Parrésia authors Richard Ali and Abubakar Adam Ibrahim with Zukiswa Wanner (South Africa), Ellah Allfrey (Zimbabwe), Otieno Owino (Kenya) and Vimbai Shire (Zimbabwe) Photo/PARRESIA

A Smashing Writivism 2014

The last week saw one of the biggest gatherings of African writers on this continent of ours for a long while as the Writivism Festival 2014 rolled into Kampala, Uganda.

There were also writing master classes, panels, speeches, and a variety of talks from Ellen Banda-Aaku, Samuel Kolawole, Zukiswa Wanner, literary agent David Godwin, Ella Allfrey, Charles Batambuze, Hilda Twongyeirwe, Julius Ocwinyo, David Kaiza, Laura Byaruhanga, Melissa Kiguwa, Moses Serubiri, Ayikwei Nii Parkes, Beverly Nambozo Nsengiyunva and Noviolet Bulawayo. Please note that this list is not conclusive.

The festival also saw the launch of Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbis ‘Kintu‘ novel as well as the opportunity for guests to attend a book signing at ARISTOC, Garden City with for well known writers NoViolet Bulawayo, Chika Unigwe, Zukiswa Wanner, Ayikwei Nii Parkes, Jennifer Makumbi and their books.

There was also a Google Hangout with Abubakar Adam Ibrahim and Nii Ayikwei Parks with this blog for those who couldn’t make it to Kampala that you can view here. Apologies for the dodgy audio.

The week-long festival wasn’t just for the literature diehards as there were plays, poetry performances, traditional dance displays, sketch comedy, and screenings of movies. Also on offer was an exhibition of Jimmy Spire Ssentongo’s newspaper cartoons. The event coincided with World Music Day so there were performances at the Gardens organised by the Alliance Francaise, Bayimba.

Alongside this, all this action was a market for arts and crafts dealers, book distributors, publishers and sellers, service providers, and fashion houses.

The highlight (Swaleh Mdoe would say “kilele cha sherehe”) was The Writivism Short Story Panel and Winners’ Announcement where Saaleha Idrees Bamjee was selected as Writivism winner for this year.

>> Related links:: African Author discuss Writivism – Video.

:: On Yesterday at #Writivism in #Kampala – Richard Ali’s blog

:: On My #Kampalan Hoard – Richard Ali’s blog

:: David Godwin on being a literary agent and what kind of book he is looking for – So Many Stories

:: Hashtag JenniferMakumbi! Hashtag Winning! – So many stories.

:: Days 1 and 2, Writivism 2014, Kampala – Saaleha.com

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