May Highlights: 1. Finishing strong in spite of… (whichever way you interpret that). 2. Mating turkeys. The thrill of joy to watch strutting turkeys in my yard, full of pride (shame has no place here). 3. Mildred Barya in Conversation with Michael Hettich. I have the greatest pleasure to share with you this comprehensive interview titled: […]
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Translation of Susan Kiguli’s poems from Animal Portraits
One of the exciting things about creative collaboration is seeing old works in new print, form, version and language. In May, I’ll be taking part in the Spring 2014 Global Digital Humanities conference at Shantou University in China, and will conduct a poetry workshop and also participate in the conversation on International Literature. I’m delighted […]
“Achebe, no father of African literature — Soyinka” [Vanguard]
So I’ve been working on a piece that I thought was going to be a simple blog article highlighting my own refusal to join voices that suggest African Literature can be categorized into two head branches: Achebe versus Soyinka. This is not only wrong but downright shallow, a reductive element that I believe has roots […]
Why Don’t You Carve Other Animals: Yvonne Vera
My first time to read Yvonne Vera, about 14 years ago, I wished I had written most of her novels and short stories. One particular story that stood out was, Why Don’t You Carve other Animals. Lately I’ve been thinking about that story, rereading, and still wishing that I had written it. I first saw […]
Niyi Osundare and Earth poems
Besides Jack Mapanje, we had Niyi Osundare, whom we loved because of his allegory, his closeness to Earth, how so attached he was to land. He reminded us of simple pleasures based on things you can touch and feel: the harvest of yams, peeling, cooking, pounding, and savoring the yam. We liked the sexual images […]
The Girl Who Can…
I’d forgotten how beautiful this story is by Ama Ata Aidoo. Told simply and boldly. I remember reading Ama’s other story: She Who Would Be King—another great one–and admiring her vision for women’s top leadership positions. That was before any country in post-colonial Africa had a female president. A few years down the road, (in […]
The word is “self curate or die”
The title, “Self curate or die,” is a quote from the main character in Dana Spiotta‘s novel: Stone Arabia. A wonderful book that I’ll feature in detail some time. Just happy to meditate on that particular quote which my prof. and pal, Arthur Flowers, has embraced on his webpage. I’m so thrilled to see him […]
Celebrating Okot p’Bitek and the poets of the 60’s
Okot p’Bitek might be the most remembered and known Ugandan poet, born June 7, 1931 – July 20, 1982. His most popular books: Song of Lawino (1969), Song of Ocol (1970), and Two Songs: Song of a Prisoner, Song of Malaya (1971) enjoyed a cherished position for years on Uganda’s syllabus for high school and college. […]
In the spirit of sharing
A review in today’s Monitor For my readers in Ug the book is available at Aristoc Booklex. All my love.
Mat Johnson’s PYM: A Historical and Satirical Fantasy
I was attracted to a novel with three letters: PYM. Picked randomly in the mystery section. Since I was in search of mystery works, I thought it would do. One other thing I did remember to consider was reading the first sentence: “Always thought if I didn’t get tenure I would shoot myself or strap […]
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MKB: Dear Nyakisa, Good news! "The Animals of My Earth...
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Nyakisa Beth: Will it be available in Uganda?...
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Wm Epes: Dr. Barya: Hope you are well. Enj...
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