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 ]
Watchdog says Daily Telegraph cartoon conveys offensive stereotypes about Middle Eastern men but is justified in the public interestA cartoon published in a News Corp newspaper which conveyed offensive stereotypes about Middle Eastern and asylum seeker men did not breach press standards because... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2020-02-17 05:58:27 UTC ]
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The novel takes place in Laos where deadly bombings are so common, nobody hears them anymore. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2020-01-28 17:23:10 UTC ]
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Prolific author T.C. Boyle paid a visit to the Times studio at the Festival of books to discuss his 28th book, “Outside Looking In.” The recently released novel, which plays off his 2003 book “Drop City,” takes place on Harvard’s campus in the early 1960s and follows the “beginnings of LSD.”... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bloomsbury has acquired independent non-fiction publisher I B Tauris, a specialist in Middle Eastern and political publishing, for £5.8m. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The digital ad industry has a dream. For years, players have longed for an identification system that might help companies compete for targeted ad dollars being swallowed by Facebook and Google, dominant platforms where users sign in and identify themselves. A new initiative -- led by... Continue reading at Advertising Age
[ Advertising Age | 2017-05-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Four candidates from the British book trade have been selected to participate in the 2017 Jerusalem International Bookfair Zev Birger (JIBF) fellowship programme, which takes place in June. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Digital-only publisher Bahati Books will release an anthology showcasing the “best in contemporary African writing” to mark Black History Month at the end of the month. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sandeep Mahal is to chair the FutureBook Conference 2015. Mahal, most recently director of The Space, will preside over the event, which takes place on 4th December at the Mermaid Theatre in central London. The full programme and preview of FutureBook 2015 has now been released by The... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jane Furze is to step down as literature festival director for the Cheltenham Literature Festival after four years in the post. A statement from the board of Cheltenham Festivals said it was announcing the news “sadly”. Furze said she was leaving to “allow myself some time out”. She will step... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A four-day live reading of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick featuring actors and writers including Liza Klaussmann, Chibundu Onuzo and A L Kennedy will be among the events at Southbank Centre’s London Literature Festival. The festival, which takes place from 28th September to 12th October, will also... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Headline has acquired the memoirs of “global rugby legend” Dan Carter. Carter is a New Zeland player, and is the most capped All Blacks' fly-half of all time. His autobiography will be released after the All Blacks’ last game at this year’s Rugby World Cup, which takes place in England and... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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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... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-07-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Bloody Scotland festival is to offer free tickets to unemployed people or those on low incomes as part of a scheme to reach new audiences. The festival, which takes place in Stirling from 11th to 13th September, will give away standby tickets on the day of events if there is good... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Table and seat bookings for The Bookseller Industry Awards will close in one week’s time (Tuesday 5th May 2015 at 5pm). There are a very few tables and seats left for the event, which takes place at the Hilton Park Lane on May 11th. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Macmillan and Southbank Centre have teamed up to put on an immersive theatre production to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. As part of the Imagine Children’s Festival, sponsored The Book People, which takes place from Monday 9th February to... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hodder & Stoughton's personal development imprint Yellow Kite is to host a two-day online festival to help people stay on track with their New Year’s resolutions. This is the Year, which takes place this Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd January, will help “transform your body and mind, get... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperCollins and the BFI are collaborating to hold a virtual sci-fi festival on 15th and 16th November. The festival will take place as part of the BFI’s three month celebration of sci-fi, "Days of Fear and Wonder", which takes place at BFI Southbank and venues across the UK until... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The debut novel by S.E. Grove has earned almost unanimous critical praise for its originality and the fascinating world in which it takes place. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Children’s authors and books will, as always, be well represented at this year’s Indies Choice Book Awards and E.B. White Read-Aloud Awards ceremony, which takes place during today’s Celebration of Bookselling luncheon. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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London's new Australia & New Zealand Festival of Literature & Arts had a glamorous, clever launch on Monday. It takes place May 29-June 1, 2014. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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