Dambudzo Marechera Conference
A friend just informed me about a conference called "Dambudzo Marechera: A
Celebration", to be held in Oxford, UK, on May 15-17, 2009. It is intended as a
multi-media festival aimed to encourage a deeper engagement with Marechera's
writing through creative approaches. Its additional aims are to promote African
literatures in English in the UK, foster interest in the issues of
postcoloniality, and discuss the challenges of teaching and studying African
literature within the context of a university in the West. Confirmed speakers include Flora Veit-Wild, Ben Okri, James Currey, Norman Vance, Robert Fraser,
Gerald Gaylard, Brian Chikwava, Helon Habila, Nhamo Mhiripiri, and Heeten
Bhagat. Several Zimbabwean artists will also pay tribute to Marechera,
including Chimanimani, an eclectic music ensemble. The festival website,
www.marecheracelebration.org, will be launched next month.
What can I say? This is just some good stuff. I plan to attend, and encourage other African writers to be there as well. Marechera scholars in other places, especially the United States, should coordinate conferences like this. The Christopher Okigbo conference at Harvard was a success, attended by writers like Achebe, Adichie, and others. Marechera would be equally amazing.
If you are interested in coordinating efforts to plan a Dambudzo Marechera conference in the United States, let me know so we can start brainstorming.
Celebration", to be held in Oxford, UK, on May 15-17, 2009. It is intended as a
multi-media festival aimed to encourage a deeper engagement with Marechera's
writing through creative approaches. Its additional aims are to promote African
literatures in English in the UK, foster interest in the issues of
postcoloniality, and discuss the challenges of teaching and studying African
literature within the context of a university in the West. Confirmed speakers include Flora Veit-Wild, Ben Okri, James Currey, Norman Vance, Robert Fraser,
Gerald Gaylard, Brian Chikwava, Helon Habila, Nhamo Mhiripiri, and Heeten
Bhagat. Several Zimbabwean artists will also pay tribute to Marechera,
including Chimanimani, an eclectic music ensemble. The festival website,
www.marecheracelebration.org, will be launched next month.
What can I say? This is just some good stuff. I plan to attend, and encourage other African writers to be there as well. Marechera scholars in other places, especially the United States, should coordinate conferences like this. The Christopher Okigbo conference at Harvard was a success, attended by writers like Achebe, Adichie, and others. Marechera would be equally amazing.
If you are interested in coordinating efforts to plan a Dambudzo Marechera conference in the United States, let me know so we can start brainstorming.
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