Associate Professor Susan Kiguli, a Ugandan poet, writer, and academic, has been awarded a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the Civil Poetry Festival in Vercelli, Italy, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the world of poetry. This accolade places her among renowned literary figures such as Jesper Svenbro, Adam Zagajewski, Tony Harrison, Adonis, and Evgenij Evtushenko. Prof. Kiguli, currently serving as an associate professor in the Department of Literature at Makerere University, is celebrated as one of Africa’s most interesting young poets who draw from the oral storytelling tradition.
Over the years, her poetry has found its way into national and international journals and anthologies. Prof. Kiguli’s poetic talents have earned her numerous fellowships, allowing her to share her literary prowess globally. She has made her mark at significant literary events, including the International Literature Festival, and she has graced the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, with her poetic readings. Additionally, Prof. Kiguli is a co-founder and former chairperson of the Ugandan Female Writers’ Association, also known as “Femrite.” This organization was established to address the neglect of women’s voices in the local literary landscape. She has also co-edited the anthology “I Dare to Say,” a collection of women’s testimonies about living with AIDS, demonstrating her commitment to addressing vital social issues through her literary work.
Prof. Kiguli’s poetic journey began during her high school days at Gayaza High School, where she started crafting verses in both Luganda and English. However, it was her 1998 work, “The African Saga,” that catapulted her into the league of the most exciting poets from Eastern and Southern Africa. This volume not only received the National Book Trust of Uganda Poetry Award in 1999 but also became an integral part of Ugandan literary history by selling out in under a year.
One of her most famous poems from “The African Saga,” “I Laugh at Amin,” is a powerful and evocative piece that delves into the brutal reign of President Idi Amin. With lines like, “I laugh with all the skulls Amin holds in his hand,” Prof. Kiguli invokes the horrors of a dark era in Uganda’s history.
Throughout her body of work, she portrays the harrowing consequences of colonization and the tumultuous era of postcolonial dictatorship. Her verses are infused with strong feminist sentiments that vehemently denounce the brutal subjugation of women. Her doctoral research at the University of Leeds explored the realm of oral poetry and popular songs in post-apartheid South Africa and post-civil war Uganda, shedding light on the power of oral traditions in recounting the struggles of these regions.
In her most recent literary achievement, a captivating collection of poetry titled “Weeping Lands,” Prof. Kiguli’s work resonated so deeply with the audience that, on the night she received the award, eager readers clamored for her autograph. This recognition at the Civil Poetry Festival in Italy marks a well-deserved pinnacle in her illustrious career as a poet and academic.
