Update: The Week has begun. Please click on Ghanaian Literature Week to for links to all the posts and activities. Thank you.
Once again, Kinna Reads will host the annual Ghanaian Literature Week. This year’s reading event is scheduled for Monday, November 14th – Sunday, November 20th. I hosted the event for the first time last year and it was a lot of fun, although participation was limited to bloggers (see my posts on last year’s week here and here). This year, I’m opening it up to the world and relaxing the rules somewhat. First, everyone is invited to participate. To participate:
- Read one or more works by a Ghanaian author or an author of Ghanaian descent
- Both fiction and non-fiction works are allowed
- All forms and genres of fiction are allowed. These include novels, novellas, short stories, children’s literature, poetry and drama. Literary fiction, faith-based works, romances, mysteries are also included.
- The length or topic does not matter except that it must be connected to Ghana or touch on some aspect of Ghanaian life.
- The material must be published as a physical book, an ebook, in a newspaper, in a journal or published online.
- I encourage those with websites to please review the works that they read
- Please link your reviews to the review database, which I will put up on the first day of the event
- Join us for Twitter chats (the times will be announced later). We will use the hashtag #GhanaLit on twitter. I’m going to try to get one or two of our writers to join us on Twitter for a schedule discussion on their work.
- The novelist and poet Nii Ayikwei Parkes will join us for a twitter chat on November 17th, 2011. Please see this post for details.
- Participate in chats on Facebook (page to be announced later today)
- If you are in Ghana, tune into radio programs (time and stations to be announced later)
- And please have fun. It is the most important rule.
In essence, we want to (re)discover, enjoy and promote Ghanaian writing. For those in Ghana who have not picked up a book by a Ghanaian author since their secondary school days, reintroduce yourself to Ghanaian books. This is also a good opportunity for parents to learn about the excellent children’s literature and young adult fiction available in the country. And there are new Ghanaian writers to discover as well.
We will also discuss the state of reading and availability of books in the country. There are lots to say about that!
I will host a number of giveaways for our local, African and international readers and participants. Note: if you are an author or publisher who would like to donate a book to this project please email me at kinnareads(at)gmail(dot)com.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you would like to guest post on my blog or would like to host an event (online or in Ghana) during the week.
I will put up a page with a list of suggested reading and other information related to the week in the coming days.
There will be more updates and information. Please stay tuned. Most importantly, start thinking about what you can read for the Ghanaian Literature Week (oh joy 🙂 )
[…] another Nigerian reading challenge this year though perhaps doing more like Kinna did with her Ghanaian Reading Week and expanding it to a week-long event filled with different exciting activities. Do let me know […]
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I think I will be there, just should pick one story to read 🙂 will be waiting for updates
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[…] read this as part of Kinna’s Ghana Lit Week (Samuel Tyne and his wife are both immigrants from Ghana to Canada; I believe Edugyan is […]
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[…] marks the start of the second annual Ghanaian Literature Week hosted by Kinna of Kinna Reads. She has big plans for the week and you can read the full details in her introduction […]
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[…] This is a week long, from November 14, 2011 to November 20th, 2011, celebration of Ghanaian Literature and a discussion of book/reading related issues in Ghana. Everyone is invited. The rules of participation are simple: read a literary work by a writer who is from or lives in Ghana, read a book about Ghana, discuss any issue related to reading and books in Ghana. For more detailed information, please see my introductory post, The 2nd Annual Ghanaian Literature Week. […]
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Here’s my contribution, Kinna: from the anthology called African Roars 2011, I read a terrific short story called Water Wahala by a new young Ghaniaian writer called Isaan Neequaye, and my review is here: http://anzlitlovers.com/2011/11/14/water-wahala-by-isaac-neequaye-ghanaian-literature-week/
Cheers
Lisa
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Thanks for participating, Lisa.
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[…] Wahala by Isaac Neequaye (Ghanaian Literature Week) It took me ages something to read for Kinna’s 2nd Annual Ghanaian Literature Week which starts on November 14th i.e. tomorrow. On the strength of […]
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[…] Reads is hosting the second annual Ghanaian Literature Week which begins Monday, November 14th and runs through Sunday, November […]
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Love the idea. Hard to find any Ghanian fiction at my local library but I’ll come up with something. See you there.
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I plan to post on two short stories by Mohammed Naseehu Ali, short listed in 2009 for the Caine Prize for African Literature
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I’m looking forward to your participation and thank you for doing so.
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[…] You may notice at the bottom there a book by Amma Darko – I’ve started my reading for Kinna’s Ghanaian Lit Week already! Have you?? I’m really excited to keep reading from my stack of Ghanaian literature, […]
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[…] Ghanaian Literature Week – A celebration of works by authors of Ghanaian descent and also works by authors living in Ghana. This event will run from Monday, November 14 through Sunday, November 20th. […]
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As I mentioned to you previously by email, I’m really looking forward to participating in this!
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Brilliant, I’m in! 🙂
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[…] will read. For now, I’m thinking about several novellas and a novel or two for my upcoming Ghanaian Literature Week. I’m hoping that I will be able to read for at least 18 hours. I do have a rambunctious […]
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Oooh! Ama Ata Aidoo here I come. 🙂
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Consider me dutifully — and happily! — considering my reading options for the week!
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A great and a laudable idea. Will definitely participate.
I received a signed copy of “Through the Gates of Thought” by Nana Awere Damoah.
Would definitely read and share my thoughts.
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Brilliant! I joined AmyReads Nigerian Lit week, and loved it, so I will try and join this week too x
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[…] 2nd Annual Ghanian Literature Week scheduled to begin November 14, 2011. (Kinna Reads) […]
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I’m in! I have to admit I know almost nothing about Ghanaian literature, so am looking forward to learning and reading more. Thanks so much for organising!
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Brilliant! Count me in. I’ve started stockpiling the Ghanaian Authors that I haven’t read yet. Just finished Mistress of the Game by Asabea Ashun, and the Twelfth Heart, by Elizabeth Irene Baittie. Lookig forward to the reading list.
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A wonderful idea, and will certainly try to take part. I have several suitable books on my TBR piles
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I hope I can make it this time. I’ll definitely be reading and reviewing more Ghanaian poetry over the period. Good job.
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I’m in! Looking forward to the list of suggestions for what to read.
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This looks wonderful. I’m looking forward to your discussion of the state of reading and availability of books in Ghana. One of the things I’ve discovered reading your blog, Kinna, is how much I still need to learn about these things!
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Great initiative there. I will be looking out for the details.
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I was in even before you announced. I have already selected my books for the week and to work within the duration, I’ll start reading earlier. Thinking of Ayikwei Parkes’ Tail of a bluebird and Benjamin Kwakye’s The Other Crucifix. If there is time, I’ll add one or two. Interesting.
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There are over 50 titles by Ghanaean authors on Amazon.com. Search for Worldreader.org
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Nice one! I’ll definitely participate 🙂
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I ve a book read ready this year I m terribleat remember things I ll see what library has at my next visit as well to make it two ,all the best stu
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I will follow and try to read at least one Ghanaian book. Ceri
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wonderful! Between you and Amy I”m ggoing to keep African literature in my regular reading schedule 🙂 Off to see what my library has…
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Looking forward to your list of selections! The only book from a Ghanaian author I’ve read is Bediako Asare’s “Rebel.”
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Will follow & learn with interest
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