|
Momodou
Denmark
11831 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Jul 2007 : 23:09:14
|
GAMBIA’S FIRST INTERNATIONL LITERARY FESTIVAL STARTS TODAY
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
The first International Literary Festival in The Gambia commences today, Friday 13 to 15 July 2007, at the Sun Beach Hotel at Cape Point. The festival is organised by SABLE “Lit Mag,” an international literary magazine that features writers of African and Asian decent and other nationalities, from across the globe.
Internationally renowned writers, such as the esteemed award winning Nigerian novelist, Buchi Emecheta and the equally renowned award winning Malawian Poet, Jack Mapanje will be taking part in the second (2nd) SABLE “Litfest” (Literary Festival). Writers and performing artists include Dorothea Smart, Courttia Newlan and Bin Yavanga Wainaina. The festival will also witness the launching of “Reading the ceiling,” the debut novel by The Gambian female author, Dayo Forster, published in May 2007.
The other events to be included in the program will be creative writing workshops, discussions and talks on Gambian Literature, Black British Literature and a panel of international women writers from Australia, Zimbabwe, USA, the UK, and The Gambia. The writers will talk about the challenges and access to writing for women in their home countries. Other Gambian writers that will participate are Sally Singhateh and the play write Janet Badjan-Young. The festival will also include story-telling events for children and adults. The post festival activities will also include, workshops on writing fiction, writing poetry and a workshop on preparation for publication.
SABLE LitMag is a 132 page, black and white international publication for writers of colour produced by S.A.K.S media which offers training through e-internship on professional development for writers through its courses and workshops and a reading series which brings SABLE LitMag “Live and off the page” with regular performances and reading around the globe. SABLE LitMag was founded by Kadija Sesay, of Sierra Leonean parentage, in the late 1990’s. To date, SABLE has profiled major international renowned writers on its covers, including Liton Kwesi Johnson, Buchi Emecheta, Niyi Osundare, Merita Golden, Chinua Achebe, Sonia Sanchez, Kamau Waite and Walter Mosley.
The forthcoming issue will feature, Dennis Brutus, Nawal el Saadaw, and Caryl Phillips. “We believe that the move to The Gambia, complements the internationalism of the writers and the magazine. In the long term, we can see that The Gambia and in general West Africa, will be noted as an exciting and viable location for major art and literary festivals and by so doing, help to encourage a sustainable creative economy,” said Kadija Sesay.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 78/2007, 6 – 8 July 2007
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
Topic Locked
