Fresh air: short story authors have garnered world attention this year, and made a mark in International Literature. January started with George Saunders’ “Tenth of December,” topping the list: “the best book you will read this year” a change from previous “best books” having been mostly novels. But btw: publishers will still insist that the […]
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“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 […]
When I think of Chinua Achebe
A lot has been said about Chinua Achebe and his commitment to African Literature, and I’m pleased that NorthEast Review asked me to add to the voices. Here’s my salute first published in NorthEast Review. Peace.
Poems walking in my head
Poems that have been walking in my head this month include Frank O’Hara’s My Heart, which only led me to return to Stephen Crane’s In the Desert, a title I always forget and think of as ‘The Heart.’ I attribute all this heart business to the fact that the past few weeks I’ve been trying […]
To all the poets out there: Montreal International Poetry Prize 2013
The Montreal International Poetry Prize is happy to announce the launch of its 2013 competition. The prize amount is $20,000. The line limit is a maximum of 40. Early deadline is March 31, and late deadline is May 15, 2013. You may consider entering a poem or two in this year’s competition, or passing on […]
Poets Demand End of Genocide Against the Hazara people
An open letter from World-wide Poets addressed to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, and President of the United States, Barack Obama. Dear Sirs, After more than a century of systematic crimes such as genocide, slavery, sexual abuse, war crimes, and discrimination, being a Hazara still appears to […]
Why Charles Simic is so so good… but then the dog.
So I’m walking to school–usually takes me 15 minutes–but this time at a brisk pace because it’s close to my teaching hour when this dog walks up to me just around the Birmingham Museum of Art. I look around for the owner, the dog looks around too, then inches closer to me. I swear it […]
All our love: Jayne Cortez
Jayne Cortez is much celebrated in life as she is dearly remembered. Was does not sound right. When I learned of her passing on yesterday, I alerted Frank Chipasula, because in our communication sometime we had talked about her. Frank is devastated, but like a true poet has chosen to mourn her with words of […]
The Hobbit Read-a-Thon at Woodlawn.
Today I put on my community gloves and went for the Hobbit Read-a-Thon, a day-long, out-loud, nonstop reading of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic, in Woodlawn, at the DISCO–The Desert Island Supply Co headquarters. I loved The Hobbit, which I read at a young stage, and was cast in a world of fantasy that I still appreciate […]
Cross-posting: Ugandan women’s rewarding pens
One of the rewards of being a night owl is getting to read the papers before the crack of dawn, and discovering familiar names in print. This journey we’re on, what a burden and joy at the same time! Often I wonder what goes on with other professionals. Do surgeons, for instance, ever get a […]
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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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