Good news for African poets: The submission period for the Book Prize kicked off September 15 and will run until November 15, 2012. It costs nothing to enter! To read how to submit to the prize, click here (http://africanpoetrybf.unl.edu/?page_id=21) or follow the guidelines below: * Eligibility: The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poets will only accept “first […]
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“Hope, thin-bodied, is bent, never broken.” The Katrina poems by Niyi Osundare
Niyi Osundare, a professor at the University of New Orleans, managed to hide in the attic with his wife when Katrina struck. For more than 24 hours they waited for rescue, the waters rising, swallowing up everything, reaching their feet… All along, the couple calling 911. Around 2.30 in the night they got a […]
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 […]
Skipping with Jack Mapanje
Continuing with exile, writing, language, fight for freedom and human rights, it’s not sufficient to mention what an Eastern European poet like Paul Celan has in common with African writing; for instance, Jack Mapanje. The consolation we find in language, however “foreign,” the haunting quality and the brokenness that language and rhythm carry to convey […]
Paul Celan on my mind
Paul Celan has been on my mind, particularly his most known poem, Death Fugue. The Romanian poet and translator wrote in German, but lived and died in Paris. I came to know his writings when I took a class on Eastern European writers, and never looked back because I found a lot in common with […]
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.
Poetry Book Launch moments
Thought I’d feature some pics of Give Me Room To Move My Feet poetry book launch in Kampala, Uganda. Pics taken by Masaani Art. So grateful to friends, family…who made the occasion memorable. Time to pack up and change station. All my love. To see more pics click here.
Loving the writing & poetry passion in Uganda
I greatly enjoyed meeting my friends, writers and poets during the Author of the month session at Femrite on Monday 19th December 2011. It’s always exciting to find that a love for poetry does exist amidst other things going on, and the poets are utilizing time and whatever opportunities available to gather together and discuss […]
‘Give Me Room To Move My Feet’ Book Launch in Uganda
I’m excited to be going home, catch up with family, friends, read and launch my poetry book: Give Me Room To Move My Feet in Uganda. Two years ago I launched this book in Senegal where it was published and where I was based. It gives me great pleasure that copies are now available in […]
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MKB: Thank you so much! I would love to read yours too ...
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Brenda C Wilson: Congratulations! I hope to get a chance to read yo...
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Kwasi opoku: Why did Nana usually say that Adjoa did not know t...
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