Mittwoch, 03. Mai 2017, 10:00 - 17:00 iCal

NGUGI WA THIONG’O IN VIENNA

Workshop on Strategies for the Promotion of African Language Literature

Seminarraum 4, Institut für Afrikawissenschaften
Spitalgasse 2, Hof 5, 1090 Wien

Seminar, Workshop, Kurs


This workshop focuses on how Africans and other scholars, both in Africa and in the global African Diasporas, can promote African language literature. Following a major debate about the subject-matter of African literature between Ngugi wa Thiong’o (e.g. Ngugi 1986) and others, on the one hand, and Chinua Achebe (e.g. Achebe 1989) and others, on the other hand, the question what African literature is still remains largely unanswered. We are instead treated to paradigms by Europhone Africans like Anglophone African Literature, Francophone African Literature, Lusophone African literature, and, presumably in the near future, Sinophone African literature but hardly do we hear enough of the essential paradigm: Afriphone African Literature!

In this workshop, international scholars, writers and publishers will not only critically examine definitions and conceptualizations of African literature; they will also propose various strategies for the development and promotion of African language literature. Key questions which will be addressed in this workshop are: What is African literature? Can African language literature live side by side with literature about Africa written in other languages? What is the impact of digital and social media on writing in African languages? What is the role of the diaspora in the development of African languages and how do exchanges between the diaspora and the continent affect it? How can scholars, both in Africa and worldwide, promote African language literature?

 

10:00 – 13:00 Panel 1

Adams Bodomo (University of Vienna): Parallel text: a theoretical and methodological strategy for promoting African language literature in the twenty-first century

Moses Kilolo (Managing Editor of Jalada, Nairobi): Jalada's practical vision in promoting African language literatures

Anja Oed (University of Mainz): Enhancing the international visibility of creative writing in African languages: experiences and suggestions based on the history and practice of the Jahn Library for African Literatures

Oluwole Coker (University of Ile-Ife, Nigeria): Rethinking genres and modes in postcolonial literature: an African language literature example

 

13:00 – 14:30

Lunch Break

 

14:30 – 17:00 Panel 2

Anke Graness (University of Vienna): Decolonizing the mind: political dimensions of translation in Africa

Chibo Onyeji (VAW-Vienna African Writers Club): Promoting African language literature: a matter of choice and responsibility

Akin Bello (Publisher and Writer, Nigeria): A Practitioner’s Perspective (video talk with skype discussion)

Kgothatso Maditse (South Africa): FOMO: The alchemy of experience

Zur Webseite der Veranstaltung


Veranstalter

Institut für Afrikawissenschaften, Global African Diaspora Studies Research Platform


Kontakt

Ulrike Auer
Institut für Afrikawissenschaften
43201
ulrike.auer@univie.ac.at