Images from the ‘Imagine Africa 500’ workshop in Malawi

The Story Club is an initiative started by Malawian writer Shadreck Chikoti and launched in Lilongwe, Malawi in December 2013. The Club has organised several events since then including live musical performances, a film screening, and talks by writers, filmmakers, and academics.

Last week The Story Club in conjunction with Panafrica Publishers, which incidentally Chikoti is an executive director of, held an international creative writing workshop in Lilongwe from 20^th to 25^th November. 10 Malawian authors Ekari Mbvundula, Tiseke Chilima, Alex Banda, Yolanda Kaluma, Immulanie Makande, Muthi Nhlema, Pius Nyondo, Tuntufwe Simwimba, Hagai Magai, and Aubrey Chinguwo went through current trends in the short story, elements of futuristic writing and the debate on “The writer as a social activist.”
From the event the writers are expected to write a story about Africa set 500 years from now, that will be featured in an anthology, IMAGINE AFRICA 500. The anthology will also contain 10 more stories from other African authors.

The workshop was facilitated by several personalities including Billy Kahora (editor of the Kenyan Kwani? and a two times nominee for the Caine Prize), Jackee Batanda (another Uganda writer, commonwealth regional prize winner 2003), Beatrice Lamwaka (a renowned Ugandan writer with many accolades including being shortlisted twice for the Caine Prize) and Trine Andersen (a writer from Denmark).
Here are some images from festival courtesy of our Jackee Batanda.