The Pa Gya! A Literary Festival 2023 was hosted in Accra, Ghana from October 13 – 15, 2023. Here are some of the highlights.
The Pa Gya! A Literary Festival features readings, panel discussions, performances, book launches and sales, literary prize awards, and much more. Pa Gya! comes from the Twi word meaning “to lift up” or “to strike flame” and it is aimed at igniting passion for the literary arts. It was first hosted by the Writers Project of Ghana and the Goethe-Institut in 2017 followed by other successful editions in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
The 2023 edition featured workshops, performances, readings, panel discussions and interviews, film screenings, and exhibitions in the West African nation. Here are some highlights.
Festival guests
There were over 130 guests at this literary festival from within the continent, from Europe, the Americas, and even Asia. I think the only continent that did not send a guest to this the seventh edition of Pa Gya! Had to be Antarctica. They came via the usual invitation direct from the organisers as well as in partnership with organisations like the British Council, the EU Delegation to Ghana, the Netherlands embassy, the Goethe-Institut, LOATAD, and other organisations. With such a large number of guests, one couldn’t have expected to meet with a large number and perhaps the organisers can consider managing that aspect.
Workshops
There were several workshops like “How to Write Dynamic Fiction” with Bisi Adjapon and “Creative Nonfiction: Personal Essays & Memoir” facilitated by Audrey Shipp conducted. Others were “Lorgorligi Locomotion – writing and performing” by Hondred Percent, “Introduction to Creative Writing” by Samantha Boateng Habadah, “Deep Dive – Introduction to Verse Journalism” by Apiorkor Seyiram Ashong-Abbey, and “Art Criticism” by Gary Raymond. Then there was “Writing as Thinking” by Pamela Nichols, “Literary Reading and Translation” by Ray Ndebi, “How To Write A Short Story” by Anni Domingo, and “Crafting Compelling Submissions for UK-based Literary Presses” by Bronia Humble. Also on offer was “From Pen To Publish – Independent Publishing” by Apiorkor Seyiram Ashong-Abbey.
Panels
A panel is a vital cog in a literary festival and this one had many, in fact maybe too many for a three-day event. With four or five events running concurrently, there were too many events being chased by too few people but those who rocked up did their best. One of the must-attend events was the “Sub Saharan Africa Literature and Publishing Sector Report” submitted by Anietie Isong as it contained a snapshot of several countries publishing scenes.
The panel “Literary Festivals: What do they do” featuring Yeow Kai Chai, Patron Henekou, Martin Egblewogbe, and Joeri Pharao was moderated by Pamela Nichols. A must-watch panel at the same time was “Using Comic Books to African Stories” with Elizabeth Wanjiku, Nana Akosua Hansen, Albert Tetteh, and Jeffrey Abban. There was the “Creating Literary Spaces” moderated by Kobby Ankomah with panellists Catherine Nichols, Rachael Kizza, James Murua, and Abdul Raafi Mohammed. Then there was the “Artificial Intelligence in Art and Literature” which had Ato Quayson, Kwaku Sakyi-Addo, and Orthiel Forte. “Prose Choices: Fiction of Creative Nonfiction” was presented by David Agyei-Yeboah and Audrey Shipp.
There was a fascinating event entitled “Sharing The Experience of Wintertuin Curacao and Pa Gya” with Gabriel Awuah, Richeline Joe, Elvira Bonafacio, Joeri Pharao, and Nana Yaw Sarpong. Another one was “Reading Romance as Self Care” which featured Empi Baryeh, Abena K Karikari, and Nana Adwoa T Amponsah-Mensah. There was also “Stories From History” with Anni Domingo and Selwyn Cudjoe.
Readings of prose and poetry
You expect readings at literary festivals and many of these were delivered by fiction writers and poets alike. Some of those who presented their work as readings or in conversation were Frances Williams, Farai Mudzingwa, Bisi Adjapon, Femi Elufowoju Jr, Babeth Fonchie Fotchind, Margaret Chideme, Jay Kophy, Nikitta Dede Adjirakor, Tawiah Naana Akua Mensah, Kobby Ben Ben, Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, Boakyewaa Glover, Johnson Asunka, Ray Ndebi, Dannabang Kuwabong, Kofi Anyidoho, Abena Awuku-Larbi, Martin Egblewogbe, Yeow Kai Chai, Efe Paul Azino, Obii Ifejika, Emma Ofosua, Henneh Kyereh Kwaku, Pamilerin Jacob, Akpa Arinzechukwu, Jakky Bankong-Obi, Diana Ferrus, vangi gantsho, and many others
Performances
There were several performances at this event including dramatized readings of Ama Ata Aidoo’s Changes and Our Sister Killjoy while Femi Elufowoju Jr gave a dramatised presentation of his forthcoming 54:60. There was also a thought-provoking play Abolition by Gabriel Gbadamosi.
Abena Korantemaa Oral History Prize: Awards
The winner of the Abena Korantemaa Oral History Prize: Awards this year was Madam Mercy Quansah and Adwoa Afframa Aggrey Sey. Read more about that by clicking here.
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