Festival of Literature and Thought of South of Africa to be Held in Portugal

A number of African academics and authors will be taking part in the “Festival of Literature and Thought of south of Africa” to be held in Portugal, including Ivan Vladislavic, Harry Garuba, Joan Metelerkamp, Vonani Bila, Patricia Hayes and Joan Legalamitlwa from South Africa.

The festival, presented by Proximo Futuro (Next Future), a programme of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, will take place from 21 – 23 June 2013 and will focus on the impact that the end of apartheid in South Africa has had on the rest of the continent. Questions that will be raised include: “Nineteen years later, what is the panorama facing these countries in Southern Africa? What improvements have there been? What dynamics exist? What frustrations have been built up? What prospects are there for the next future?”

Four discussions will be held, namely “The State of Arts”, “Literature”, “Thought and Politics” and “Poetry”. In the session on literature, Vladislavic will be joined by Angolan writer Ondjaki and Kenya writer Binyavanga Wainaina.

Taking part in the poetry session, where poems will be read in English and Portuguese, will be Metelerkamp and Bila, as well as Ugandan poet Peter Kagayi and Botswana poet TJ Dema.

In 2012, we organised a public debate about the specific cultural, political and artistic issues facing North Africa and the Middle East. This year, we will be holding a similar type of debate, but on this occasion it will be wider-reaching and will focus on the region of the south of Africa, or, in other words, the broader region of Southern Africa. 1994 was the year that marked the end of apartheid in Africa, with Frederik Willem de Klerk relinquishing his hold on power and with Nelson Mandela being elected president. But this was not only the end of an inhuman regime for South Africa: it had repercussions all over Africa, and, above all, in the region of Southern Africa. Nineteen years later, what is the panorama facing these countries in Southern Africa? What improvements have there been? What dynamics exist? What frustrations have been built up? What prospects are there for the next future? A vast group of leading figures from this area and specialists who monitor the dynamics of these countries have been invited to discuss these questions by taking part in this Festival of Literature and Thought of south of Africa.

Complete festival details: Proximo Futuro

Book details

Good Morning, Comrades by Ondjaki
EAN: 9781897231401
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The Loss Library by Ivan Vladislavic
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EAN: 9781415201626
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One Day I Will Write About This Place by Binyavanga Wainaina
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EAN: 9781847080219
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Literary Landscapes: From Modernism to Postcolonialism by Harry Garuba, Ina Grabe, Merry M Pawlowski, Carrol Clarkson, Johan Geertsema
EAN: 9780230553163
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