February 14th 2015 marked the publication of the Valentine’s Day Anthology, a collection of short romance stories by seven leading African authors, translated and recorded in different African languages and published by Ankara Press. AiW author Emma Shercliff reflects here… Read More ›
Africa in Words Guest Victoria Smith: On 28th January 1955 the Ghanaian song Yaa Nom Montie played for the first time on radio as the theme music of the country’s first literary programme, Singing Net. The song’s composer, J.H. Kwabena… Read More ›
Interview and translation by AiW Guest Ruth Bush Felwine Sarr co-founded Editions Jimsaan in 2012. His co-founders are Boubacar Boris Diop and Nafissatou Dia Diouf, both leading figures in the Senegalese cultural scene. Alongside Jimsaan, which seeks to showcase new writing… Read More ›
As part of his tour of the UK to promote his novel, Foreign Gods, Inc., journalist, academic and writer Okey Ndibe paid a visit to the University of Sussex earlier this week. As well as being interviewed by locally-based African literature… Read More ›
We eventually got to their house, where I was introduced to a middle-aged women. They all spoke in Efik, I did not understand them. So I became more afraid, thinking that they were planning to eat me. The woman asked… Read More ›
Fred Soneka is a novelist living in Freetown, Sierra Leone, who recently published two novels: When The Axe Swings (2012) and Looking for Tanana (2013). When The Axe Swings explores the dynamics of a polygamous marriage as the woodcutter Woody… Read More ›
We are organising a conference to commemorate Chinua Achebe’s work and influence, and to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of Arrow of God, which many consider Achebe’s greatest novel. The conference will be held at the University of London… Read More ›
Sometimes apparently everyday topics of life can lead to rich rewards in terms of historical study. One example of this is (I hope she won’t mind me saying) is Kristin Mann’s study of men and women’s marrying patterns in Lagos… Read More ›
Emmanuel Iduma co-founded the Nigerian literary magazine Saraba in 2009. The magazine, now in its 14th issue, aims to ‘create unending voices by publishing the finest emerging writers’. Each issue is published in PDF and ‘themed’ – with recent editions… Read More ›
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 ›
Pelu Awofeso is a travel writer, journalist and publishing entrepreneur based in Lagos, Nigeria. For over ten years Pelu has been travelling across Nigeria and publishing travel writing in newspapers in Nigeria and beyond, and in his own travel books. His… Read More ›
I just talk without direction, like the harmattan wind that just blows and blows, scattering dust. Me, I just like to say it as I remember it. And sometimes you have to explain the story. Sometimes the explanation lies… Read More ›
With the passing off on March 22, 2013 of Chinua Achebe, the Nigerian prolific writer, one has to admit that the founding father of African literature has forsaken his pen forever. While the reference that Achebe is beheld as the… Read More ›
AiW Guest Graham Riach. On the front cover of issue 16 of Jungle Jim,a starry sky hangs low over two Zulu tribesmen, assegais held high behind their shields. Looming towards them is a muscle-bound giant with an insectoid robotic head,… Read More ›
AiW Guest Kate Nkanza. When I first heard about the African Book Festival, I was so excited that I paid for my pass for two days straight away.
Just wanted to share information about the ‘African Book Festival’ happening in London at the end of the month. It is taking place over Friday 26th and Saturday 27th October at the Free Word Centre in Farringdon.
Quick update on the previous posts about the Open Book Festival, Cape Town, hosting the Edinburgh World Writers’ Conference with 3 events – Censorship Today – a keynote by author Keith Gray, chaired by Mervyn Sloman, the Director of Open… Read More ›
The submission period is currently open until Nov. 15. It costs nothing to enter! To read how to submit to the prize, click here or follow the guidelines below
Further to the previous post, other events joining ‘Censorship Today’ as part of the World Writers’ Conference at Open Book, Cape Town: Excited to see that Njabulo Ndebele and Antjie Krog will be in discussion – ‘Should Literature be Political’, 20 September… Read More ›
This year’s Open Book – 20-24 September – builds on the success of last year’s festival, an event which, for many, allowed a space in Cape Town that hadn’t been available before, of engaged debate, talks, and response, and of exchange. Thank you… Read More ›
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