At the kick-off of its Festival of African Literature, the Center for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) has tasked writers, artists and creatives on the need to reimagine African literature in this digital age.
Professor Mabel Evwierhoma made the call in her keynote address, ‘Re-imagining African Literature In The Age of Technology’, which focused on how best to sustain African literature and its essence whilst it evolves.
For the don of the Theatre Arts Department at the University of Abuja and Gender Studies expert, reimagining literature can neither be done by proxy nor by government dictate. Rather, reimagining African literature should be done through diversity, re-conceptualization, and re-interpretation.
According to her, African literature plays the key role of promoting African values and civilisation whilst countering false narratives or misconceptions about the continent by others. Hence, global literature cannot do without African input.
How, then, can African literature be reimagined in a digital age? Evwierhoma noted that our world has gone digital, and there is a turning back. However, there are advantages and disadvantages to technology. The same technology, which has succeeded in providing increased visibility for many African writers, is easily a distraction for malleable young African writers on social media.
Thus, she urged young people in the audience to mind what they imbibe, particularly the unsavoury aspects of the platform that lead to a disintegration of African values and the dishonour of their parents.
In the absence of book clubs, which previously promoted literary skills among secondary school students, “I advise young people to show their literature to their teachers at school, to help them look at their literature before sharing their stories via the platform.”
To government authorities, Evwierhoma tasked them to put in place ecosystem required for writers to thrive.
Founded in 1977, which birthed the World Black African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC’ 77), CBAAC celebrates the rich black and African culture and heritage, promotes new voices in African arts, culture, and heritage, collates data on African Art and Heritage.
The two-day hybrid event was held January 29 – 30, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria.
