Why must writers from Africa always bear the burden of representing their continent? They should be granted artistic freedom, as other authors areAfrican literature, as it’s called, is enjoying a bit of a moment, with the western media regularly heralding splashes, rebirths, dawns. When I published my novel Ghana Must Go in 2013 I joined a list of writers that, on the face of things, appears encouragingly long. There are my fellow Nigerians Chinelo Okparanta, Chimamanda Adichie, Helen Oyeyemi, Helon Habila, Chris Abani, Teju Cole; the Kenyans Yvonne Owuor, Binya Wainaina, Mukoma Wa Ngũgĩ; the Ethiopians Maaza Mengiste, Dinaw Mengestu; the Sierra Leoneans Aminatta Forna, Olufemi Terry; the Zimbabweans Petina Gappah, NoViolet Bulawayo. It seems that African literature is the literary dish du jour, like the Indian (more Lahiris!) and Middle Eastern (more Hosseinis!) dishes before.Of course, one could argue that 50-odd writers emerging from a continent of 1.1 billion people represent more of a trickle than a wave. So, too, might one question the media’s fondness for these little ethnic trends. (When did the white male novelist’s moment begin, and when will it end?) One might pause to wonder what so-called African novels have in common: does the commercial category function as a creative one, as well? The Scottish-born novelist Aminatta Forna has asked why her novel The Hired Man, set in Croatia, is sometimes found in the “African section” of bookshops. What of Helen Oyeyemi’s... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2015-07-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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His novels — filled with bloodshed and bodice ripping — sold more than 140 million copies. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2021-11-16 01:36:30 UTC ]
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Titles exploring climate change, expressing difficult emotions and exploring the wonders of the scientific world have been shortlisted this year for the Society of Authors (SoA) and Authors’ Licensing & Collecting Society (ALCS) Educational Writers’ Award. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-16 00:18:25 UTC ]
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The updated schedule for the United Kingdom's Young Writer of the Year Award will put its shortlist and winners' announcements into the new year. The post London’s Young Writer Award of the Year Names Its Jurors appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-11-10 14:50:29 UTC ]
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The Working Class Writers' Festival is urging publishers to demonstrate their commitment to diversity by investing in sponsorship for next year's event. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-10 12:00:51 UTC ]
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South African novelist Damon Galgut was awarded the 2021 Booker Prize for his novel 'The Promise,' published by Europa Editions. The novel follows the lives of three white siblings brought together by a series of funerals that follow the trajectory of the history of post-apartheid South Africa. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-04 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The Justice Department is suing to block a $2.2 billion book publishing deal that would have reshaped the industry Continue reading at ABC News
[ ABC News | 2021-11-02 21:39:48 UTC ]
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Jeanette Winterson has joined the online platform Substack and been named its new writer in residence for November. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-01 06:46:24 UTC ]
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British publishers must not hang on to rights they cannot exploit, Nigerian poet and novelist Lola Shoneyin told delegates at a session on decolonisation at a publishers conference in at The Sharjah International Book Fair. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-31 15:54:59 UTC ]
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Some 520 publishing professionals are traveling to the UAE for the 40th Sharjah International Book Fair and its Publishers' Conference. The post Next Stop After Frankfurt Book Fair: Sharjah’s Publishers’ Conference appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-10-28 14:20:43 UTC ]
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Creative writing charity Arvon has appointed Rachel Long as its first virtual writer in residence for its online programme, Arvon at Home. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-26 00:33:48 UTC ]
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Rebecca Green's book How To Make Friends With A Ghost (Andersen Press) is being developed by the Jim Henson company as a new stop-motion animation series for children ages five to nine years old. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-25 21:42:12 UTC ]
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For broadcasters Shelley Ware and Rana Hussain, women and people from diverse backgrounds are underrepresentedShelley Ware, an experienced media personality across television and radio and Yankunytjatjara and Wirangu woman, recently posted to Twitter: “I’ll be honest the lack of diversity in... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2021-10-22 19:00:22 UTC ]
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Mr. Pinkney brought new life to old fairy tales — and to children’s literature as a whole — with his radiant illustrations in more than 100 picture books. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2021-10-22 13:28:42 UTC ]
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On Friday, Michael Caine appeared on the BBC radio program “Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review,” to talk about his new film Best Sellers, in which he plays a cranky, alcoholic novelist who goes on a book tour with his publisher, played by Aubrey Plaza, who is trying to save the company. (Reviews are... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2021-10-18 14:00:04 UTC ]
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Trio step out from behind pseudonym marketed as ‘Spain’s Elena Ferrante’ to accept €1m prizeA million euro literary prize has lured three Spanish men out of anonymity, to reveal that they are behind ultra-violent Spanish crime thrillers marketed as the work of “Spain’s Elena Ferrante”The men had... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2021-10-16 22:37:44 UTC ]
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The field of African American religious studies scarcely existed before he took it on in the 1970s with writings distinguished by both their scholarship and their spiritualism. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2021-10-14 14:10:00 UTC ]
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In “Now Comes Good Sailing,” an anthology gathered by Andrew Blauner, famous writers including Pico Iyer, Lauren Groff and Amor Towles meditate on Thoreau’s influence. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2021-10-14 09:00:04 UTC ]
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Google says it will phase out its use of Material Design interface elements within its iOS apps in favor of Apple’s own UIKit. Jeff Verkoeyen, the company's iOS design chief, announced the change in a Twitter thread spotted by The Verge.This year my team shifted the open source Material... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2021-10-12 17:16:51 UTC ]
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Ugandan novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, who was subjected to torture by the his home country's government while detained last year, has been named the International Writer of Courage at the PEN Pinter Prize ceremony. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-11 20:57:34 UTC ]
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The Asian American Writers Workshop is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a series of signature digital events and a three-month fundraising campaign. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-10-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
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