Helon Habila, Kopano Matlwa and Vamba Sherif Explore the Role of the African Writer
Authors Helon Habila, Kopano Matlwa and Vamba Sherif recently attended the Dutch literature festival, Writers Unlimited, where they discussed the expectations placed on the African author.
Talking to Radio Netherlands Worldwide, Habila, author of Oil on Water, says that many African writers feel obliged ot write about typical African themes like war and polygamy.
Sherif, author of Bound to Secrecy, says people like to exoticise African literature, without realising that African authors are often influenced by Russian, Arabic or American novels. According to Habila, some African writers are even rejected for not being “African enough”. The three authors also commented on the expectation that all African characters must be black. However, Matlwa, author of Coconut and Spilt Milk, notes that, despite these setbacks, “there is a revolution going on” with an increase of African writers defying these expectations.
Radio Netherlands reports on the conversation:
Storytelling has always been a part of African culture, but the translation to literature is only just beginning. What is the role of the contemporary African writer? At the start of the Dutch literature festival Writers Unlimited, Radio Netherlands Worldwide talked to three African writers from different corners of the continent.
A taste of African culture brings some warmth to the cold winter in The Hague, the Netherlands. The Writers Unlimited literature festival celebrates its 17th anniversary with a packed programme filled with lectures, discussions, music, movies and food.
The festival offers an annual platform for writers from all over the world, but this year the African influences are remarkable. Babah Tarawally, a writer from Sierra Leone and program coordinator of the event, has certainly made his mark.
Book details
- Oil on Water by Helon Habila
EAN: 9780393339642
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- The Granta Book of the African Short Story edited by Helon Habila
EAN: 9781847082473
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- Coconut by Kopano Matlwa
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EAN: 9781770093362
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- Spilt Milk by Kopano Matlwa
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EAN: 9781770097919
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- Bound to Secrecy by Vamba Sherif
EAN: 9781906300111
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Photo courtesy Saskia Houttuin
Apr
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