Different authors, scholars have joined efforts to facilitate discussions and solutions to challenges specific to Africa and Rwanda. The team, which includes Senegalese writer Boubacar Boris Diop, his editor Flore-Agnès Zoa from Switzerland, scholar and Editor Bojana - USA, editor Ndeye Codou Fall- Senegal, and Rwandan scholar Jean-Pierre Karegeye, are collaborating to promote literature as a way of addressing African challenges. Specific to Rwanda, the experts are in Kigali to engage in discussions on issues related to reading, writing, and publishing. They are also aiming at supporting authors at different stages of the publication process: creation, layout, edition, publication, printing, distribution, and promotion of their books. According to Karegeye, who is also an alumnus of the University of California at Berkeley, for them, Rwanda is a country that has experienced a tragedy that no modern African state has experienced since independence, and reconstruction of the country is a story that needs to be told. “They were shocked by the silence of Africans during the Genocide against the Tutsi and their ignorance of the history of Rwanda. They also realised that when one consults books on Rwanda in international libraries, Rwandan voices are discreet,” he said. Their first event “Connecting with Publishers” will happen this evening, July 13, at 5: 30p.m at Kigali Public Library. During the event, Agnès Flore Zoa will present her projects for Africa through her publishing house. Diop, Fall and Coulibally, are also set to discuss the publication process. On Friday, July 15 at Norrsken, they will host a book reading and signing event for Diop’s novel, Murambi, The Book of Bones which reflects the Genocide against the Tutsi. The book won him the prestigious Neustadt International Prize for Literature. The event will tackle themes such as 20 years later, what was the impact of Murambi in Rwanda?, The role of literature in raising awareness about the Genocide against the Tutsi and Why is there so little awareness about the genocide against the Tutsi in Africa? On July 16, the team will host a workshop on “writing and publishing from Africa: challenges and Solutions” which will take place at MINAFFET, 2nd floor meeting room. According to Karegeye, the workshop will put together professionals from the publishing industry, writers, teachers and booksellers to discuss and find solutions to challenges specific to Africa and Rwanda. Rwandan scholar, Jean-Pierre Karegeye The team is also set to work together to start a new Centre in Kigali, African Bridging Centre (ABC), which will be led by Karegeye. The centre is expected to connect Rwandans with editors, Rwandan researchers with foreign researchers and institutions, organise writing workshops, study abroad, and bridge academic research and African social issues
