Commemorating the 1962 Conference of ‘African Writing of English Expression’

12-14 July, 2012
Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

Department of Literature, Makerere University, will host a Conference in African Literature between July 12-14, 2012, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the June 1962 ‘Conference of African Writing of English Expression’ at the then Makerere College.  In view of the significance of the June 1962 Conference in charting the terrain of African Literature, we plan to make the 2012 Conference an occasion for reflection on the key strands and developments in African literature since the 1962 Conference.

It is planned that participants will analyse the new issues and directions, manifest or latent, in contemporary African literary scholarship.  We now invite submissions of abstracts and panels from writers and critics, publishers and distributors, and all who are interested in African literature.

Key Reflections

The June 1962 ‘Conference of African Writing of English Expression’ was not only the very first major international gathering of writers and critics of African literature on the African continent; it was also held at the very cusp of political independence for most African countries. The 1962 Conference especially provided platform for designating the field of African literature. As such it is planned that the July 2012 Conference will provide opportunity for analysis of the constellation of the forces that called African literature into being, and provided impetus to African literary, artistic, and cultural imaginaries. The July 2012 Conference also comes at a time when neoliberal regimes and dispensations have sought to undermine humanities knowledge productions sites, and to entrench commercialisation of artistic creativity. All this has attracted diverse responses from artists, scholars, and the broader publics, and which merit critical attention at this opportune moment.