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African Literature Days

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African Literature Days as part of the afriCult Festival Dialogprogram: 2014

In 2014, the African Literature Days took place for the first time as part of the afriDialogue and were intended to offer authors, publishers and interested parties the opportunity to get to know and present African literature.

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Why are we organising African Literature Days in Vienna?


In the last few decades, a development has taken place in the world of African literature that has strongly influenced the international literary market. A number of young dynamic authors who want to use and share their education and experiences in 21st century Africa. The stories of this generation are about the daily struggle for education, recognition and identity. In impressive prose, authors such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche or Titsi Dangaremgba tell how the search for identity can become a life task due to the consequences of colonial history and advancing globalisation.

Using literature as a tool, the authors provide the reader with an insight into a foreign world that gives us a better understanding of globalisation processes and historical content that is often lacking in the primary education of young people. The interplay of many authors between the English, German and traditional African languages creates an authentic picture. This interplay develops into a unique prose.

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The aim of the African Literature Days


The opportunity to make African literature accessible to a wide audience in Austria can be seen as a sustainable goal to strengthen national identity in the countries concerned and to promote cultural exchange in this country.

The African Literature Days are now organised annually.  

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Kooperationspartner: Bücherreien Wien, Simmering

African Literature Days as part of the afriCult Festival Dialogprogram: 2015

Zimbabwean author Christopher Mlalazi in Vienna 

The African Literature Days 2015, organized by the African Cultural Foundation during the Africult Festival, brought a powerful literary voice to Austria with the invitation of Zimbabwean author Christopher Mlalazi. Mlalazi, author of Running with Mother, captivated the audience with a reading from his novel, which tells the story of survival and resilience during the Gukurahundi massacre in Zimbabwe.

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Why we invite african Authors to Austria

Inviting African writers like Mlalazi to Austria plays a crucial role in enriching the Black community's cultural landscape, offering stories that resonate deeply with shared histories of struggle and identity. The event not only provided a platform for African voices to be heard but also fostered a deeper understanding of African experiences among the wider community in Austria.

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Key takeaways from Running with Mother included its themes of survival, the bonds of family, and the impact of historical trauma on personal identity. These universal themes touched the audience, highlighting the importance of creating spaces for African narratives within the Austrian cultural dialogue.

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Kooperationspartner: Bücherreien Wien, Simmering/Brunnenpassage

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