The international literature conference held in Kampala commemorated the life and achievements of Abdurazak Gurnah, the 2021 Nobel Prize Laureate. Attendees included a diverse array of literary figures from around the globe.
Abdurazak Gurnah, born in 1948 in Zanzibar, Tanzania, and later moving to the United Kingdom during the Zanzibar Revolution in the 1960s, is known for his role as a novelist and an academic. He holds the position of emeritus professor of English and postcolonial literatures at the University of Kent. Among his notable works are “Paradise” (1994), “Desertion” (2005), and “By the Sea” (2001), earning accolades such as Booker Prize and Whitbread Prize nominations.
Gurnah’s literary repertoire spans 10 novels, numerous short stories, and essays, showcasing his proficiency in storytelling. Despite his primary language being Swahili, he adeptly employs English as his literary medium, infusing elements of Swahili, Arabic, and German into his writings, showcasing a unique cultural amalgamation.
The Nobel Prize citation acknowledges Gurnah’s unwavering exploration of the impacts of colonialism and the struggles faced by refugees caught between different cultures and continents. His personal narrative of displacement resonates with the experiences of many African youth, bridging the past and present.
The international conference, themed “Celebrating the Life and Works of Abdulrazak Gurnah for the Future of African Literature,” took place at Kyambogo University in Kampala from November 22 to 24. Organized by the Uganda Women Writers’ Association (Femrite) and the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA), with support from The Ford Foundation, Aga Khan Foundation, the Swedish Embassy, and Fountain Publishers, the event attracted literary dignitaries, scholars, and writers from within and beyond Africa.
During the conference, presenters delved into Gurnah’s works, with Dr. Hilmar K. Heister exploring the colonial powers’ presence in novels such as “Paradise,” “Desertion,” and “Afterlives.” Prof James Michael Hodapp discussed Gurnah’s identity as an African, Indian Ocean, and archipelagic writer, emphasizing the complexity of categorizing Gurnah’s multifaceted body of work.
In her keynote speech, Prof Tina Steiner highlighted the linguistic and cultural palimpsests in Gurnah’s fiction, providing a deeper understanding of the richness of his fictional universe. Beatrice Akite from Kyambogo University focused on Gurnah’s exploration of the complexities of belonging and cultural hybridity in his works.
The conference celebrated Gurnah’s significant contribution to East African literature, with Hilda J Twongyeirwe, the Executive Director of Femrite, noting the importance of recognizing his achievement as the first East African to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature.
A particular focus was placed on Gurnah’s novel “The Last Gift,” with scholars Ayotunde Mamudu and Abel Ochika analyzing the intricacies of love and identity in the context of migration. Dr. Ikechukwu Otuu Egbuta and Ndidi Obele investigated root identity as a postcolonial crisis in “The Last Gift,” shedding light on the complexities faced by African fictive characters in the 20th and 21st centuries.
The conference aimed to deepen appreciation for Gurnah’s work, providing new insights and perspectives on his profound impact on African literature.
