World Literature

Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi in conversation with Ellah Wakatama Allfrey

  • 21
  • Feb

2018

Wednesday

7.30pm

Black and white photo of Ugandan novelist and short story writerMark Rusher

Photo of editor, writer and critic Ellah Wakatama Allfrey


Join the Centre for New Writing and MLF for this special event to celebrate UNESCO City of Literature International Mother Language Day (IMLD).

As part of the International Mother Language Day celebrations we are delighted to welcome Ugandan novelist and short story writer Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi. Jennifer’s short story, Let’s Tell This Story Properly, won the 2014 Commonwealth Short Story Prize, and her debut novel, Kintu, was longlisted for the Etisalat Prize. First published in Kenya in 2014, Kintu was described by The New Inquiry as ‘A masterpiece, an absolute gem, the great Ugandan novel you didn’t know you were waiting for.’

A modern classic, Kintu uses a multi-layered narrative to explore Uganda’s national identity through the cursed bloodline of the Kintu clan. Blending Ganda oral tradition, myth, folktale and history, Jennifer weaves together the stories of Kintu’s descendants as they seek to break from the burden of their shared past and reconcile the inheritance of tradition and the modern world that is their future.

Jennifer will be in conversation with Ellah Wakatama Allfrey. A London based editor and critic, Ellah is the founding Publishing Director of The Indigo Press. She has been a judge for the Dublin International Literary Award, the Man Booker and The Caine Prize for African Writing. This event will be introduced by Geoff Ryman.

Doors open at 7pm, event at 7.30pm