PAUL KISAKYE WRITES ABOUT PRODIGAL LOVE- #BABISHAI2016 FESTIVAL GUEST

Paul Kisakye is an unapologetic Christian and author of recently published book, Prodigal Love: Embracing God’s Outrageous, Unconditional Love. He is consistent in his belief in God’s grace and power. 

Paul Kisakye (Courtesy photo)

Paul's book will be launched on 19^th April at Papali on the Roof in Kampala-Bukoto. The entry fee of 30,000/- includes a copy of the book. Paul is also a guest at the #Babishai2016 poetry festival and will be part of a panel discussion on Christian writing and why he strongly believes that it’s not a hindrance to creativity.

1.       Paul, Congratulations on your recent book. Let’s start with Christian writing. You hold firm Christian beliefs. How flexible does that permit you to explore multiple themes in your writing and do you sometimes find yourself in positions of self-censorship?

I am a Christian, and I am a writer. I write for a living. I am a Christian writer in the same way a friend of mine is a Christian lawyer and another is a Christian surgeon. My beliefs influence my writing the same way my surgeon friend’s beliefs influence his work. About self-censorship, I rarely have to censor myself. I never have need to use profanity in my writing, and I know how to write a sexually explicit scene in a way that doesn’t make it feel dirty. I’ve written some stories that haven’t gone down well with some Christian friends of mine. But God liked them. And that’s what really matters.

2.       How would you feel towards a body of Christian writers supporting one another amidst the challenges in the literary fraternity?

That is long overdue. Most of us writers are semi-hermits. We forget that God created us to live in community. Community is important for our creativity. So I’d definitely join other Christian writers so we can support each other. As long as it’s safe and healthy.

3.       In three words, how would you describe your book?

Experience Unconditional Love.

prodigal Love: Embraing God's outrageous, unconditional love

4.       What are the most surprising responses you have received from this book, so far?

The pig! That pig on the cover has caused no small stir! I’ve enjoyed reading and listening to people speculate on why I chose to have a pig on the cover. Well, it’s mostly a picture of Jesus’ Parable of the Prodigal Son, which was the inspiration for the book. It also represents how most people think about their relationship with God. Most people feel like they are filthy pigs that God loves but can’t hug. A few people have said that the pig might keep away Muslim readers. But I’m not worried about that. I wrote this book for Christians. If only Christians learnt how much God loves them, this world would be a much better place.

5.       You sent a children’s poem for Babishai Poetricks last year. It’s going to be published in a poetry anthology which we’re producing. How often do you write poetry?

I mainly write prose. It comes naturally to me, whether I feel like writing or not. But for poetry, I have to be in a certain space. I haven’t yet figured out what kind of space that has to be. But the last time I wrote a poem was when someone died a few months ago.

6.       Which, in your opinion, is the best diet for poets?

Books. Lots of books. And a thesaurus and a rhyming dictionary (or Google). But for real food, anything that you fancy will do.

7.       What do you expect from the Babishai Poetry Festival?

I’m looking forward to having interesting, quirky conversations with the brilliant minds that this festival attracts.

8.       Any parting remarks?

Do you have a story burning to be told? Do you have a voice that must be heard? Then write. Because writing is no small calling. Otherwise, get back to your normal day job and save us the agony of watching our time being flushed down the toilet.

Thank you very much.

Babishai Festival will run from 24-26 August 2016 in Kampala.

Email: festival@babishainiwe.com

Website: www.babishainiwe.com

Below are details of our two Babishai 2016 Poetry Competitions.

BN POETRY AWARD 2013 -DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JUNE 1, 2013

The 5th and final BN Poetry Award for Uganda. Theme: Innovation Deadline for submission extended to June 1 , 2013 As we celebrate the 5th and final BN Poetry Award for Uganda, the theme of Innovation is most suitable because 2013 is about originality, modernization, freshness and in 2014, we’re taking the award to an international level. Guidelines for the award: • The theme is Innovation and you may submit a total of three poems under this theme • The award is open to Ugandan women above 18 years and who are residents of Uganda • The poems must be sent as word attachments in Times New Roman Size 12, single-spaced • Submit poems by email to bnpoetryaward@mail.com or post to P O Box 34942 Kampala, Uganda • For more details, follow the facebook page, Babishai Niwe Poetry Foundation or blog: http://bnpoetryaward.blogsot.com or website: www.bnpoetryaward.co.ug • DEADLINE EXTENDED. Submission will be accepted up to June 1 2013 at Midday, East African Standard Time. PRIZES: • The first 3 winners will attend a fully sponsored trip to the Storymoja Hay Festival in Nairobi alongside cash prizes of 500 US Dollars, 300 US Dollars and 200 US Dollars respectively. • The first 3 will also win autographed copies of poetry, autographed copies of Diaries of a Dead African, by Chuma Nwokolo, Jr. and autographed copies of Tropical Fish by Doreen Baingana

POETRY FOUNDATION GHANA POETRY PRIZE

Poetry Foundation Ghana has announced its inaugural (2013) GHANA POETRY PRIZE with $1,000 winning prize at stake. This is built on the hugely successful 2012 Online Competition which was done under the name Ghana Poetry Awards. According to organisers, the aim of this prize is to support younger emerging poets. The Prize is sponsored by Poetry Foundation Ghana and with the hope of increasing the prize when they have enough funds from other sources. "People with interest in poetry are invited to help in this direction and we will be grateful for your sponsorship." This contest is open to anyone, anywhere in the world. Interested persons are to to submit a maximum of two poems which must not be more than 30 lines long. Plus, it is free to enter. All submissions should be made to submissions@poetryfoundationghana.org with the subject 'Poetry Prize'. The deadline is June 30, 2013. Shortlisted poems would be announCed in July, while the winner will be made known by September. Viasat1NewsOnline

Too Much sweetness at AWT International Writers’ Conference.

The first story that was told at the Writers’ Conference, which none of us will ever forget did not come from Prof. Jack Mapanje, or Nii Parkes, but from two prostitutes. A Norwegian man died after a night with two prostitutes. Upon their arrest, the prostitutes said that the man must have died from too much sweetness. From 7 to 9 March 2013, African Writers’ Trust organized an international writers’ conference in Entebbe. The Director, Goretti Kyomuhendo, resident in the UK, created this space for us to talk, write, learn and create. It was unforgettable. The dominant theme at the conference was Afropolitanism and the question of continental identity with the mobility of Africans all over the world. There have been large exoduses from decades and decades ago for reasons ranging from seeking alternative education and economic opportunities, tourism, escaping political strife and so on. And then there were questions about returning to the continent and if it really did feel like home. In his keynote address, Prof. Mapanje, renowned Malawian poet did not have a solid answer as to whether returning to Malawi after two decades in the UK, really felt like home. The conference had several writers from the diaspora whose names were followed by Accra/UK, DRC/Norway, DRC/Netherlands and Uganda/UK. This is the real situation of many who have lived and continue to live across two continents and for many reasons, unable to identify one single country as their home. It is an indisputable reality and one that I learned from after hearing their stories of challenges of living as a writer in the West. Contrary to the justification many of us try to give ourselves when we are not writing or pushing our creativity beyond its limits, we who live here want to believe that ‘they’ in the West, have it easier because they live next door to publishers, dine with literary agents and have coffee with prize givers. Hardly. They too have 24 hours in the day with which to work and create, have children to look after and bills to pay. Did I mention that the weather most times in unfavourable and can be compared to Margherita peak on Mt. Rwenzori. And nothing brought made this clearer than the readings from Kwani? 07, which Doreen Baingana and Kalundi Serumaga opened up to us. Billy Kahora, managing Editor of Kwani? led a very reflective session and explained the motivation for the theme for the latest edition of the East Africa literary journal, Kwani?, which was Africans in the diaspora Doreen’s was a true account of being mistreated at the immigration department before entering the United States. The confrontation by the officials because of the choice she made not to apply for US citizenship and instead return to Uganda, resonates the binary standards of immigration policies. The disparity between the West and the beautiful and complex continent of Africa is further examined in an article by Alphonse Muambi, Congolese journalist currently residing in The Netherlands. The articles entitled, African elections, a naïve European ideal? indicates that the European desire for democracy on the continent is detrimental to the well-being of African populations. There was a lot of discourse as well about how we can collaborate as writers to use available digital tools to widen our audiences and opportunities for publishing and listening to Chikoti’s views on this and his Malawi experience as well as Rais Boneza from Norway/DRC, Dwalu, a children’s author from Liberia and even the Ugandan writers like Beatrice Lamwaka, Hellen Nyana, Harriet Anena, Baingana and Twongyeirwe. It is safe to say that we must tap into the prospects from the internet and keep on writing. The conference was followed by many other events in Kampala, one of which was an African Writers’ evening organized by Nii Parkes, which he runs in England on a quarterly basis. And true to the celebration of Women’s Day, Beatrice Lamwaka read from two different anthologies and bravely bore the Q and A from the audience. Rais entertained us with an oral form of poetry in singing verse and Nii, true to his amazing self, ended on a high with the West African mosquito, detailing the issues of youths in America who live and think like gangsters but are no match for the perils of malaria. Goretti Kyomuhendo is farsighted. The session with employees from Barclays Bank and Stichting Doen, the sponsors of the event, discussing possible collaboration with the literary arts is testimony to this. She embraces challenge with a dignified fierceness and I am so grateful. I am honoured to have met astounding writers from Uganda, the entire continent and the diaspora, from whom I picked incredible wealth for my own writing. Asanteni! By Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva

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.