7 – 9 July 2023
www.africawrites.org/exeter/
From Friday 7 to Sunday 9 July 2023 Africa Writes returns to Exeter, hosting the second festival weekend. We’ll be celebrating contemporary literature from Africa and the African diaspora with a series of performances, book launches and workshops.
Africa Writes is the UK’s leading platform celebrating the best contemporary African writing and as part of Exeter’s UNESCO City of Literature programme, we’ve been working to establish an Exeter-based edition of the festival. As those who attended last year’s festival will testify, the events were warm and friendly, the conversation open and generous, and books were celebrated. This year, in hosting events around Al Saddiq Al-Raddi’s A Friend’s Kitchen and Leila Aboulela’s River Sprit there is an emphasis on looking to writing from Sudan – at this particularly crucial time for the country.
Africa Writes – Exeter is brought to you by the Royal African Society and Saseni! working in partnership with the University of Exeter, local independent bookshop Bookbag and creative hub Roots Resistance.
You can register on Eventbrite to attend any individual event (see links below) or get a wristband to have access to the full weekend by making a donation to support the festival here.
Friday 7 July 2023
A Friend’s Kitchen: with Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi, Bryar Bajalan and David Shook
Time: 18:00 – 19:30 (BST)
Location: Bookbag & Sacred Grounds
Tickets: FREE – register via Eventbrite
Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi reads from his latest collection, followed by an in conversation with translators Bryar Bajalan and David Shook.
An Evening of Words, Music & Performance hosted by Roots Resistance
Time: 20:00 – 22:30 (BST)
Location: Bookbag & Sacred Grounds
Tickets: FREE – register via Eventbrite
Featuring Travis Alabanza, Ros Martin, Nour Khairi and Aaliyah Kara with music brought by Seyi and Hodan.
Saturday 8 July 2023
Creative Workshop hosted by Roots Resistance (for 16-25 years)
Time: 11.30 – 13.30 (BST)
Location: Exeter Phoenix
Tickets: FREE – register via Eventbrite
A creative workshop for 16-25 years olds interested in writing, theatre and social expression.
Nightbloom: Peace Adzo Medie in Conversation with Doseline Kiguru
Time: 14:30 – 15.30 (BST)
Location: Exeter Phoenix
Tickets: FREE – register via Eventbrite
Following her critically acclaimed debut, join us for Peace Adzo Medie’s discussion of her new novel, Nightbloom, with Doseline Kiguru.
Here Again Now: Okechukwu Nzelu in Conversation with Fiona Williams
Time: 16:00 – 17.15 (BST)
Location: Exeter Phoenix
Tickets: FREE – register via Eventbrite
Okechukwu Nzelu and Fiona Williams discuss their books and writing
The Middle Daughter: Chika Unigwe in Conversation with Nour Khairi
Time: 18:00 – 19:00 (BST)
Location: Bookbag & Sacred Grounds
Tickets: FREE – register via Eventbrite
Join us to hear Chika Unigwe talk about her latest novel The Middle Daughter.
River Spirit: Leila Aboulela in Conversation with Billy Kahora
Time: 19:30 – 21:00 (BST)
Location: Bookbag & Sacred Grounds
Tickets: FREE – register via Eventbrite
Leila Aboulela will be in conversation with writer Billy Kahora about River Spirit, her writing craft and engaging with Sudan’s histories.
Sunday 9 July 2023
Adanko Writing Workshop with Chika Unigwe (for 7-12 years)
Time: 10:15 – 12.15 (BST)
Location: Exeter Phoenix
Tickets: FREE – register via Eventbrite
A picture book writing workshop with Chika Unigwe and Dinah Sarah Aldin.
