It’s a sad reality that books by African authors are very difficult to find in Africa.


The vibrant world of African literature will be spotlighted in Sharjah in a couple of days (24-27 January).

The inaugural Sharjah Festival of African Literature, organised by the Sharjah Book Authority, will unfold at University City of Sharjah. Among the distinguished guests are Nobel laureates Wole Soyinka from Nigeria and Abdulrazak Gurnah, a Tanzanian-British novelist, who will engage in discussions about their works and those from across the African continent.

Other notable attendees include Kenyan author Mara Menzies and Nigerian science fiction writer Wole Talabi, best known for “Brass Head of Obalufon”. Wendy Njoroge, co-founder of Kenyan publishing house Soma Nami Books, and Nigerian literary advocate Ifeoma Esiri will also grace the event.

Honouring Distinguished Authors

The festival will honour several prominent authors. Nigerian poet and performer Deborah Johnson, whose works delve into sociopolitical issues of her homeland, will be celebrated. Additionally, the career of Kenyan author Yvonne Owuor, renowned for her compelling historical novels, will be highlighted.

Other highlights include three panel discussions exploring African literary traditions, ranging from writing techniques to storytelling. Guinean author Cheryl Ntumy, Nigerian writer Wole Talabi, and Zimbabwean author Tendai Huchu will come together for “Much More Than Wakanda,” a session examining Africa’s influence on the global literary map.

Another notable session, “Creating Timeless Characters,” will feature Nigerian authors Fatima Bala, Chika Unigwe, and Nnamdi Ehirim, along with Emirati writer Salha Obaid, discussing the craft of creating characters that embody both African and Middle Eastern cultures.

Local Literary Focus

The Africa festival comes immediately after the Sharjah Literature Festival, also held at University City of Sharjah, this time organised by the Emirates Publishers Association and focussed on the growth of the Emirati publishing industry and literature.

The TNPS Take

All very exciting an long overdue, but some African commentators are asking just how far this can go.

Olatoun Gabi-Williams said “It’s exciting to see our continent spotlighted. But am worried – will the festival perpetuate the dominance of external publishing interests in the African literary market (and) primarily showcase African content published by foreign publishers (over) books published by Africa-based publishers?”

We’ll find out this weekend.

The issue is one TNPS readers will be familiar with. It’s a sad reality that books by African authors are very difficult to find in Africa.


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