SINGAPORE CREATIVE WRITING RESIDENCY 2013

Call for applications: Singapore Creative Writing Residency 2013 (18-01-13) Co-organised by the National University of Singapore University Scholars Programme (NUS USP) and The Arts House, the Singapore Creative Writing Residency is created to promote creative writing in Singapore. The residency aims to: a. Provide time and space for the Resident Writer to complete, or make substantial progress with a written work in English; b. Generate interaction and critical discussion among potential writers and stimulate new writing from them through mentorship and public programmes. The completed work, or part of a work, which can be fiction or non-fiction, may cover any topic, and should be in one of the following forms; prose, verse, stage play, radio play or screenplay. The work must be of publishable standard and must be ready for a public reading/lecture. The residency will last for six months from July to December 2013, and the Resident Writer will be required to take up residence at Cinnamon College, the USP residential college at NUS. The resident will receive a monthly stipend. The resident will be provided with board, lodging, a computer, and supporting peripherals during the tenure of his/her residency. Applications are now open! Visit http://www.commonwealthwriters.org/call-for-applications-singapore-creative-writing-residency-2013-18-01-13/ for more details.

Marianne Wilson quote: one of my favourite

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. It comes from her book, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles (1992)

(Internet source)

BEVERLEY NAMBOZO POETRY AWARD CHANGING NAME

Hello Friends, From 2014, when the award hits its regional East Africa audience, the name will change. It will still remain the same for the Ugandan women in diaspora though. In Early December, when the board meets, a suitable one will emerge I am sure. When this award began, I honestly thought it would be a very small affair where I would use my salary then to award the prizes. So many of you including the media saw it as a much bigger space than I ever could have and for that I am grateful. It is important to know that iron sharpens iron and one ember of coal brings more heat than a solitary one. There are so many pleasant surprises that have emerged from the award namely global partners, support from unlikely individuals and the passion has spread like wildfire. I am very glad to know that the team is growing. Late this year Tipu Arts Center, headed by Beatrice Lamwaka will head to Gulu to coordinate poetry camps there, a great way to end the year. Our new partners in Nairobi, Storymoja are ready to host the winners of the award next year in Nairobi and we have new partners who are willing to facilitate a trip to a winner to attend the Zanzibar Arts Festival in March next year too. Our judges Mildred Barya and Apuuli Mugasa are about to begin editing the submissions of the anthology of poetry from East Africa, that will take a while and we look forward to the results. It is time to think bigger, consolidate the team and work towards refining the poetry we have so far. Congratulations to the many poets from the region and beyond who have had a successful year and many good wishes for the next year too. Here's to a great 2013.

(Internet source)

SESETULA ARTS E SESSE Festival of the arts 7th-9th December 2012.

Xenson arts and Zawadieye presents “Sesetula arts e Ssese” under the theme “Why I do what I do” loosely translated as “lwaki nkola zenkola” What is Sesetula Arts e Sesse? Sesetula arts e Ssese is a festival of the arts on the beautiful and serene Ssese islands. We are celebrating the climax of a wonderful 2012 and the diversity and richness that is the arts; their ability to impart knowledge, creativity, determination and compassion.

Internet source: Purpose of the Festival This project seeks to explore linkages that exist between art, culture and nature. OBJECTIVES 1. Enhance participation and appreciation of all genres of art; visual, performing, literary. 2. Promote cultural identity and encourage greater affinity with nature. 3. Inspire and reiterate self-belief and confidence. About the Venue. Scattered across the North Eastern corner of Lake Victoria; Africa’s largest fresh water lake are 84 islands that make up the Sesse group; Kalangala district in Central Uganda. To the South West is the Bugala group and to the North East; Koone group. The largest and most accessible of these is Bugala which is the district headquarters. Pearl Gardens campsite is located 100m from Lutoboka bay on Bugala Island. This 20 acre sprawling beach resort operates a secure and well maintained camping ground within the natural forest and along the beach equipped and ideal for group camping. The resort also has built cottages and rooms as alternative accommodation. Target This annual festival will draw together art lovers and enthusiasts, the local community as well as artists from all genres. Visual arts and handicrafts that include among others; basketry, mats, ceramics, beads, pottery, hand-woven textiles and products, toys, jewelry, bags and ornaments, leather products, batik, wood carvings and paintings. Performing arts; dance, drama, music, theatre, motion pictures, opera, traditional sports and the marching arts such as brass bands as well as literacy arts that use language to express oratory and literature; poets, comedians and writers. Activities • Battle of the bands: Arguably 2012 has been the year of the band as more and more Ugandans embrace the concept of live music. Bands will have the opportunity to go head to head in an explosion of instruments and musical genius. • Poetry and book reading: Literary art lovers will have the opportunity to engage in various recitals and review chapters of a local publication courtesy of FEMRITE (Uganda Women Writers Association). • Story telling: The “Original Musese”, as he is locally known is one of the oldest men on the island and will engage in folklore and convey the oral history and traditions of the Basese people. • Jam sessions: Whether you are an accomplished musician or not, bring your own instrument and let’s create beautiful music. • Dance recital: Mix of contemporary and modern dance styles. • Disco: DJ Apeman; Africa’s finest DJ will be on the spin tables displaying his talent and playing your favorite jams. • Boat graffiti: Working in teams, that include local fishermen, participants will get a chance to spray paint a boat on the beach. After this exercise, teams will get into their boats and the fishermen will treat us to a spectacular race to Lutoboka bay. • Treasure hunt: Teams will get to explore the Island following and deciphering a given set of clues to find the ultimate prize. Whichever team gets to the treasure first, wins it. • Culinary art: To celebrate the culinary arts, participants will take turns preparing breakfast; the first and most important meal of the day. • Exhibition: Those with items to sell will be allotted a special place to display their wares. How to participate/ getting there: For more information on our packages and to make reservations, please call Achan on 0751697010, achanc@yahoo.com or Esther on0772381552, esi.ochan@zawadieye.com. Remember, we only have 150 slots available so book early to avoid disappointment.

BN POETRY AWARD GOES INTERNATIONAL-IT'S TIME.

Hello, this message is for you-you who have been there for the team during the arduous and rewarding years of putting the BN Poetry Award together.

(Photo taken from one of the art pieces at Kenya National Museum) Thanks for being a heads up kind of person during the 4 past BN Poetry Award ceremonies. Next year 2013, will be the last annual poetry award for Ugandan women living in Uganda because, we have decided it is time to live larger. From 2014, the award will increase to include both female and male poets from East Africa. The award has achieved significant success in Uganda with remarkable aplomb amidst support from the media, individuals and other literary groups in Uganda and in honour of the surprises of poetry, it's time to show how radical and real poetry can be. If there ever was a time, it's now. Further to that, the award will also target Ugandan Women in the Diaspora , specific to regions. For example, in 2014, target Ugandan women in Southern Africa, 2015, Ugandan women in the U.K, and with the succeeding years, a new region. These ideas were augmented from the intense individuals whose ideas are like a springboard whenever we sit for our roundtable discussions. of the BN Poetry Foundation. Currently, we are still accepting poems from poets from Eastern Africa for an anthology thanks to funding from Prince Claus Fund. If you are interested, send the poems to bnpoetryaward@mail.com as a word attachment with your contact details. The deadline is end of December 2012. 2013 is going to be an intense fundraising year and a great time to be alive. Have a memorable week and you may follow us on facebook at Beverley Nambozo Poetry Foundation and this Friday and Saturday from 6:00pm, Lantern Meet of Poets will be holding a recital at The Uganda National Cultural Center (National Theater), tickets at only 10,000/-.

WriTivism Short Realist Prose Competition 2013

WriTivism Short Realist Prose Competition 2013 by Center for African Cultural Excellence (CACE) on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at 1:22am · The Center for African Cultural Excellence (CACE) in collaboration with the Association of Uganda Female Writers (FEMRITE), The Observer, Kushinda, Writing our World and individual partners invites entries from young people aged 15-25 years, resident in Uganda to the WriTivism competition. The competition welcomes short fiction that addresses contemporary issues in society around the themes of Diversity, Equality and Identity interpreted creatively and liberally. Guidelines for the competition · Stories should be 1000 to 1500 words long, unpublished elsewhere, sent strictly by email to cace.director@gmail.com as word attachments latest by midnight of 30th, November, 2012. · A long-list will be released on 31st of December, 2012, and a shortlist will be published on the 14th of January 2013 after which shortlisted writers shall attend a one-day writing workshop on the 19th of January, 2013. · Shortlisted stories shall be published in The Observer and in a Kushinda published anthology. · Shortlisted writers agree to participate in all WriTivism activities including entering their story to be voted by readers in the WriTivist of the Year Award contest. For more information and for feedback about the competition, contact us through our Facebook page www.facebook.com/CACEAfrica or come to Plot 640, Nabulagala road in the Africa Youth Development Link building, or send us an email at cace.director@gmail.com or check our website at www.cace-africa.org.

Susan Piwang shares her story at Storymoja Hay Fest in Nairobi

The Storymoja Hay festival, as I understood it, is a celebration of literary work in Africa. Storymoja collaborates with Hay Festival, a group that runs literary festivals worldwide. It is a chance to have new, young writers meet famous authors and learn more about writing; to discover the mystery of literature (which, if you are already an author, isn’t a mystery at all), and in general a great big jamboree that revolves around books. After attending it, you should walk away thinking, ‘ah, how proud I am to be literate!’ And I did.

Poetry Masterclass with Lemn Sissay I attended under the Beverley Nambozo Poetry Foundation. As winner of the fourth poetry contest I was awarded a full-expense paid trip to Nairobi to attend the festival. The most significant change I experienced is of course actually winning the prize. I have been used to getting compliments on my work which made me think that in the very least my writing was ‘okay’. But winning this competition was a leap away from the mediocre state of average. I had thought I’d have a chance at second, or third. First place was a daring dream that I honestly thought would remain a dream. Winning the prize was overwhelming; it was a blatant declaration; a foghorn blaring in my ears and shaking my settled brain: YOUR WORK IS NUMBER ONE MATERIAL! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! Don’t worry about any brain damage. If anything, my brain is working better than ever. I think it had been still for too long and was on the verge of stagnancy; I needed the shake up. Winning the prize opened the door to a hall of a million more doors, all holding many opportunities behind them. I have never attended anything like the Storymoja festival until now. I never even thought there could be those many people willing to do so much for the love of reading—in one country, I mean. It was a change to be a part of such a wonderful group and not to be looking on from the outside. To know that I wasn’t there because someone-or-other pulled some strings (not that I have ever gotten anywhere that way), but on my own merit, with my own work, because of my writing. My work is no longer the profound sentiments I scribble down in secret and recite to an audience of one—me. I was listened to, appreciated and congratulated. Yes, at eighteen, I made my mark.

Susan Piwang at the Poetry gala The whole experience was encouraging as well. Being in the middle of all those great literary minds was a motivation. The energy of the entire event commanded my slowing molecules into movement and I highly doubt they will ever stop again. I have become a literary perpetual motion machine! Need I say more? The Beverley Nambozo Poetry Award is a voice for the mute, a stage for the timid and a chance for those with none (I know that’s so cliché, but it’s still very true). I’m just glad it happened to exist at the same time I did and that I could be part of it.