3 Collections for ‘Sudan / South Sudan Literature Week’

Through November 10, P21 Gallery in London is running a “Sudan / South Sudan Literature Week“:

According to organizers:

The Sudan / South Sudan Literature Week will offer a unique experience of both countries’ contemporary literary scene to visitors and authors alike. The event will investigate the challenges and opportunities faced by writers and literary entrepreneurs; and finally focus on ways of setting up collaborations and literary initiatives between the UK and the East African Region.

We will engage with authors, academics, journalists, publishers, critics, activists, and students of Sudan and South Sudan. Sudan and South Sudan present multiple literatures: the Arabic-based literature (its most well-known practitioner being Tayeb Salih), as well as literatures in English (Leila Aboulela, Jamal Mahjoub) and local languages, such as Beja (known for its poetic traditions) and Dinka (perhaps Makwei Mabioor Deng will help spark a written tradition).

In bringing together literature from Sudan and South Sudan, we would like to challenge the mainstream notion that both countries have little else to offer beyond images of war, violence, and unending political unrest.

The writers featured include Ibrahim Ishaq (featured in Literary Sudans), Leila Aboulela, Mansour El Souwaim (Beirut 39), Mamoun Eltlib (Book of Khartoum), Stella Gaitano (ArabLit Quarterly, Banipal 55), and others, including Griselda El Tayib and her recently launched Regional Folk Costumes of the Sudan.

A number of groups and organizations are also taking part, including:  Al Hadatha Magazine, Likikiri Collective, The Abdel Karim Merghani Cultural center, The Sudanese Writers Union, Madarek Publishing House, Creative Writing from the Sudans, and Al Waraqin Book Shop.

The three collections:

1) Literary Sudans, ed. Bhakti Shringarpure.

With an introductory text by Sudanese literary giant Taban Lo Liyong.

2) Book of Khartoum, ed. Max Shmookler and Raph Cormack.

Work by Caine Prize-winning Bushra al-Fadil, Ahmed al-Malik, Abdel Aziz Baraka Sakin, Mamoun Eltlib, and more.

3) Banipal 55: Sudanese Literature Today, ed. Samuel Shimon.

Work by Hammour Ziada, Rania Mamoun, Najlaa Eltom, Tarek Eltayeb and more.

More on the exhibit at the P21 website.