The Resonanzen – Schwarzes Literaturfestival curated by Sharon Dodua Otoo, was hosted in Recklinghausen, Germany from May 19-21, 2022. The festival was conducted in German.
“Resonanzen – Schwarzes Literaturfestival” (Resonance – A Festival of Black German-Language Fiction) was a cooperation between the Ruhrfestspiele and writer and political activist Sharon Dodua Otoo. It aimed to rethink, reimagine and further develop perspectives and experiences within the German-language literary scene.
For the three days of the festival, those who attended were treated to an address by Tsitsi Dangarembga who gave the opening speech, readings by Ada Diagne, winner of the 1st Young Storyteller Awards 2021, and a musical live performance by The String Archestra.
The highlight was the introduction of six promising writers Joe Otim Dramiga, Raphaëlle Red, Bahati Glaß, Melanelle B. C. Hémêfa, Winnie Atiedo Modesto, and Dean Ruddock. They read previously unpublished texts written especially for this event inspired by the word “Erbe” (heritage). Each reading was followed by a jury comprising Aminata Cissé Schleicher, Elisa Diallo, Ibou Coulibaly Diop, and Dominique Haensell in discussion. In this way, the authors and the jury members highlighted, analysed, honoured, and celebrated Black aesthetics in German-language literature.
In September, the Leipzig publishing house Spector Books, edited by Sharon Dodua Otoo, Jeannette Oholi, and the Ruhr Festival, will publish the book “Resonances – Black Literature Festival” to accompany “Resonances – Black Literature Festival”. A documentation” In addition to the short stories by the six authors, the documentation depicts the jury discussions, introductory and concluding lectures, as well as the opening speech by Peace Prize winner Tsitsi Dangarembga.
Here are some images which were taken by China Hopson courtesy of the festival organisers;
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