first poetry workshop. This free workshop is an intensive, craft-enhancing experience aimed at stimulating the creativity… Read More ›
Event: Translating Possibilities (SOAS, 12 September)
Translating Possibilities SOAS, London 12 September 2019 A public night of readings, performances, films and dance celebrating translated poetry moving beyond the page. About this Event Translating Possibilities will bring together a mix of different languages, translation practices and poetic… Read More ›
Call for Submissions: The Best of Africa (Open Call)
The Best of Africa is an online portal for African ideas and voices. Through creative submissions from their global network, they provide readers useful, intelligent and thoroughly researched commentary and analysis on Africa in order to showcase that the beauty… Read More ›
Call for submissions: Praxis Magazine Online (Open call)
Praxis Magazine Online is currently inviting submissions in four genres: POETRY, FICTION, NON-FICTION, and JOURNAL STORIES. Specific guidelines for each area appear below, along with the email address for submissions in each genre. Praxis Magazine encourages new and existing contributors to… Read More ›