In March 2019 Africa Writes festival co-producers, Caitlin Pearson and Marcelle Akita, travelled to Rwanda and Kenya on a scoping trip funded by British Council to connect with literature professionals. This trip was especially important for this year’s festival programme,…
A Snapshot of Margaret Busby’s Illustrious Career Born in Accra to parents of Bajan, Trinidadian and Dominican origin, and educated in London University, Margaret Busby’s legacy certainly transcends borders. In the 1960s, became Britain’s youngest and first black female book…
The AFREADA x Africa Writes Competition is back! As we prepare for #AfricaWrites2019 we are excited to announce that the Africa Writes x AFREADA competition has returned for the third year running! As part of this year’s programme, we will…
In the run up to #AfricaWrites2019 we will be discussing the art of proverbs, Igbo proverbs in particular. In Igbo society, as in many African societies, proverbs play a key role in cultural expression and figurative communication. Chigozie Obioma’s…
The Africa Writes: Young Voices programme seeks to open up the world of African and diaspora literature to young people in schools and inspire them to write and perform their own poetry. Guided by poets and facilitators from the Africa…
Africa Writes is back this summer with an exciting programme showcasing the best new writing from the continent and the diaspora, Friday 5th July to Sunday 7th July at the British Library. As well as a vibrant day time programme…
Chigozie Obioma in conversation and The Fishermen Sunday 7 July, 15:30 – 18:30 £20 / £18 / £15 / £12 for RAS Members A double-bill of mythic Igbo traditions including a staged reading and a conversation with Chigozie Obioma Man…
New Daughters of Africa Saturday 6 July, 19:00 – 20:30 £15 / £12 / £10 / £9 for RAS Members Celebrating Black women’s writing in a landmark anthology Twenty-five years after Margaret Busby’s landmark anthology Daughters of Africa, this new companion volume…
Our Bodies Speak Poetry (BSL Interpreted) Friday 5 July, 19:00 – 21:00 £12 / £8 / £7.20 for RAS Members An evening of intergenerational poetry and story-telling exploring the body as a site of power, possibilities and resistance. What does the…
Africa Writes 2019 Brought to you by the Royal African Society Friday 5th July – Sunday 7th July 2019 British Library, 96 Euston Rd, London NW1 2DB Africa Writes returns for an exciting summer weekend at the British Library celebrating…