Sunday, October 31, 2010

Creative writing workshop in Enugu

"Coal City Literary Forum Enugu Presents a workshop with the theme; Saving our Natural Environment through creative writing,

Scheduled to hold from the 3rd to 5th of November 2010.The workshop is designed to equip young and aspiring writers with the skills for incoporating environmental issues into their writing which will serve as a sensitization mechanism to Nigerians about our responsibility to the environment. "
Courtesy of Bookaholic Blog.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

You’re Invited: E.C. Osondu’s Book Party on November 2





"This election night, please join Guernica in celebrating the launch of Osondu’s exhilarating debut collection, Voice of America, published by HarperCollins. In the tradition of Wole Soyinka, Nadine Gordimer, J.M. Coetzee, and Chinua Achebe (all patrons of the Caine Prize), Osondu’s stories are wise, soul-stirring, and deeply compelling. In electrifying prose, he articulates the struggles of Nigerian immigrants in America, and refugees, villagers, and expatriates in Africa. Voice of America marks the beginning for a brave and remarkable new voice in African literature."
ENJOY

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

The 2011 Paris Literary Prize





For those who write novella, this might be of interest.
The 2011 Paris Literary Prize will be awarded for an unpublished novella (defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as a short novel, or long story). A submitted novella must be a sustained narrative with a minimum word count of 20,000 and maximum of 30,000.
Good luck, and ENJOY

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Kenyan man builds aeroplane in front yard











Hei, this is not literature, but, well what the heck, it's such good news that I thought I should share it with you. Here is Mr. Nderitu in his own words:
"In the west they are sending people into space. In Africa we are still struggling for good roads. Without trying bigger things, we will never get anywhere."
Well said, bro. This is beautiful.
ENJOY.

Monday, October 25, 2010

African Odyssey












"Her father's story led Nadifa Mahomed to write her debut novel. Bron Sibree reports

If Nadifa Mohamed ever had any doubts about writing her acclaimed debut novel, Black Mamba Boy, they had nothing to do with the real-life story that inspired it: that of her father."
ENJOY

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Helon Habila’s ‘Oil on Water’

Another review of Helon Habila's novel, Oil on Water. Thanks, Ikhide.

"In the beginning, the book is engaging; it doesn’t sound contrived and there is abundant evidence that Habila did some research for this novel. There is enough detail to provide memorable scenes. His greatest strength is deployed to descriptions of the apocalypse that is the Niger Delta. Dreamy and haunting are the lush descriptions of the roiling waters and forests. Habila loves water and he finds a peaceful kinship with the seas and the rivers. When he is good, the scenes remind one of Vietnam, Napalm bombs, children on the streets fleeing fires roasting them, and My Lai."
ENJOY

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Soyinka, Le Clezio for Garden City Literary Festival




You've got to love this if you love independent literary developments in Africa, any part of Africa. This is what makes for solid traditions. Kudos to Koko Kalango for her ingenuity.
Okay, read this.
"Nobel Laureates Wole Soyinka and J.M.G Le Clezio are the headliners of the third Garden City Literary Festival, which opens in Port Harcourt on December 8. An initiative of the Rivers State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and organised by Koko Kolango of the Rainbow Book Club, the festival is intended “to highlight the significant contribution of writers to the story of African nations.”
Thanks to Bunmi Ajiboye for reporting.

ENJOY

Thursday, October 14, 2010

An Eurocentric Nobel Prize and African literature

Is it true that the Nobel Prize is Eurocentric? Djamel Belayachi, Heba Montaser believe that it is, and they have their reasons. Here is the layout of their argument:
"African literature is generally ignored by the Nobel committee. Since 1901, only four writers from the continent have been rewarded, two of whom are entirely of European descent. This year, Africa has again bitten the dust after many had tipped the Swedish Academy to give the award to one of four ingenious African authors: Chinua Achebe from Nigeria, Nuruddin Farah from Somalia, Ngugi wa Thiong’o from Kenya, and Assia Djebbar from Algeria. Nevertheless, the Swedish Academy has failed to live up to its Eurocentric reputation by choosing Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa as winner of the 2010 Nobel Prize in literature.
"
Enjoy the rest of their argument, and share your opinion.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Esiaba Irobi wins national literature prize




" The late dramatist and poet, Esiaba Irobi, has won the 2010 Nigeria Prize for Literature. Irobi's play, ‘Cemetery Road', was adjudged the best ahead of Ahmed Yerima's ‘Little Drops...' and Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo's ‘The Killing Swamp' for this year's prize awarded for drama.
Ninety three entries were initially received before the panel of judges comprising theatre scholars, Dapo Adelugba, Mary Kolawole, John Ilah, Kalu Uka, and Tanimu Abubakar, who pruned them down to 11. Irobi, Yerima, and Adinoyi-Ojo made the final shortlist of three announced at a press conference on August 11."
So writes Akintayo Abodunri. ENJOY!

Friday, October 8, 2010

Why Ngugi wa Thiong'o should have won the Nobel prize for literature




On top of his achievement as an imaginative artist, the Kenyan writer's decision to write in Gikuyu is a truly brave move deserving high reward," writes Zoe Norridge.
ENJOY!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Kenyan author sweeps in as late favourite in Nobel prize for literature


This looks good, friends.

"With the announcement of the winner of this year's Nobel prize for literature due later this week, Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiong'o has emerged as a late favourite at the bookmakers."
ENJOY!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Independence Blues: two hands raised in darkness














"Two men are waving, but to whom exactly? Tafawa Balewa’s hand hails the people, but what of James Robertson? Is he waving hello, farewell, or not so fast? It’s hard to tell, and yet the stiffness of those gloves, sash, headgear and medals suggest a man no longer at ease."
Sarah Ladipo Manyika author of "In Dependence"
"Five decades ago, the white man waved goodbye to Nigeria. But today, Nigerians remain in captivity. The colonialists rule our minds. We obsess over what they think about us." Adaobi Trici Nwaubani, author of "I Do Not Come to You By Chance"

These are some of the beautiful reflections by Nigerian writers on the significance of Nigeria's independence.
Five decades ago, the white man waved goodbye to Nigeria. And today? Many Nigerians are more than happy to do exactly what the white man did.
ENJOY