Distinguished African Writers showcase works to commemorate AU day

The Library Of Africa and The African (LOATAD) on Saturday November 26, 2022 at the Du Bois Center in Accra hosted five distinguished writers from the African continent to brainstorm on their works and project themes that amplified the future of the African Continent.

The Writers were gathered under the AU20 Writers Residency programme organised by the LOATAD as part of the African Union (AU) 20th celebration and would read form various publications focused on “Our Africa, Our Future.”

Ms. Sylvia Arthur, the Founder of LOATAD described the session as real privilege to host prolific African Writers adding, "It’s been our privilege at LOATAD to host writers from all corners of Africa. We believe writers are the voice of the people and they play a key role in preserving the past, documenting the present, and imagining the future."

She said their work served as a key function in stimulating the public imagination and challenging the status quo. Citing the words of the Kenyan writer, Ngugi Wa Thiong’o: “...A writer has no choice. Whether or not he is aware of it," said this work reflected the intense economic, political, cultural and ideological struggles in a society.” The founder of LOATAD was therefore grateful to the African Union, the UNDP and Africa No Filter for proactively investing in the support of African writers and for their foresight in recognising the contribution writers made to Africa’s cultural, social and economic development and progress.

She said though over 400 African Writers from 35 countries applied to take part in the Project only five were selected which show the high interest of writers to showcase their works adding, "It’s within this context that LOATAD exists as one of the few writing residencies on the continent and as we celebrate our fifth year, which coincides with the African Union’s 20th year, we seek to cement our place in this rarefied space, not just for the art but for Africa."

She prayed that African writers would be nurtured and supported to achieve their full potential of a great continent.

Reverend Reuben Kwesi Kwadzofio, the Director of the Dubois Centre noted the need to consolidate achievement in economic, social, growth, peace , secuirty and governance as a comtinent to make its inhabitants more prosperous.

Mr. Sukhrob Khoshmukhamedov, the Deputy Resident Representative, said in January 2021, UNDP partnered with the African Union Commission to launch a series of activities under the AU20 initiative that would educate, inform and engage African citizens on the mandates and policies of the African Union since its formation in 2002.

The AU20 Artists & Writers Residency Programme aimed to use the voices of Africa’s creative talent to mark a historic moment in the AU’s leadership of the continent’s development, unity and peace through a celebration of Africa’s culture, creativity, art and innovation.

The AU20 Writers Residency Public Showcase would also present the writers’ completed works to key stakeholders from the government, diplomatic and international community, media, art and literary communities, as well as the public.

The writers-in-residence included; Nour Kamel, F, Egyptian poet and editor , Sukoluhle Nyathi, F, Zimbabwean creative writer, editor and data analyst , Tony Mochama, M, Kenyan fiction writer and journalist, TJ Benson, M, Nigerian award-winning novelist and Musih Tedji Xaviere, F, Cameroonian writer.

Some 20 years ago, the African Union was established at the Durban Summit of 2002 to spearhead Africa’s development and integration in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens.

He added that creative economy was an important source of commercial and cultural value, and an enabler of trade and sustainable development contributing some1.5 million dollars to the global creative economy an avenue for creative industries to solve challenges and inspire entrepreneurship.

In 2019, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2021 as the “International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development”, in recognition of creative industries as crucial sectors for the attainment of the 2030 agenda, and the important role they played in international trade, in creative goods and services and in the contribution to the global economy.

Through this partnership with the African Union, UNDP sought to create an opportunity for creative professionals from across the continent to Reflect on Africa’s progress, share individual experiences and interpretations of Africa’s future through art and written content, celebrate and promote Africa’s culture, creativity, art and innovation and connect African creatives through an intra-African experience that encouraged cultural exchange and learning.

The AU20 Residency Programme was thus developed to advocate for the role of cultural and creative industries in Africa’s development and to build bridges between cultural and creative professionals, development practitioners, policymakers and civil society representatives, as we all have an important voice and story to tell about Africa’s past, present and future.

It demonstrated a high level of interest among Africa’s creative community for platforms to produce, exchange and share their skills and talents.

The five writers include Nour Kamel, TJ Benson, Musih Tedji Xaviere, Tony Mochama and Sue Nyathi.