Africa

African Book Festival in Berlin

Literature as a tool to promote intercultural relations

March 18th, 2019
Bettina Kreisz, News from Berlin
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The African Book Festival Berlin is an initiative for more diversity in Berlin’s and Germany’s cultural and literary scene. Being organized for the second time, the main aim of the festival is to summon the finest in African and afro-diasporic writing to Berlin. This year the event is curated by award-winning writer and filmmaker Tsitsi Dangarembga from Zimbabwe.

The event mainly focuses on transitions, change, upheaval and future visions, highlighting important questions such as: How do African writers interpret the issue of crossing borders? How are personal experiences and changes in location reflected in poetry? How can certain issues gain new meaning?

This year’s regional focus is on southern Africa, particularly on Zimbabwe, which has been facing political upheaval since former freedom fighter and later dictator Robert Mugabe’s 30-year rule ended in 2017. Since then the country has been in transition like almost no other. Radical changes like these lead to pressing questions that of course find their way into the country’s literature and poetry.

The festival takes place from 4th to 7th April 2019 at the cinema BABYLON at Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz in Berlin-Mitte. Visiting the festival is a unique chance to get a deeper insight into African literature and a great opportunity to strengthen intercultural relations.

More information about the event can be found on the website below.

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News from Berlin