WRITERS TO DESCEND ON NAIROBI FOR THE KWANI LITERARY FESTIVAL
INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED WRITERS TO DESCEND ON NAIROBI FOR THE KWANI LITERARY FESTIVAL
More than 30 African and international poets and writers will gather in Nairobi for the Kwani Literary Festival including Ishmael Beah, the Sierra Leonean former child soldier and author of the memoir, "A Long Way Gone" from Sierra Leone which has sold more than a million copies worldwide, Lieberaturepreis winner Aminatta Forna and Random House editor Ellah Allfrey.
KLF, now in its 4th successful year, brings together thinkers and writers from different continents and experiences to explore ideas relevant to the burgeoning African literary scene. In a recent interview founder of the Kwani Trust, Binyavanga Wainaina, says, "The aim of the festival is really what I would call cross-pollination, reinforcing the relations between writers, building networks, while providing useful information on publishing deals, blogging, and advice on others' work. There are so few infrastructures today in Africa that cooperation between African writers is paramount."
This year the dynamic 15-day writers' festival will not only showcase the best of contemporary African writing, but also utilize established authors to provide inspiring writing tuition and manuscript assessments, and to present readings of their own work.
This thriving combination of study and events led the American glossy magazine Vanity Fair to say about the Kwani Litfest: "Those in the know are buzzing about an African literary renaissance. Nowhere is this more evident that at the Kenya Kwani? Litfest...the African revolution is on your doorstep…." Vanity Fair, June 2007.
In previous years KLF activities gave birth to several books, writers' residencies for participants, scholarships to American MFA writing programmes, publishing contracts and even spawned a whole other festival. This year promises all this and more.
"The special focus of KLF 2008 is on the role of the writer in fast-changing conflict and post-conflict situations. Following Kenya's post election violence, KLF will explore the need for new definitions, solutions and ideas," says festival Director, Shalini Gidoomal.
In line with this theme there is a public university debate at Nairobi University on the role of the writer in situations of violence, there is a full afternoon devoted to a symposium exploring new workable innovative solutions. Comedian turned politician John Kiarie, peacemaker Dekha Ibrahim Abdi, youth leader George Gachara and city planner Alfred Omenya.
"We aim to provide a forum for Kenyans to mingle and network with established thinkers, writers and publishers - and in that way amazing collaborations happen," added Miss Gidoomal.
Some of the internationally acclaimed writers participating in this year's literary festival include Orange Prize winner Chimananda Adichie from Nigeria, 2002, 2003, and 2007 Caine Prize winners Binyavanga Wainaina, Yvonne Owour and Monica Arac de Nyeko.
Through a series of workshops, symposiums, book launches, discussions, retreats, traveling and networking, KLF will develop participants' creative writing skills, with an emphasis on how stories can help society to see itself more coherently.
The Writers
· Chimamanda Adichie (Nigeria): Her novel, Half of a Yellow Sun, won the Orange Prize in 2007 and was a sensation in Nigeria for its subject – the Biafran war.
· Ishmael Beah (Sierra Leone) – His memoir, A Long Way Gone that tells of his time as a child soldier has sold close to a million copies.
· Binyavanga Wainaina (Kenya): Kwani? Founding editor is a Caine Prize winner and contributor to numerous international publications, including Granta, Vanity Fair, the New York Times, Mail and Guardian
· Ellah Allfrey is senior editor at Jonathan Cape, one of Britain's foremost literary imprints in one of the largest publishing houses, Random House, Her father is a journalist, currently in hiding in Zimbabwe and she brings the dual skills of an extensive knowledge of what is going on in African literature today with extensive information on writers in conflict.
Some Events: -
· August 1st 8.30pm, Opening night at Acapulco restaurant, Muthithi Road, Westlands.
· August 2nd all day, Magfest at Karen Blixen Coffee Garden. Writing for Magazines workshop. Plus Gambian writer Dayo Forster on Finding Your Voice
· August 4th, 10am Five day writers workshops begin
· August 6th 6.30pm Readings and wine at Nu Metro in Westgate
· August 7th 2pm Nairobi University public Debate, ED11 Hall
· August 8th 2pm Revisioning Kenya symposium at RaMoMa, 2nd Parklands Avenue
· August 8th 7.30pm Authors in Conversation dinner and readings
· A full list can be obtained from www.kwanilitfest.com or viewed in the attached timetable
About Kwani Trust
· Kwani Trust was established in 2003. It is dedicated to nurturing and developing Kenya's and Africa's intellectual, creative and imagination resources through strategic literary interventions. Kwani Trust houses and distributes literary products and services globally. Kwani Trust, under the guidance of trustees, is overseen by its founding editor, Binyavanga Wainaina, with the support of key staff, a corps of literary associates, and friends from Kenya, the African continent and the rest of the creative world.
More than 30 African and international poets and writers will gather in Nairobi for the Kwani Literary Festival including Ishmael Beah, the Sierra Leonean former child soldier and author of the memoir, "A Long Way Gone" from Sierra Leone which has sold more than a million copies worldwide, Lieberaturepreis winner Aminatta Forna and Random House editor Ellah Allfrey.
KLF, now in its 4th successful year, brings together thinkers and writers from different continents and experiences to explore ideas relevant to the burgeoning African literary scene. In a recent interview founder of the Kwani Trust, Binyavanga Wainaina, says, "The aim of the festival is really what I would call cross-pollination, reinforcing the relations between writers, building networks, while providing useful information on publishing deals, blogging, and advice on others' work. There are so few infrastructures today in Africa that cooperation between African writers is paramount."
This year the dynamic 15-day writers' festival will not only showcase the best of contemporary African writing, but also utilize established authors to provide inspiring writing tuition and manuscript assessments, and to present readings of their own work.
This thriving combination of study and events led the American glossy magazine Vanity Fair to say about the Kwani Litfest: "Those in the know are buzzing about an African literary renaissance. Nowhere is this more evident that at the Kenya Kwani? Litfest...the African revolution is on your doorstep…." Vanity Fair, June 2007.
In previous years KLF activities gave birth to several books, writers' residencies for participants, scholarships to American MFA writing programmes, publishing contracts and even spawned a whole other festival. This year promises all this and more.
"The special focus of KLF 2008 is on the role of the writer in fast-changing conflict and post-conflict situations. Following Kenya's post election violence, KLF will explore the need for new definitions, solutions and ideas," says festival Director, Shalini Gidoomal.
In line with this theme there is a public university debate at Nairobi University on the role of the writer in situations of violence, there is a full afternoon devoted to a symposium exploring new workable innovative solutions. Comedian turned politician John Kiarie, peacemaker Dekha Ibrahim Abdi, youth leader George Gachara and city planner Alfred Omenya.
"We aim to provide a forum for Kenyans to mingle and network with established thinkers, writers and publishers - and in that way amazing collaborations happen," added Miss Gidoomal.
Some of the internationally acclaimed writers participating in this year's literary festival include Orange Prize winner Chimananda Adichie from Nigeria, 2002, 2003, and 2007 Caine Prize winners Binyavanga Wainaina, Yvonne Owour and Monica Arac de Nyeko.
Through a series of workshops, symposiums, book launches, discussions, retreats, traveling and networking, KLF will develop participants' creative writing skills, with an emphasis on how stories can help society to see itself more coherently.
The Writers
· Chimamanda Adichie (Nigeria): Her novel, Half of a Yellow Sun, won the Orange Prize in 2007 and was a sensation in Nigeria for its subject – the Biafran war.
· Ishmael Beah (Sierra Leone) – His memoir, A Long Way Gone that tells of his time as a child soldier has sold close to a million copies.
· Binyavanga Wainaina (Kenya): Kwani? Founding editor is a Caine Prize winner and contributor to numerous international publications, including Granta, Vanity Fair, the New York Times, Mail and Guardian
· Ellah Allfrey is senior editor at Jonathan Cape, one of Britain's foremost literary imprints in one of the largest publishing houses, Random House, Her father is a journalist, currently in hiding in Zimbabwe and she brings the dual skills of an extensive knowledge of what is going on in African literature today with extensive information on writers in conflict.
Some Events: -
· August 1st 8.30pm, Opening night at Acapulco restaurant, Muthithi Road, Westlands.
· August 2nd all day, Magfest at Karen Blixen Coffee Garden. Writing for Magazines workshop. Plus Gambian writer Dayo Forster on Finding Your Voice
· August 4th, 10am Five day writers workshops begin
· August 6th 6.30pm Readings and wine at Nu Metro in Westgate
· August 7th 2pm Nairobi University public Debate, ED11 Hall
· August 8th 2pm Revisioning Kenya symposium at RaMoMa, 2nd Parklands Avenue
· August 8th 7.30pm Authors in Conversation dinner and readings
· A full list can be obtained from www.kwanilitfest.com or viewed in the attached timetable
About Kwani Trust
· Kwani Trust was established in 2003. It is dedicated to nurturing and developing Kenya's and Africa's intellectual, creative and imagination resources through strategic literary interventions. Kwani Trust houses and distributes literary products and services globally. Kwani Trust, under the guidance of trustees, is overseen by its founding editor, Binyavanga Wainaina, with the support of key staff, a corps of literary associates, and friends from Kenya, the African continent and the rest of the creative world.
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