FEMRITE to host the first regional non-fiction writing workshop for women

PRESS RELEASE

KAMPALA, UGANDA – From 21st to 31st of July 2014, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) in collaboration with Uganda Women Writers Association (Femrite), will host the first ever regional non-fiction workshop for African women writers. This workshop is aimed at strengthening the skills of African women to tell compelling social change stories. 21 women from 10 African countries will gather at Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel Entebbe, for 10 days, where they will discuss the most difficult and most provocative issues that are not normally written about. They will read and discuss different inspiring works and they will develop their own activist writings.The workshop will be led by two outstanding award winning writers; Mamle Kabu of Ghanaian-German Origin, author of The Kaya Girl and Yewande Omotoso a Nigerian-South African of Bajan origin, author of Bom Boy.

Participating writers include; Kenya – Wanja Maina, Kilonzo Eunice Kalunde, Alexis Teyie, Nkoji Wamayi, Nigeria – Adegbeye Olutimehin, Kechi Nomu, Amina Doherty, Zimbabwe – Tendai Garwe, Fungai Rufaro, Ghana – Abena Kyere, Fafa Quashigah, Rita Nketiah, Deborah Frempong, South Africa, Jennifer Thorpe, Kagure Mugo, Uganda – Ritah Atwongyeirwe, Beatrice Lamwaka, Namibia – Khansas Florence, Cameroon – Comfort Mussa, Sierra Leone – Moiyattu Banya, Benin/Haiti – Valérie Dginia Bah.

Considering that literature, both fiction and non-fiction, is one of the major tools that can be used both for social and political mobilization, Femrite continues to collaborate with other development partners to develop women’s voices so that they can ably contribute to national and international development processes.

Hon Mary Karoro Okurut the Femrite President and Minister of Gender Labour and Social Development says, “Uganda should be very proud to host such a regional initiative aimed at empowering women in development work. These are initiatives that ungag women and in so doing they ungag society.”

On 16th July, 6:00pm to 8:00pm we shall have a Public Reading hosted with Goethe Zentrum Kampala at their open grounds on Mackinnon Road, Nakasero. This will feature a new voice, defiant sometimes, bold and very captivating. Melissa Kiguwa has just published her new poetry collection from which she will read.

On 28th July, 5.30pm to 8.00pm, we shall, in partnership with the National Cultural Centre, host a Public Reading Featuring Mamle Kabu Winner of the 2011 Burt Award for African Writing and Caine Prize Nominee 2009, Yewande Omotoso shortlisted for 2013 Etisalat Award in Nigeria and Susan Kiguli winner of The 1999 Editor’s Choice Award of the USA National Library of Poetry. Susan has also described as the leading intellectually astute voice in contemporary East African poetry. Join them in the BIG Hut at the National Theatre.

On 30th July, 3.30pm to 7.00pm at Hotel Africana, we shall have a Public Dialogue on the theme; African Women Writing their Stories; What difference does it make? This will feature AWDF’s Chief Executive Officer Theo Sowa, President and Founder of Femrite – Hon Mary Karoro Okurut, Director Regional Associates for Community Initiatives (RACI) – Dr Lina Zedriga, Mamle Kabu and Yewande Omotoso. At the same event, non-fiction workshop participants will read from their writings developed during the workshop. The Ugandan public is warmly invited to interact with our guests, speakers and workshop participants.

On 1st August, 6:00pm to 8.00pm, we shall, in collaboration with The American Embassy and other stakeholders in the literature sector, have a poetry bonfire night on the theme; Redefining Womanhood: A Celebration of Maya Angelou. Poets from Femrite, BNP Poetry Award, Lantern Meet of poets, Bonfire poetry, Poetry in Session, and other poets will read and recite Maya poetry and Maya inspired poetry. This will be at the Uganda Museum from 7:00 to 9:00pm.

Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, Communications specialist at AWDF says,” AWDF is committed to amplifying the voices of African women who wish to use the power of the written word to highlight issues around women’s rights and social justice. We are delighted to be able to partner with Femrite in this effort.”

Join us to support women writing in Africa.

For more information please contact Femrite Secretariat
Tel: +256 (0)414 543 943