A-level literary afternoon

Ngozi Adichie is one of the most powerful young voices to recently emerge from Africa.” ‘Purple Hibiscus’ was nominated for the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction and The Booker Prize in 2004.
The book, published in Zimbabwe by Weaver Press, is also an A-Level set book, and will be featured at The Book Café in a special Friday afternoon slot to accommodate students, on 14 September from 2pm. Presenting and leading the discussion will be Josephine Muganiwa of the University of Zimbabwe.
This is the second schools A-Level Literary discussion at this Fife Avenue venue, following a fascinating presentation on the art of storytelling based on the book ‘Ngano’ republished by Prestige Books this year, and presented by Ignatius Mabasa and Mr Musiiwa of the UZ African Languages department, in July.
Teachers and students at that event called for more of such literary gatherings, where students and teachers could gather outside the classroom to broaden their understanding in preparation for forthcoming examinations, and enjoy the opportunity to interact with other schools from around the city, and share different perspectives.
A third literary afternoon is planned for Friday 28 September, featuring the book “Purple Violets of Oshaantu” by Namibian writer Neshani Andreas.
The new ‘Schools Lit’ programme falls comfortably into the discussion programme by Pamberi Trust, supported by The W.K.Kellogg Foundation, which includes literary and artists’ voices discussions, and support for other group discussions, in the interests of social cohesion and nation-building. Pamberi Trust is a registered arts organisation which “exists as an enabling facility by which all performing artists and producers of culture may develop, promote and perform their works, and participate in building the nation.” (www.zimbabwearts.co.zw).
‘Imagine Africa’
The schools discussions will also carry the ‘Imagine Africa’ stamp – an initiative arising from the ARTerial cultural conference in Dakar this year, at which South African poet, writer, painter and activist Breyten Breytenbach invited African practitioners within arts and reasoning to take part in the creation of a common citizen agora for reflections, debate and expressions. The ‘Imagine Africa’ campaign was set up as a direct response to Breytens call for action, and 65 African cultural organisations including Pamberi Trust have already signed up:
•to give African culture activities a common visual expression
•to demonstrate belonging to a movement
•to use simple tools for awareness rising
•to establish a broad concept for fundraising
•to attract new parties to the African Arts and Culture network – See www.imagineafrica.org