To mark the 2012 Caine Prize for African Writing, Africa’s leading literary award, a series of literary events are being held in London in the week surrounding the award of the prize on the 2nd July.
Thursday 28th June, Royal Overseas League, 7pm
Tickets: £7, Concessions: £6, Friends of ROSL ARTS: £5
To book, phone: 020 7408 0214 ext 219
Park Place, St James’s Street, London SW1A 1LR
Readings by the five shortlisted writers for the 2012 Caine Prize for African Writing. The prize is named after Sir Michael Caine, former Chairman of Booker plc, and of the Booker management committee for nearly 25 years. The prize, which has been awarded annually since 2000, is for a short story published in English (whether in Africa or anywhere else). An 'African Writer' is taken to mean a writer born anywhere on the African continent whose work reflects that cultural background. This event will be chaired by Lizzy Attree, Administrator of the Caine Prize, and offers a unique platform for some of the best new literary voices coming out of Africa. A relaxed evening in which the authors will read short extracts from their work, providing a chance to meet over a glass of complimentary wine and canapés.
Saturday 30 June, Africa Writes Festival - Brunei Lecture Theatre, SOAS, 3pm
This event is free.
The shortlisted writers will be discussing their work with Tricia Wombell, Black Book News and Jacqueline Auma, London Afro-Caribbean Book Group, and other London Book Groups. The Event is hosted by the London Black Book Group and the London Afro-Caribbean Book Group as part of the Africa Writes Festival organised by the Royal African Society. This event is organised in partnership with RAS and Pearson.
Sunday 1st July, Southbank Centre, Level 5 Function Room, 4.30pm
Tickets: £8, Concessions: £4. To book, phone: 0844 875 0073
The Caine Prize Readings offer a brilliant snapshot of contemporary African fiction. Five shortlisted authors will read at this event, and discuss their work with chair Ellah Allfrey, Deputy Editor of Granta. The prize has brought wide recognition to celebrated authors including Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and E C Osondu, and this year's shortlisted authors are: Rotimi Babatunde (Nigeria), Billy Kahora (Kenya), Stanley Kenani (Malawi), Melissa Tandiwe Myambo (Zimbabwe) Constance Myburgh (South Africa).
Tuesday 3rd July, African Writers Evening, Southbank Centre, Level 5 Function Room, 6.30pm
Tickets: £8, Concessions: £4. To book, phone: 0844 875 0073
Author-journalists José Eduardo Agualusa (Angola) and Dinaw Mengestu (Ethiopia) will be in conversation with the 2012 Caine Prize winner to explore -- in readings and discussion -- the limitations of borders in the imaginative landscape of the African writer. José Eduardo Agualusa's most recent work is My Father's Wives, a novel of music, magic and secrets, that travels from Angola, through Namibia and South Africa to Mozambique. Dinaw Mengestu is the author of Children of the Revolution, winner of The 2007 Guardian First Book Award in the UK and the Prix Femina Etranger in France, and How to Read the Air (2010). Chaired by Nii Ayikwei Parkes (Ghana) whose novel, Tail of the Blue Bird, which was shortlisted for the 2010 Commonwealth Prize.
Wednesday, 4th July, Anatomy Museum, 6th floor, Kings College London, Strand, 1pm
This event is free. To book, please RSVP to Robert@raittorr.co.uk
Caine Prize shortlisted writers will participate in a seminar on African writing at Kings College. This event is aimed at students and post-graduates and is co-hosted by Institute of English Studies at the University of London. The event will involve a discussion session with all of the shortlisted writers, followed by a question and answer session from the floor.
