African cultures influence Brazilian society in a lot of ways, such as on the customs and gastronomy. However, literature from the continent is not well known by the local general public. To change this reality and strengthen social relations between Africa and Brazil, the Literafrica Project is organizing the second edition of the African Writers International Meeting, that will take place in São Paulo from May 24 to 26.
The conference includes lectures, debates, expositions, autographing sessions, storytelling to school caravans, as well as cultural presentations throughout the three-day conference scheduling. The event also features a ceremony for awarding a trophy for “Excellence African Writer – Escritor Africano de Excelência – II Edition 2019” taking place on the 23rd.
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The event is a project of the Angolan writer and producer living in São Paulo, João Canda, and includes the participation of writers from Portuguese-speaking countries coming from Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and Mozambique, as well as other African nations, like South Africa, Benin, Cameroon, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nazarina Semedo, an Angolan singer, will perform during the closing ceremony and give a special presentation to all those present. Up to now, 13 writers have already confirmed their participation.
The first conference took place in 2018, and around 1,000 people got together on a single day. “It is fundamental for us to understand the real cultural diversity of the African continent and, due to this, it is necessary for more Africans to speak about Africa. It is extremely important to preserve memories, and this will help in the struggle to break down the walls of prejudice,” states João Canda.
It is necessary for more Africans to speak about Africa.
Besides the literary and cultural context, the conference intends to hold solidarity initiatives to provide aid to Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, the countries where the Idai cyclone wreaked havoc. “We are going to provide shares from the sale of books, and then the profits will be assigned to help families affected by those disasters. Companies can buy these shares and make donations of these books or define an institution to grant them. It will be interesting as, besides the gesture of solidarity, we will also be able to foster the literature and reading of African writers”, says João Canda.
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Be a part of it
The II edition of the African Writers International Meeting will take place at the “Centro Cultural Olido” (Olido Cultural Center) (Av. São João, 473 – Centro, São Paulo – SP). Register by accessing this link.