Brittle Paper’s 50 Notable African Books is the product of extensive year-round reportage
The online publication’s annual list celebrates not only the sheer abundance of African literature but its daring, new directions
Advocates of retaining Afrikaans as a language of instruction are blind to their own prejudices
Sylvia Arthur, the founder of the Library of African and the African Diaspora in Accra, selects five works by her favourite Ghanaian authors
Sylvia Arthur founded the Library for Africa and the African Diaspora to house her collection and share it with other readers
Zukiswa Wanner has organised a virtual literary festival, from March 23 to 30, to help readers and writers struggling with self-isolation
The HSS Awards honours scholarly works based on their social relevance and contribution to the humanities and social sciences
Activists, poet and animals are explored in fascinating detail
The past explains the present but not the future because ‘that tiny chaos’ makes the future opaque
"Writing poetry requires you to reach a level of clarity and enjoyment of your voice."
The Jamaican-Nigerian writer explores living between cultures in her first short story collection
Masande Ntshanga uses his imagination to create plausible relationships in his genre-bending novels
Although book festivals are generally perceived as adult events, this one is family-centred and includes specific programmes for children.
The Kenyan writer and activist died on Tuesday night after suffering a stroke
The book fair has been a key factor in Somaliland’s embrace of literature
Ayòbámi Adébáyò summons Yoruba folklore and a longstanding literary tradition in her debut novel
South Africa has an undernourished literary tradition, where even among the sophisticated one may find confusion over written work and writers.
The Abantu Book Festival exemplifies the love affair between black people and books. But, who carries the personal cost of this renaissance?
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Books like Adichie’s “Americanah” and Gyasi’s “Homegoing” have confounded neat divisions between Western and African literary traditions.
A trip to find the best shops for African literature raised the question of what makes a bookstore worth visiting.
‘In black communities, you don’t only look after your family. From the money you get, you need to pay a monthly allowance for extended family’
Many good writers appear to be solipsists, selfish and even competitive, and unkind. These writers will remain good but will never be great.
Here’s a round-up of places and sites in South Africa where African literature is not lacking
The Caine Prize winner is writing a film script and would love to see his work screened at schools and townships.
Decolonising the spaces that exhibit writers in the country is just as important as decolonising content
The ingredients of great South African novels are based on greed, injustice, land and natural resources.
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‘Birth of a Dream Weaver’ is an apt title for Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s college years and becoming a writer.
Only Eastern Cape reports some matric literature books to be delivered in January.
Plaatje encouraged independent thought. He felt that a critical disposition coupled with empirical evidence & public accountability was indispensable.
The award-winning author’s genre-bending ‘magic realism’ speaks to Nigerian lived experiences.
The Lists this week were compiled by Friday editor Milisuthando Bongela, arts writer Kwanele Sosibo and author and freelance writer Bongani Madondo.
Adhering to normative aesthetics should be avoided when attempting to empower the natural.