Africa Writes returns to London from 29 September to 1 October, and this year includes some strong Ghanaian representation.
The literary festival opens with interviews from American-Ghanaian Blitz Bazawule on the Friday , and a host of British-Ghanaian writers representing a new crop of writing and creative talent.
They include: Marie Claire Amuah, Caleb Azumah Nelson, Derek Owusu, Franklyn Addo, Heather Agyepong, Tobi Kyeremateng, and Peace Adzo Medie.
Before the festival’s launch, Maame Blue will deliver a creative writing workshop training the complexity of kin on 22 September.
This year’s Africa Writes 2023 focuses on the theme: ‘Intangible Heritage’ – a meditation on the things that make us who we are. This year's programme includes talks, readings and performance both in-person and online stages at British Library.
Established by the Royal African Society in 2011, Africa Writes is in its 10th edition and is claimed to be the UK's biggest celebration of African literature.
Young voices
On Friday, Africa Writes Young Voices will invite 120 school children to take part in a range of interactive workshops designed to introduce children to the treasures that form the foundation of our identities through folktales and short story writing.
American-Ghanaian Blitz Bazawule, director of The Color Purple (2023), will explore the creative process that inspired his novel 'The Scent of Burnt Flowers' (2022).
Speaking in conversation with fellow writer Irenosen Okojie, Blitz will also discuss his novel 'The Scent of Burnt Flowers' (2022), his films, paintings, music and more from 19:00 on Friday.
Literary voices
Africa Writes 2023 has been curated by a team of voices from the literary world, including:
● Nancy Adimora: Award-winning publishing consultant and founder of the literary magazine AFREADA
● Sulaiman Addonia: Eritrean-Ethiopian-British novelist and founder of the ASMARA-ADDIS LITERARY FESTIVAL (IN EXILE).
● Ainehi Edoro: Founder and Editor-in-Chief of BRITTLE PAPER, and Assistant Professor of Global Black Literatures at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
● Kalaf Epalanga: Celebrated author, columnist, and frontman of Lisbon-based dance collective Buraka Som Sistema, hailing from Angola. His latest book Whites Can Dance Too is now out with Faber.
● Maaza Mengiste: Acclaimed novelist, essayist, and photographer. Her novel, The Shadow King, was shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize.
● Yomi Sode: Award-winning Nigerian-British playwright and poet. His debut collection Manorism was shortlisted for the TS Elliot and Rathbones Folio Prizes.
The programme includes writers and others in the African and global literary sphere including: Claudia Rankine, Ibrahim Kamara, Kelechi Okafor, Magdalene Abraha, Franklyn Addo and Tskenya-Sarah Frazer, Nicola Rollock, and more.
The festival closes on Sunday 1 October with a conversation between Kwame Dawes, poet, and author of City of Bones: A Testament, and Claudia Rankine, author of Citizen and Just Us.
Come and join the three-day event in person or online from British Library, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB. Tickets: https://www.bl.uk/events/africa-writes-2023
People aged over 60 can buy discounted tickets, while people aged between 18 and 25, students, disabled people, and those who are unemployed can buy half-price tickets.
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