5th July – 7th July BRITISH LIBRARY96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB

in partnership with The British Library

About Africa WritesAfrica Writes is the Royal African Society’s annual literature festival. Every year we showcase established and emerging talent from the African continent and its diaspora in what is now the UK’s biggest celebration of contemporary African writing taking place over a beautiful summer weekend. This year’s festival features a two-day international book market, book launches, panel discussions, children’s workshops, an afterparty and other activities. www.africawrites.org

About the RASThe Royal African Society is is a membership organisation that fosters a better understanding of Africa in the UK and throughout the world. Our goal is to promote Africa globally in the spheres of business, politics, academia, arts and culture. www.royalafricansociety.org

About our PartnersAfrica Writes 2013 is organised by The Royal African Society

in partnership with a host of other organisations and individuals including: The Caine Prize, Kwani Literary Trust, Yardstick Festival, the Centre of African Studies, Pearson, Black Reading Group & Black Book News, the London Afro-Caribbean Book Club, Numbi Arts, Sidensi, TEDxEuston and our main partner, The British Library.

British Library – Main PartnerThe British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and one of the world’s greatest research libraries. It provides world class information services to the academic, business, research and scientific communities and offers unparalleled access to the world’s largest and most comprehensive research collection. www.bl.uk

AfricaWrites TweetathonTweet #AfricaWrites to win prizes including free entry to our main festival event, an evening with Ngugi wa Thiong’o and much more.

#AfricaWrites#AfricaWrites2013www.facebook.com/afr

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#AfricaWrites#AfricaWrites2013www.twitter.com/royafrisoc

www.africawrites.orgwww.facebook.com/africawriteswww.royalafricansociety.org

Two Writers, Two Generations: Ngugi wa Thiong’o & Mukoma wa Ngugi, Saturday 6th July, 18:30-20:00, The British Library, Conference Centre, £7.50/£5An intimate conversation between acclaimed author and theorist, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, and his son, author, Mukoma wa Ngugi, chaired by publisher and writer, Margaret Busby

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AfricaWrites Tweetathon Tweet #AfricaWrites to win prizes including free entry to our main festival event, an evening with Ngugi wa Thiong’o, and much more

Africa Writes 2013 Programme British Library 5th – 7th July 2013Visit www.africawrites.org for full schedule and event detailsNo booking required except where specified below

FRIDAY

Africa in TranslationFriday 5 July, 10:00-13:00BL Conference Centre, FREE (booking required) A three-panel symposium curated by acclaimed translator Wangui wa Goro reflecting on translation and its importance for knowledge management in Africa.

Writing Africa’s FuturesFriday 5 July, 14:00-17:00BL Conference Centre, FREE (booking required) Where is African writing going in the 21st century? Join the five short-listed authors for the 2013 Caine Prize, alongside distinguished authors Doreen Baingana Zoe Wicomb and Professor Stephanie Newell, for an in-depth discussion of the continent’s flourishing literary futures.

Diaspora Writes BackFriday 5 July, 18:30-20:30BL Conference Centre, £7.50 / £5 concessions Poetry evening featuring acclaimed poets Warsan Shire, Nick Makoha, Nii Ayikwei Parkes and Leeto Thale. Introduced and moderated by Bernardine Evaristo MBE (Anglo-Nigerian novelist and founder of the Brunel University African Poetry Prize).

SATURDAY

African Writing Today, Saturday, 6 July, 12:15-13:00, Conference Centre, FREE Panel discussion with authors Doreen Baingana, Binyavanga Wainaina and Leila Aboulela exploring current trends in African writing

“Fairytales for Lost Children” by Diriye OsmanSaturday 6 July, 13:00-13:30BL Conference Centre, FREEExclusive pre-book launch event with author, Diriye Osman. Chaired by Dele Fatunla (Website Editor, Royal African Society).

“Black Star Nairobi” by Mukoma wa NgugiSaturday 6 July, 13:30-14:00BL Conference Centre, FREEBook launch with author, Mukoma wa Ngugi. Chaired by Dr Ranka Primorac (Department of English, University of Southampton).

“Orchard of Lost Souls” by Nadifa MohamedSaturday 6 July, 14:00-14:30BL Conference Centre, FREEExclusive pre-book launch event with author Nadifa Mohamed, recently nominated one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists under 40. Chaired by Richard Dowden (Royal African Society’s Director).

African Literature Prizes & The Economy of PrestigeSaturday 6 July, 14:30-15:30BL Conference Centre, FREEWith Billy Kahora (author & Managing Editor of Kwani?), Jamal Mahjoub (Chair of Judges for The Kwani? Manuscript Project 2013) and Bernardine Evaristo MBE (novelist & Founder of the Brunel University African Poetry Prize). Chaired by Lizzy Attree (Administrator of The Caine Prize for African Writing).

Tribute to Chinua AchebeSaturday 6 July, 15:30-16:30BL Conference Centre, FREETribute to the late Chinua Achebe with publishers James Currey & Becky Nana Ayebia Clarke OBE, and authors Chibundo Onuzo & Chuma Nwokolo. Chaired by Richard Dowden (Royal African Society’s Director).

“Bonfires of the Gods” by Andrew Eseimokumo OkiSaturday 6 July, 16:30-17:00Conference Centre, FREEBook launch with author, Andrew Eseimokumo Oki. Chaired by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (2013 Caine Prize shortlisted author).

Meet the 2013 Caine Prize Shortlisted WritersSaturday 6 July, 17:00-18:00BL Conference Centre, FREEThe five short-listed authors for the 2013 Caine Prize for African Writing discuss their work with Tricia Wombell (founder of Black Book News and Coordinator of the Black Reading Group).

Two Writers, Two Generations: Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Mukoma wa NgugiSaturday 6 July, 18:30-20:00BL Conference Centre, £7.50/£5An intimate conversation between acclaimed author and theorist, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, and his son, author, Mukoma wa Ngugi, chaired by publisher and writer, Margaret Busby.

Africa Writes Party with NUMBI & Kwani? Saturday 6 July, 19:00-01:00Rich Mix (35-47 Bethnal Green Rd) £10 in advance/£5 concesssionsCelebrating the launch of Scarf Magazine, 10 Years of Kwani and the second Africa Writes festival. Come and join us!

SUNDAY

Beyond Timbuktu: West Africa, Script and ManuscriptSunday 7 July, 12:00-12:30BL Conference Centre, FREEDr Marion Wallace (Curator of African Studies, The British Library) explores Timbuktu, Mali’s deep-rooted culture of written scholarship and literature, with illustrations from the BL’s own rare manuscripts.

Fantasy or Reality? Afropolitan Narratives of the 21st CenturySunday 7 July, 12:30-13:30BL Conference Centre, FREEIs Afropolitanism just shallow consumerism or a revolutionary new way of being African? Come and join the debate. With Binyavanga Wainana (author), Minna Salami (writer and blogger at MsAfropolitan), Emma Dabiri (PhD researcher) and Nana Ocran (journalist and editor). Chaired by Professor Paul Gilroy (Professor of American and English Literature, King’s College London).

Writing the Revolution: Scarf Magazine launch Sunday 7 July, 13:30-14:00BL Conference Centre, FREEPresentation of Scarf magazine’s ‘Revolutions’ issue featuring a dazzling and radical take on contemporary art, literature, film and music.

“The Hairdresser of Harare” by Tendai HuchuSunday 7 July, 14:00-14:30BL Conference Centre, FREEBook reading with author Tendai Huchu. Chaired by by Chino Odimba (Writer-on-Attachment, Bristol Old Vic).

Re-writing Africa: The Place of Non-FictionSunday 7 July, 14:30-15:30BL Conference Centre, FREEPanel bringing together writers, artists and editors who have created important new narratives that challenge conventional representations of Africa. With Billy Kahora (Managing Editor of Kwani? and author), Mary Harper (Africa Editor, BBC World Service), Michael Salu (Artistic Director, Granta) and Samson Kambalu (artist and author). Chaired by Ike Anya (Co-Founder, TEDxEuston).

Digital Futures: The changing landscape of African publishingSunday 7 July, 15:30-16:30 BL Conference Centre, FREEA panel of digital publishing experts discuss the future of publishing in Africa. With Elizabeth Wood (Director of Digital Publishing and Mobile Platforms, World Reader), Lynette Lisk (Commissioning Editor, Pearson Education), Simi Dosekun (Former Managing Editor, Kachifo Limited), Michael Bhaskar (Digital Publishing Director, Profile Books). Chaired by Mary Jay (Consultant / Former Director, African Books Collective).

Sundiata Keita and the Epic of Ancient MaliSunday 7 July, 16:30-17:00 BL Conference Centre, FREEA staged production of the Epic of Sunjata, using excerpts of an English transcribed text, featuring actor Denver Isaac and renowned griot and master kora player Seckou Keita. With an introduction by Wilfred Willey (President of the Malian Community Council).

Writing and Storytelling Workshops for Young People

Find Your Voice (aimed at 13-19 year olds)Saturday 6 July, 12:00-13:00BL Conference Centre, FREE (limited spaces, arrive early)A peer-led workshop for 13-19 yearolds. Facilitated by Thiong’o Kimathi Ngugi (short fiction writer) and Elmi Ali (poet, writer and performer).

Words, Youth & Revolution (All welcome!)Sunday 7 July, 12:00-13:00BL Conference Centre, FREE (limited spaces, arrive early) An inter-generational workshop for all the family. Facilitated by Dorothea Smartt (poet and live artist), Jessica Horn (women’s rights activist and writer) and Kinsi Abdulleh (founder of Scarf Magazine and NUMBI Arts)

Storytime!Saturday 6 July & Sunday 7 July, 12:00-12:45 (4-7 yrs) & 15:00-15:45 (8-12 yrs)BL Conference Centre, FREE (limited spaces, arrive early)Interactive story-telling workshops for 4-7 and 8-12 year olds. Parents welcome too. Facilitated by Louisa Bello (Nigerian/English ESL teacher and writer).

AfricaWrites Tweetathon

Tweet #AfricaWrites to win prizes including free entry to our main festival event, an evening with Ngugi wa Thiong’o and much more