Next Journalism:
events - literary

Dates: 28 October - 2 November 2012

MAI is pleased to announce LittWorld 2012 will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, October 28 to November 2, 2012. “MAI returns to Africa with the goal of building on momentum from the 2009 conference, which ranked among the best so far, and to increase our training support on the continent,” said MAI president John Maust.

Every three years, MAI convenes LittWorld, the only international conference of its kind, providing intensive training on strategic, publishing-related topics. The conference gathers more than 150 publishers, editors and writers from 30-plus countries.

Barine Kirimi, chair of the local host committee, welcomes Christian publishing colleagues worldwide. “Jambo! You will find empowerment and encouragement as you fellowship with a global community, united with one purpose. You can't afford to miss Littworld 2012 in Kenya. Mark the date now. Karibu!

LittWorld 2012 will include a weekend pre-conference exclusively for Africa’s French-speaking Christian publishing staff and writers. Confirmed speaker Daniel Bourdanné, general secretary of IFES and former publisher said, “I feel very encouraged to know you are planning to come back to Africa in 2012. This will certainly help build momentum for the publishing work in Africa, which remains fragile.”

The African Church increases annually faster than anywhere else in the world. But many African believers lack Christian literature written by Africans. The continent is also the world's youngest region; children under 15 make up more than 40 percent of its people. Enormous potential exists to bolster the Church and reach a new generation via life-giving books and articles.

Men and women from 94 countries have participated in the conference since it began in 1986. Through LittWorld, MAI has seen publishing houses born, new books conceived, and skills refined for more effective publishing. Inevitably, participants take away a new or reinforced commitment to publish books and articles by local authors in the heart language and culture of readers.

James Kwok, a psychologist and writer from Singapore, said, “What a great privilege for me to attend LittWorld 2009 Kenya, and share in the joy of Jesus with brothers and sisters in Christ from around the world, while being equipped to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ through the written word.”

Contact Information:

For inquiries: info@littworld.org or call (630) 260-9063.

Website: http://www.littworld.org

Date: 19 May 2011

Ebiks Theatre Studio, Ibadan, cordially invites you to the public presentation of Early Flights a collection of stories by Aderinsola Lewis, Olamide Abiodun, Kashif Abdulkareem, Adetola Lewis, Amamat Akanni, and Eriakha Edgar. The book is edited by Ebika Anthony.

The event will be held at 10 AM at Alliance Francaise, beside Magistrate Court, Seventh Day Adventist Road, Iyaganku, Ibadan. Emmanuelle Esnault (Director, Alliance Francaise, Ibadan) will be the chief host.

Contact Information:

For inquiries: RSVP - Fatimah Abdulkareem (immediate past president of NAWOJ) at 08034276220

Dates: 9 - 14 May 2011

The book fair will hold from Monday, 9 to 14 May, 2010 at the Multi-Purpose hall of the University of Lagos between 9 a.m and 6 p.m daily. One of the objectives of the book fair is to showcase Nigerian books and present books from other countries, thus increasing the variety of books available to the Nigerian reading public at affordable rates.

Publishers, Printers, Booksellers, Librarians/Libraries, Schools, student, general public, etc are invited to the 10th edition of Nigeria International Book Fair. It is an annual event where stakeholders in the publishing industry in Nigeria and other countries gather for networking and marketing of their products and services.

The Nigerian Book Fair Trust (NBFT) is a coalition of the major stakeholders in the Nigerian book sector, comprising the Nigerian Publishers Association, Nigerian Book Foundation, Nigerian Booksellers Association, Association of Nigerian Printers, Nigerian Library Association, Association of Nigerian Authors and the Association of Non-Fiction and Academic Authors of Nigeria. NBFT is the organiser of the annual Nigeria International Book Fair (NIBF) and National Book Fairs in Abuja, Enugu and Ife.

Contact Information:

For inquiries: Nigeria Publishers Association GPO Box 2541, Ibadan, Nigeria, Tel: +234 (0)2/2413396, Fax: +234 (0)1/3453646

Website: http://www.nibfng.org/

Dates: 11 and 25 May 2011

The Night of the Poets is an exciting platform to revive live poetry and music performance in Gauteng. This fortnightly poetry session will showcase emerging and established poets in unspoken word poetry, fused with reggae sounds.

11 May
Dashiki Poetry of the 70's
Lefifi Tladi, Lawrence Moloisi
& Lenyatso Mathole, with Primrose Mrwebi (Cape Town)
Band: Dashiki Band

25 May
Africa Day
Phillipa Yaa de Villiers, with Manikongo (Zimbabwe)
Band: Zion Vibration

Via: computicket.com

Date: 29 April 2011 (8pm)

The Writers Project of Ghana and the Goethe Institute presents Kofi Akpabli as guest writer for the eighth reading in the Ghana Voices Series. These monthly book readings give you a chance to meet, read and hear Ghanaian writers.

Kofi Akpabli is a freelance journalist and skilled writer and will read to us from his debut work of creative non-fiction, A Sense of Savannah- Tales of a Friendly Walk through Northern Ghana. The 150 page glossy book is a collection of travel articles depicting the culture, tourism and landscape of the three Northern Regions. Kofi Akpabli is the CNN/Multichoice African Journalist for Arts and Culture and also the Ghana Journalists Association’s 2010 Best Journalist for Arts and Tourism.

The Ghana Voices Series provides a platform to explore the synchrony between the literary arts and societal change in Ghana. We invite readers to follow this oral anthology as we bring together the treasure of our literary heritage. Kofi Akpabli shares with us in a relaxed ambience, his tales following which the floor will be open for discussions.

Location: Goethe Institute, Cantonments, 30, Kakramadu Road, next to NAFTI, Accra, Ghana

Contact Information:

For inquiries: click here

Website: http://writersprojectghana.com

Deadline: 23 April 2011

What? Poets and Writers Online (POWO) is a forum for Poets and Writers with blogs and those with an interest in using the internet in promotion of, or as a platform for their writing.

When? First meet-up will be on 23rd April, 2011 ( 11.30am – 2pm)

Where? The IHub located on 4th flr of Bishop Magua Building along Ngong Road (opposite Uchumi Ngong Rd.)

Who should attend? Poets, Creative Writers, anyone with an interest in writing

Guest Speakers

Joseph Mucheru – Google East & Central Africa Lead

Njoroge Matathia ( Potash) – Kenya Urban Narrative

Wamathai – Poet, Blogger & Organiser of Wamathai Poetry Event.

Poetry performance by

Muki Garang – Poet, activist, Hip Hop Artist, Techie

Logon to http://powo.eventbrite.com/ to sign up for this FREE event.

Via: kenyanpoet.blogspot.com

Contact Information:

For inquiries: PoetsNWriters@gmail.com

Website: for tickets - http://powo.eventbrite.com/

Deadline: 14 April 2011

Time: 4:00pm - 7:00pm

Location: Korean Cultural Centre, 2nd Floor, Rivers House, Ralph Shodeinde Street, Central Business Area (opposite ministry of finance)

This edition of the PRP4 will feature Dr. Isiaka Aliagan, 'Olubu' Join us as we engage the playwright on the issues and theatrics of this new play. Copies of the book available at the Korean Centre from Thursday 31st.

Isiaka Aliagan’s new play, ‘Olubu’ is one play that has re-enacted the unending rivalry between man and the elemental forces that seeks to lord above him. Human will and the supernatu...ral, pre-eminent posturing of the gods, as was see in Ola Rotimi’s The Gods Are Not To Blame, for instance was again the case in this new play.

‘Olubu’ is about Obotun, a poor but proud mother and his son Olubu. Upon the dead of Olubu’s father, Oguntade, his Uncle despises him so much so that he calls him bastard, a derogatory name among the people of Oke’gbe. And soon, the entire village, including Jogo, the drunkard soon started calling hima bastard.

That however was the least of Olubu’s problems as he also had to contend the myriad of misfortunes that follows him about. Everything he touches or get involved in will end up in calamity. One of such situation was the belief that it was the small quarrel he had with his Uncle that led in the latter’s death. Also Omokun, the only girl who understands Olubu and had agreed to marry him, is stopped by her mother, who despises Olubu for his nature. Sooner, Omokun becomes a devotee of the Imole group (a traditional group committed to the worship of the goddess of the village). Omokun believes there is something wrong with the birth of Olubu and advises him to consult Ifa. Olubu then decides to seek Ifa’s help and his findings are not pleasant. It opens a can of worms that preceded his conception.

It was revealed that his mother, Obotun, when still a young girl, had been betrothed to a sea prince in the spirit to, which meant that she cannot marry any mortal man except a sacrifice is made. Though Oguntade who seeks her hand in marriage accepts to do the sacrifice but before her marriage, Obotun was raped by a madman.

When Tade finds out what has happened, he decides to conceal the shame, especially upon discovering that he was sterile and cannot impregnate a woman. At the point of his death, Tade confides in his his brother Tobi with the instruction that the shame still be kept a family secret. Tobi fails to keep the secret and that triggers the dramatic conflict. Tobi calling Olubu a bastard leads to bloodshed and further ominous revelations that culminated in the tragedy of both mother and son. In a desperate attempt to conceal the secret, Obotun killed Jaba and eventually Tobi; so she can live a free life. But the more she tries the more the gods upturn her attempts.

‘Olubu’ is an exciting drama whose strength lies in the rich Yoruba traditional setting which complements the theme, language and characterizations in the evolvement of the play to make it a director’s dream, in terms of stageability since plays are meant to be performed and not merely read like other forms of writing.

The playwright however must be commended for the detailed attention paid to the editing and final packaging of this book, as that has been the albatross of most recent publications in Nigeria in recent time. There is no doubting the fact that Olubu will be a huge success whether on the stage, or on the bookshelves.

Confirm your attendance here.

Date: 25 March 2011

The 8th edition of the popular BookJam@Silverbird Abuja holds on Friday 25th March 2011 at the Silverbird Entertainment Centre, by 6pm. This edition will feature Lagos-based poet and advertising practitioner, Chike Ofili; Abuja-based poet and journalist Diego Okenyodo; playwright and communications lecturer, Godswill Okiyi; and novelist and banker, Stanley Osuji.

Ofili, former chair of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Lagos chapter, is the author of the poetry volume, The Weight of Waiting, which was enlisted for the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in 2010; Okenyodo’s From a Poem to Its Creator made the shortlist for the The Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2009; Okiyi’s play, Who’s Afraid of Adams, was recently released; and Osuji’s riveting 3-in-one story collection, Positive, was also recently released.

The BookJam@Silverbird Abuja is a collaboration of the Abuja Literary Society and Silverbird. It is anchored by co-host of the Abuja Poetry Slam, Jide Attah, and consists of book readings, book signings, raffle draw and a discussion by the guest writers. In addition, there will be special Slam poetry performance by some of Abuja’s finest Slam champions. The February edition featured poet and novelist, Lola Shoneyin; Actor, poet and playwright, Femi Branch; poet and corporate communications practitioner, Kufre Ekanem. Abuja BookJam holds on the last Friday of every month, at 6pm.

Dates: 11 - 12 June 2011

The Festival is a fiscally sponsored project of the New York Foundation for the Arts, a non-profit organization, celebrating stories of the Mixed experience. Each year the Festival brings together film and book lovers, innovative and emerging artists, and multiracial families and individuals for two days of workshops, readings, film screenings and live performance including music, comedy and spoken word.

Festival Co-Founders Heidi Durrow and Fanshen Cox met in New York a decade ago at an audition for a show about multi-racial people. Both were sure that the other would ‘steal’ the role from the only other ‘blue-eyed, curly haired light-skinned’ girl. When both were cast, they began a long and fruitful friendship, supporting each other as artists and through the various challenges they faced surrounding their search for identity on their own terms.

In 2007, the two created the popular podcast: Mixed Chicks Chat, the live, weekly show about being racially and culturally Mixed (www.mixedchickschat.com). The show has a loyal following of live chatters, more than 4,000 downloads per month and won ‘Best Podcast’ from the Black Weblog Awards. The hosts have been featured on NPR, CNN, and in the Guardian, The San Francisco Chronicle and Blur Digital.

It was while talking to guests of Mixed Chicks Chat that Fanshen and Heidi realized they had to create a space where artists who identify as Mixed could display their works and encourage others to do so as well. This is how the Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival was born! The first festival, held in 2008, was a huge success and fostered excitement and a dedication to continue to search out and create content that addresses the Mixed experience.

In the last two years, the Festival has showcased many talented filmmakers, writers, and performers including Rebecca Walker, Kip Fulbeck, Danzy Senna, Carleen Brice, Kim Wayans & Kevin Knotts, Angela Nissel, Neil Aitken, Sundee Frasier, Karyn Parsons, Dr. Maya Soetoro-Ng and many many more.

We look forward to seeing your work, encouraging you to continue to share your story and to meeting you at the 2011 Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival!

Dates: 13 - 15 May 2011

FLF 2011 will again celebrate the magic of words from 13 to 15 May with a gathering of over 90 authors, poets, editors, illustrators and chairpeople taking part in 70 events.

With a continuing focus on good accessible writing and diversity, the many Southern African writers range from renowned to little-known, and the topics from biography, history and politics to poetry, literary fiction and love stories.

The FLF was started in 2007 by a committee of six volunteers who aimed to create a festival of mostly English-speaking local writers, with a few coming from overseas. The ultimate goal was to raise funds for a new community library where it is most needed. They weren’t sure if fifty or five hundred people would come – and well over a thousand seats were sold.

In four years, attendance has more than quadrupled and it is now one of the leading literary events on the South African calendar. Thanks to the people who buy tickets and generous funding from sponsors, the FLF Library Fund has also swelled to the point where a new library is being discussed with the local municipality. FLF associates and sponsors Porcupine Ridge Wines and the Sunday Times continue to emphasise that their involvement is specifically to promote reading and encourage writing.

This year book lovers will once more flock to Franschhoek in the third weekend of May and hurry from venue to venue through village streets which buzz with book talk. All the destinations are within a few minutes’ walk, including the bookshop and booking facilities in the Town Hall and a great range of cafés and restaurants, small hotels, guest houses, interesting shops and more bookshops.

Publishers do book launches and hold dinners. Poets bring their work to a rousing open mic session. Within a short distance by car are mountain walks, wine farms, wineries and wine-tastings – notably at Boekenhoutskloof, makers of Porcupine Ridge wines.

FLF events are informal, often spirited discussions between several writers, with some one-on-one conversations. People in the news like Jonathan Jansen, Max du Preez, Karabo Kgoleng, Justice Malala, Jenny Crwys-Williams, Peter Harris and John Maytham will rub shoulders with academics, struggle stalwarts, poets, publishers, journalists and first-time novelists still hoping to make their names.

Winging in from America are Zakes Mda, Peter Godwin and Douglas Rogers. Barbara Trapido will come from Oxford, to be joined by Anna Trapido, our first mother and daughter team. Arriving from Scotland, courtesy of the British Council, are top Scottish writer Janice Galloway and Jamaican poet and novelist Kei Miller of Glasgow University. Making his way from Doha will be satirical blogger Azad Essa. From Nairobi will come prizewinning author Doreen Baingana, courtesy of the African Arts Initiative. The French Institute will be bringing out (a French writer).

Friday 13 May will be of special interest to new-generation readers with events about graphic novels, speculative and cellphone fiction, satirical blogs (notably Holy Cows to Beefburgers) and work in progress. Half-price tickets will be available to those with student cards.

FLF 2011 will pay tribute to the King James Bible on its 400th anniversary in a special language event that will celebrate its magnificent English. Other events of special interest to writers will be On Being Edited with Ivan Vladislavić and Tim Couzens, Mindfields, The Write Honourables, Men of Letters, and Do I Give Up The Day Job?

Madiba fans will enjoy Writing Mandela, and more of South Africa’s favourite topics will be addressed by Jonathan Jansen and others in Leadership And Innovation, How To Fix Our Schools, and Healing Our Nation. Controversies may erupt in 1994 And All That, Conspiracy Theories, Mzansi, Outcasts, and Zimbos. Doctors who write will feature in Blood, Guts, Sweat And Tears.

And as usual, there will also be performances by Youth Affair, a group of talented youngsters directed by a local rising star of TV soaps, Jeremy Davids, now working on a PhD in Drama.

Date: 26 March 2011

Time: 4:00pm - 7:00pm

Location: Pen and Pages Bookstore, White House Plaza, Plot 79, Adetokunbo Ademola

Emerging poet, Awaal Gata, will take his turn in the spotlight during the March 26 edition of the Guest Writer Session, an initiative of the Abuja Writers’ Forum (AWF), by 4pm at the Pen and Pages Bookstore, White House Plaza, Plot 79, Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, an event which will include the usual side attractions of poetry performance, mini art exhibition, live music and a raffle-draw.

Mr Gata who will be the third featured writer of the first quarter of 2011, after the successful outings of Ikeogu Oke (January) and Toyin Adewale-Gabriel (February), got bitten by the writing bug at the early age of nine, partly inspired by the many books owned by his father which he was surrounded with.

Born in Jos, he grew up in Kuta, the rustic headquarters of Shiroro Local Government in his home state of Niger, where he had his primary education and part of his secondary studies. He is currently studying law at the University of Abuja. His debut collection of poems, Notes From Ndaduma, appeared in 2009.