Tag Archives: Writivism Workshops

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Writivism Workshops 2015: Kampala 28th-31st January

Class is in Session

Then there was Kampala, Uganda. Kampala is very important to the Writivism narrative as this was the country where the initiative was first implemented. The workshop at the biggest city in Uganda was at the Uganda Museum and facilitated by Nyana Kakoma and Dilman Dila.

Nyana Kakoma is blogger in the dark art of the literary type with her blog So Many Stories and is a fiction writer in her own. Then there was Dilman Dila who is a writer with the short story collection A Killing in the Sun and other titles as well as a film maker; read his interview here.

The list of participants included Sydney Mugerwa, Saba El Lazim, Margaret Muthee, Lilian Akampurira Aujo, Harriet Anena, Anne Kirya, Emily Achieng, Charlotte Bossa, Nabimanya Praise, Emmanuel Ssebagala, Jacky Kemigisa, Paul Kisakye and Emmanuel Anyole.

Here is a sample of tweets from the event;

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Writivism Workshops 2015: Dar es Salaam 23-25 January (Images)

Jackie Kamau

While the folks in Johannesburg were living it up their workshop East Africa was busy doing the first of its workshops in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The three day workshop was being coordinated by Zukiswa Wanner and Ayeta Wangusa and the participants were Valerie Bah, Magunga Williams, Maimouna Jallow, Peter Ngila, Sima Mittal, Jacqueline Kamau, Wairimu Muriithi.

The workshoping was done both at CDEA and at the Mbalamwezi Beach Club and several writers were selected to be in the list of those in the running to win the big prize at the end. Fortunately for all involved you can read a full report from Magunga Williams on the Dar workshop.

With the work done then I hearby give you some images from the weekend in Dar.

Magunga Williams

Maimouna Jallow

Peter Ngila

Wairimu Muriithi

Sima Mittal

 

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Writivism Workshops 2015: Johannesburg 23-25 January

Then there was Johannesburg. This has been considered by many to be the richest city in Africa, especially those pesky economist types. The creative writing workshop in this town was being run by Yewande Omotoso and Saaleha Idrees Bamjee.

Omotoso is celebrating a “happy birthday” today (Happy Birthday to you!) but she isn’t just about being older. She has a book out called Bom Boy published by Modjadji Books that I really loved. And I wasn’t the only one as she was shortlisted for the Etisalat Prize last year narrowly losing out on the big prize. This year she was selected to be a Miles Morland Scholar proving that her writing is something serious.

Bamjee on the other hand is a poet and prose writer as well as a photograper who won last years Writivism short story competition. She was also kind enough, which I always appreciate, to share her pictorial experience of the whole thing.

Being mentored by these folks were Saaleha Bhamjee (another one go figure) Greta Schuler, Siyabonga Lerumo, Chivimbiso Gava, Chris Djuma, Hellen Herimbi, Jafta Odendaal, Khanyile Joseph Mlotshwa, Lerato Molisana, Michelle Ainsile and Chumisa Ndakisa.

Here is a sample of tweets from the event;

 

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Writivism Workshops 2015: Lagos 16-18 January

Writivism 2015: #TeamLagos Photo/Dami Ajayi

The Writivism Workshops continued to rock the African continent and after rocking Gaberone, Botswana the next stop in the road was Lagos, Nigeria. Here Basit Jamiu, Chidinma Ogarama, Chika Chimezie, Gbolahan Badmus, Kate Ekanem, Tolu Daniel, Ronke Adeleke, Salau Adeola, Uzome Ihejirika, Vivian Uchechi Ogbonna and Socrates Mbamalu would be given the tools to survive the rough and tumble life of being in the writing business. Given them guidance will be Dami Ajayi, Richard Ali and Ukamaka Oliswakwe.

Dami Ajayi is a board member of the Writivism project as well as being the poet that gave the world Clinical Blues. Those of you who claim to be poets need to read this superior collection before you send it off to anyone (send them to me and I will start throwing stones).

Ukamaka Olisakwe was the lady in the banking fraternity until very recently as she joined us in the full time creative business. Just like a typical banker she had already lined up a gig writing The Calabash TV series which is screening on Africa Magic on DSTV. This Ukamaka person has not only written the novel Eyes of a Goddess but she also is listed in the Africa39 project.

Then there is Richard Ali whose Parrésia Publishers made the #ThisIsAfrica Seven Publishers Changing African Fiction List yesterday.

With these people as your mentors you know that you are covered where poetry, prose and screen are concerned. The event happened at the Eko Hotel, Lagos.

The three day event was intense learning for the guys and girls with Fela Kuti’s Look and Laugh playing on the background. Hopefully Fela will inspire some serious writing to come out of that workshop.

Participant at the workshop Chimezie Chika also gives his report on the event.

Here are a sample of tweets from the participants