Jalada Africa: Mobile Literary and Arts Festival
Saturday 1 July
13:30 – 15:00

Creating living connections between writers and readers in East Africa, with Wanjeri Gakuru, Richard Oduor Oduku (Jalada Africa) and Louise Umutoni (Huza Press). Chaired by Zaahida Nabagereka (Afrikult.).

Jalada Africa was formed in 2013 by writers from Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Uganda and South Africa, and currently comprises of writers and artists, of African origin, from the continent and the diaspora. The Collective seeks to break boundaries by publishing works that stretch the reach of creative writing, expand the range of reading experiences, and diversify audiences for literature. In March 2017, Africa Writes joined Jalada on their inaugral Mobile Literary and Arts Festival, travelling through 5 East African countries in 28 days.

Ahybrid between a traditional place-based festival and a bus tour, the festival travelled through 5 countries and 11 towns: Kenya (Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisumu, Mombasa), Uganda (Kampala, Kabale), DRC (Goma), Rwanda (Kigali) and Tanzania (Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar), celebrating diversity and creating living connections between writers, artists, and diverse audiences in the big cities and small towns across East Africa.

At this event, Wanjeri Gakuru and Richard Oduor Oduku present a showcase of the festival, which included discussions literary readings and debates, spoken word and theatrical performances, creative writing and translations master classes, poetry workshops, exhibitions, and art installations. They will screen a documentary film of the festival, for the audience to get a sense of this pioneering literary journey, and will hold a discussion with Louise Umutoni about the My Song for Burundi poetry anthology.

Listen here

Included in Weekend Pass and Saturday Day Ticket. 

This festival and partnership was supported by a grant from the Britsh Council New Art New Audiences grant. Further details here.