Posts tagged African writer

In partnership with the Heinrich Böll Foundation, This is Africa explores the changing meaning of icons and which African leaders qualify as icons.

Mention Nigerian literature and the first names likely to spring to mind are Chinua Achebe, the author of “Things Fall Apart”, or the venerable Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka.

Mũkoma wa Ngũgi explores a redefinition of what ‘icon’ means in the African context, the unearthing of names that are all too often forgotten, the invisibility of female icons in our historical narratives, and the nature and role of the diaspora in our cultural, political and economic production

Good Morning Africa on the day Egyptian Writer Naguib Mahfouz was born. He is regarded as one of the first contemporary writers of Arabic literature, publishing 34 novels, over 350 short stories, dozens of movie scripts, and five plays. Here are some of his quotes:

Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún interviews A. Igoni Barrett on the Graywolf Press Africa Prize and the role of literary prizes

Pen International set aside November 15 as the day of the imprisoned writer to create public awareness on the prosecution of writers in general. Each year, it focuses on specific imprisoned writers to highlight their circumstances and encourage the public to take action on behalf of these writers.

Five African authors have been nominated for the International Dublin Literary Award. The award comes with a cash prize of €100,000. The shortlist will be announced in April 2018 and the winner will be announced on the 13th of June, 2018.

Abubakar Adam Ibrahim is one of the most prominent Northern Nigerian writers in English today. His work has been nominated for numerous awards, including the Caine Prize (2013) and Etisalat Prize for Literature (2014). In 2016, he won the NLNG-sponsored Nigeria Prize for Literature for his novel Season of Crimson Blossoms. Kọ́lá Túbọ̀ṣún sits down with him for a conversation about writing, publishing and Northern Nigeria.

In 1958, the African writer had to be coaxed into publication. They were so self-effacing they would rarely recommend their own stories for inclusion in anthologies, claiming “There are others who write better”. But, as Oris Aigbokhaevbolo writes, the African writer today seeks respect and the reputation conferred by publishing.

Greats issue is the New York Times most consuming and complicated annual endeavor that celebrates individuals, such as acclaimed Nigerian writer Chimamanda Adichie, who are experts in their respective fields and whose work and vision have transformed modern culture.