where Africa speaks and the world listens

Presented by London Slam Central:
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May 20, 2005
Start Time: 7.00pm

The African Writers' Evening hosts another quality evening of literature with a focus on North African writing. Featured are Hisham Matar (Libya), and Gamal Hassan (Egypt), who will both be reading short fiction and responding to questions from the audience. As usual there will be poets and writers from all over Africa - including Leeto Thale (SA), and Inua Ellams (Nigeria) - sharing poetry on the open mike.

Address: 22 Betterton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2
entry: £4
to book: 020 7420 9888
Next Dates
July 15, September 16, and November 18

featured readers
May: North African Writers event
Biographies:

Hisham Matar was born in New York City to Libyan parents. He has lived in Tripoli, Cairo and, recently, Paris. However, London has been his base since 1988. He has contributed essays and reviews to the Arab daily newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, and has had some poems published in Soundings. In 2002, for his poems, he was finalist in East Anglia's Best New Talent Awards. He has also acted on stage, worked as an architect, stonemason and university lecturer. He has recently completed a novel.

Gamal Hassan writes mainly writes fiction. She lives in Surrey.

There will be copies of the acclaimed anthology of translated short stories by North African writers, Sardines and Oranges, which is published by Banipal. Banipal are the publishers of a magazine focusing on translated work from the Arab world and have helped put this event together.


News:

African Writers' Evening listed in BBC recommended events list
Previous feature, Diana Evans, wins Orange New Writer Prize


Upcoming Features:

July: Rommi Smith (Nigeria - tbc) and others
September: Jack Mapanje (Malawi), Jessica Mkakyera Horn (Uganda) and others
November: Atukwei Okai (Ghana - tbc) and others

for previous features click on relevant months below

This event is now supported by the Arts Council.
Other London SLAM Central events supported by the Arts Council are: Outdooring and Spoken Soul

*SLAM stands for Society, Literature, Art and Music