DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Programme ‘strongly condemns’ the ‘violent’ assault on Binyavanga Wainaina

 
The Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst Artists-in-Berlin Programme has responded to the recent alleged assault on Binyavanga Wainaina.

While on a prestigious Daad Fellowship in Berlin this week, Wainaina wrote a disturbing account being beaten up in the street by a taxi driver.

The 45-year-old Kenyan writer, who suffered a stroke last year, hailed the cab because he need to get to a pharmacy but – as he relates – the driver lost his temper at Wainaina’s halting speech, which is a result of his illness, and pulled him from the car.

The Daad has released a statement strongly condemning the assault, adding that the programme feels “ashamed that such a violent act could occur in our country”.

The programme adds that it is in close contact with Wainaina and stands “firmly by his side”.

Wainaina has since reassured his fans of his wellbeing on Facebook, saying: “God. 1st am fine. Made my flight to Dar es Salaam, where I want to know where gays and lesbians hang out, and where I can play Tennis.”

Read the full statement from Daad:

The Daad Artists-in-Berlin Programme has noted with deep consternation, that its current guest, Kenyan writer Binyavanga Wainaina, has been beaten by a taxi driver in Berlin. We strongly condemn this assault and feel ashamed that such a violent act could occur in our country. The Daad Artists-in-Berlin Program stands for a culture of welcoming, for tolerance, international artistic dialogue and the absence of difference. We are all strangers encountering different cultures and bringing these together. This is the only way that a true dialogue can take place. The Daad Artists-in-Berlin Program is in close contact with Binyavanga Wainaina and stands in this situation firmly by his side.

Source: Berliner Künstlerprogramm des DAAD on Facebook

 
Related stories:

• ‘I feel black, dirty’ – Binyavanga Wainaina describes ‘beating’ by taxi driver in Berlin
• Fans and friends raise R1.1-million for Binyavanga Wainaina’s medical treatment
• Two New Books by Binyavanga Wainaina Acquired, Including One Based on His Excellent Essay “How to Write about Africa”
• “Africa is Taking its Own Shape – and You are Not Even in that Conversation” – Binyavanga Wainaina Delivers a Public Lecture in Joburg
• Binyavanga Wainaina Explains why He’s Not “The Black Franzen from Africa”
• “I Became an African in South Africa” – Read Binyavanga Wainaina’s Heartfelt Response to the Xenophobic Violence
• “I Became an African in South Africa” – Read Binyavanga Wainaina’s Heartfelt Response to the Xenophobic Violence
• “I Became an African in South Africa” – Read Binyavanga Wainaina’s Heartfelt Response to the Xenophobic Violence
• Books LIVE Exclusive: Ben Okri on Teju Cole, Binyavanga Wainaina and the State of African Writing

Book details

• One Day I Will Write About This Place by Binyavanga Wainaina
  Book homepage
  EAN: 9781847083326
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• Kwani?: Bk. 4 edited by Binyavanga Wainaina
  EAN: 9789966983664
  Find this book with BOOK Finder!

• How to Write About Africa by Binyavanga Wainaina
  EAN: 9789966700827
  Find this book with BOOK Finder!

Image courtesy of Beowulf Sheehan PEN American Center