Cole, Adichie, others for African Literature festival

A release on the bookslive website, stated that topics to be discussed at the event, include scenarios for where the world will be in 2050, the landscape of the burgeoning African gay rights movement, the hidden literary and political realities of Africa, the value of age and wisdom when it comes to artistic expression, a […]

A release on the bookslive website, stated that topics to be discussed at the event, include scenarios for where the world will be in 2050, the landscape of the burgeoning African gay rights movement, the hidden literary and political realities of Africa, the value of age and wisdom when it comes to artistic expression, a discussion led by African elders, how the West perpetuates misunderstandings of African culture; and how to get more than ‘the single story’ out of Africa.
According to the Festival Director, László Jakab Orsós, focusing on the African continent is an ambitious undertaking.
Orsós said: “We cannot, in a one week-long Festival, even come close to presenting the entirety of the riveting literary landscapes throughout Africa. But we’re excited to present a select group of writers and artists who, I believe, will inspire New York audiences with their uncompromising and brilliant work. It’s our privilege to put the spotlight on these writers and it is my hope that they will challenge all of us to create art that is bravely subversive and relevant to our time.”
Adichie who is a co-curator of the programme, will also deliver the annual ‘Arthur Miller Freedom to Write Lecture,’ tomorrow, on the closing night of the festival. The lecture has in the past been delivered by the likes of Festival founder, Salman Rushdie, Christopher Hitchens, Wole Soyinka, Umberto Eco and Justice Sonia Sotomayor, among others.
Lola Shoneyin was part of the discussion panel on the opening night on the topic ‘The future is now,’ Kehinde Bademosi along with Zanele Muholi, Binyavanga Wainaina discussed ‘Queer Futures’ last Wednesday.
Other topics included ‘Africa in Two Acts,’ ‘Stories That Travelled,’ ‘The Arrivants,’ ‘African Poets: The New Generation’ and ‘Writing Gender,’ among others, which Shoneyin, Okorafor, Cole, Abani and Adéwálé Àjàdí discussed during the week-long fiesta alongside other panellists.  
The event which is in its 11th year began last Monday, May 4 and features other writers including Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Binyavanga Wainaina, Michael Ondaatje, Yusef Komunyakaa, Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, Richard Flanagan, Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket) and Mona Eltahawy, among others.