When Naseemah Mohamed, Kyomuhendo A Ateenyi and Bwesigye Bwa Mwesigire started Writivism in 2012, its focus was on Uganda. Today, Writivism runs workshops all over the African continent (and a mentoring programme), including in French-speaking countries; up to four creative writing prizes; publishes creative work by emerging African writers; and curates an annual literary festival in Kampala (and extends activities to schools). Dzekashu MacViban discusses with Bwesigye Bwa Mwesigire (Former Director in charge of Partnerships and Editorial duties), highlighting the singularity of Writivism’s projects, the importance of translation and what to expect during the 2016 Writivism Festival in Kampala, Uganda.
Dzekashu MacViban
Arts and Culture Placing art and discourse in a primary position and geography in a secondary position: An interview with Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung
Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung (PhD), born in 1977 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, is an independent art curator and biotechnologist. He is Curator at Large for Documenta 14 (Artistic Director Adam Szymczyk), the founder and artistic director of the art space SAVVY Contemporary Berlin, where he has directed and curated exhibits with more than 200 artists from five continents. He is also co-artistic director of Galerie Wedding, a communal gallery space in Berlin. He has been living on and off in Berlin since 1997. He recently participated in the RAVY festival in Yaoundé, Cameroon where he gave lectures on art, epistemological pluralism, his curatorial approach and his skepticism towards Afrofuturism.
Arts and Culture Reniss’ Experimental Bikutsi in “La Sauce”
“La Sauce” is undoubtedly Reniss’ biggest hit and it is a refreshingly original take on a dominant Cameroonian music genre.
Lifestyle The Entrepreneurial Endeavours of a Visually Impaired Man
Determined to change the way visually impaired people are perceived in Cameroon, Coco Bertin, who is visually impaired, started a rehabilitation centre which provides strategic education for people with disabilities.
Lifestyle The Uncrowned Queen of Neo Soul in Cameroon
Born in Paris in the 80s, Danielle Eog Makedah discovered music by leafing through her father’s vinyl collection. Descriptions of royalty seem to have followed Danielle throughout much of her career; she was described by Culture Ebene as the princess of Cameroonian soul music, while Nexdim Empire, another Cameroonian entertainment website, proclaimed her the queen of Cameroonian neo soul about two years ago.