The identities of writers on the ‘Africa 39’ list of the Port Harcourt World Book Capital 2014 were revealed on Tuesday at the ongoing London Book Fair.
‘Africa 39’ is a Hay Festival initiative carried out with World Book Capitals. The first was with Bogota in 2007 while the second happened with Beirut in 2010. It involves the selection and celebration of 39 writers under the age of 40 who have the potential to define the literature of an area or language. This edition features Africans south of the Sahara.
On the list is award winning author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Democratic Republic of Congo’s Richard Ali Mutu, Uganda’s Monica Arac de Nyeko, Nigerian Caine Prize winner, Rotimi Babatunde and Cape Verdean writer, Eileen Barbosa. Igoni Barret, Jackee Budesta Batanda from Uganda and Recaredo Boturu from Equatorial Guinea are also on it.
The list also includes Ghanaian-American writer, Nana Brew-Hammond, Malawi’s Shadreck Chikoti, Edwige-Renée Dro, Tope Folarin, Kenya’s Clifton Gachagua, Stanley Gazemba, Mehul Gohil, Hawa Jande Golakai, Shafinaaz Hassim, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim and Stanley Kenani.
Others are Dinaw Mengestu, Nadifa Mohamed, Nthikeng Mohlele, Linda Musita, Sifiso Mzombe, Glaydah Namukasa, Kioko Ndinda, Ondjaki, Okwiri Oduor, Ukamaka Olisakwe, Chibundu Onuzo, Taiye Selasi, Namwali Serpell and Lola Shoneyin.
Completing the list is Nii Ayikwei Parkes, Novuyo Rosa Tshuma, Chika Unigwe, Mary Watson, Zukiswa Wanner and Mohamed Yunnis Rafiq,
Project director of the Port Harcourt World Book Capital 2014, Koko Kalango, had earlier in March told newsmen at an interaction in Lagos that the list would be unveiled at the London Book Fair.
Stories by the 39 writers will be published in an anthology that would be edited by Ella Alfray and published by Bloomsbury. Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka will write the introduction while the book will be released in October.
The 39 writers will also be invited to the Port Harcourt Book Festival happening this October and to other literary events across the world from 2014 through 2016. Some of the events include Manchester Literary Festival, Hay Festival, Norwich Writers’ Centre, Free the Word, Royal African Society events at the British Library, Bristol Festival of Ideas and Bloomsbury Institute.
Kenyan author, Binyavanga Wainana, did the initial research of about 200 books before writers Elechi Amadi, Margaret Busby and Tess Onwueme selected the final 39.
