Monthly Archives: June 2012

* WHERE: GOETHE INSTITUT NAIROBI
Maendeleo House
Loita/Monrovia Street
Nairobi

* WHEN: Tuesday 3rd July 2012 – 6 PM

* ENTRY: FREE

Rethinking Eastern African Literary and Intellectual Landscapes
An Anthology edited by Prof. James Ogude, Dr. Grace A. Musila and Dr. Dina Ligaga

This book brings together diverse voices, genres and intellectual trajectories in an attempt to reflect on the state of production of, and engagement with, Eastern African literary cultures. The book re-visits established intellectual debates and canonical texts, while simultaneously offering a forceful engagement with popular arts and performance; particularly the manner in which genres such as drama, music and new media offer important insights into everyday life in the region. At the core of these essays is Eastern Africa s engagement with the legacy of colonial modernity, which remains a major influence on the region’s artists. The book also speaks to rich and complex sources of Eastern African cultures and how these continue to be negotiated through multiple currents, both local and transnational.

‘The anthology presents brilliantly written, erudite, and incredibly rich discussions of the various facets of contemporary East African literary cultures. The greatest strength of the collection lies in the fact that each writer places the materials under analysis in the context of a long tradition of African literary production, academic debates, and postcolonial scholarship. The essays are not only a thrill to read, but they will also be of great value to scholars of African and postcolonial literatures across the globe seeking to appreciate the shifts and continuities in the region’s culture of writing.’

Evan Mwangi – Assistant Professor of English, Northwestern University, USA.