Pa Gya! A Literary Festival In Accra for October 2017

The Pa Gya! Literary Festival is set to happen at the Goethe Institut in Accra, Ghana from October 20-22, 2017.

It’s been a busy time in the Ghana literary scene in recent times with many things happening from festivals like the Ghana International Book Fair and the Nkabom Literary Festival as well as the Ghana Writers Awards loading. The latest big gig landing on the Ghanaian capital is set to happen at the end of this week and its name is the Pa Gya! Literary festival.

Pa Gya! According to the Bernard Akoi Jackson the festival manager while speaking about the festival to Citi FM explains that it is a project of Writers Project Ghana and the Goethe Institut in Accra. The word Pa Gya is Twi word meaning “to lift up” or “to strike flame” and this one is about igniting passion for the literary arts.

A festival highlight could easily be the conversation and poetry readings with Ama Ata Aidoo and Kobena Eyi Acquah which will be done on Friday October 20^th. Ama Ata Aidoo is well known to any follower of African literature as a legend of the game.

The Abena Korantemaa Prize for Oral History which emerged in 2016 is an annual award for Oral History by emerging African writers and storytellers resident in Ghana. The prize will be launched at this festival on Saturday October 21^st. There will also be the launch of Chuma Nwokolo’s new book, The Extinction of Menai, multiple workshops, panel discussions, and performances. There will also be a special feature for comics and graphic novels.

Some of other guest authors featuring at the festival include Niq Mhlongo, Sabata Mpho-Mokae, Eghosa Imasuen, Adewale Maja-Pearce, Kangni Alem, Nii Ayikwei Parkes, Ama Ata Aidoo, Kobena Ayi Acquah, Kofi Akpabli, Raymond Tuvi, Dr Mawuli Adjei, Nana Awere Damoah, Sharlene Apples among others.

Throughout the festival, there will be stands set up by publishers and bookshops for interactive sessions with prospective writers and the public with a special focus on comic books.

For more information about the festival please follow Writers Project of Ghana on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can also check out the official festival page here.