Nick Makoha’s launched his poetry collection Kingdom of Gravity at the Ntinda Complex in Kampala, Uganda on July 13, 2017. His panel was moderated by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi.
Nick Makoha first came to the notice of this blogger when he won the Brunel University African Poetry Prize 2015. Makoha who fled Uganda, because of the civil war during the Idi Amin dictatorship has lived in Kenya, Saudi Arabia and currently resides in London. He has toured the UK with his solo show My Father & Other Superheroes as well as represented Uganda at Poetry Parnassus as part of the Cultural Olympiad held in London.
This last Thursday at the Ntinda Complex, the poet unveiled his collection Kingdom of Gravity to a crowd of very enthusiastic Kampalans. The book which was published by Peepal Tree Press relates to the horrors of the civil war that ousted the brutal tyranny of Idi Amin in Uganda, a war of liberation that brought its own barbarous atrocities. It was shortlisted for the 2017 Felix Dennis Prize for Best First Collection. Here are some images from the event courtesy of our friends Soo Many Stories in Kampala.
Here are tweets from those who were at the event.
Poet @NickMakoha reading in Kampala ahead of his book launch &reading @Writivism pic.twitter.com/OIbIUVPZYW
— Harriet Anena (@ahpetite) July 13, 2017
The world separates us through colour – @NickMakoha @Writivism
— Harriet Anena (@ahpetite) July 13, 2017
I’m made to feel like there’s something wrong being in my skin – @NickMakoha on his experience as writer of colour in UK @Writivism
— Harriet Anena (@ahpetite) July 13, 2017
Being black is not a homogeneous experience. It’s a spectrum – @NickMakoha @Writivism
— Harriet Anena (@ahpetite) July 13, 2017
Rather than avoiding the past, we should figure out how to talk about it – @NickMakoha @Writivism
— Harriet Anena (@ahpetite) July 13, 2017
I want to write something that moves me – @NickMakoha @Writivism
— Harriet Anena (@ahpetite) July 13, 2017
Now Starting: The launch of @NickMakoha‘s Kingdom of Gravity. Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi doing introductions. #Writivism2017 pic.twitter.com/VsaAVYxNgJ
— #MEiREAD (@SoooManyStories) July 13, 2017
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