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Bakwa invites you to the launch of the 11th issue of Bakwa Magazine, a genre-defying edition that gives voice to stories, essays, poetry, pieces that contemplate and contextualise the realities and experiences of women.
Featuring a conversation between Nadia Ahidjo and Bertille Mbarga, as well as a spoken word performance by Latifah Summayya
https://bakwabooks.com/product/bakwa-11-when-love-is-a-scream/
We are excited to announce Career Prospects for Literary Translators in Cameroon, the first of an ongoing series of talks, lectures and conversations aimed at exploring the dynamics, challenges and opportunities that exist within literary translation in Cameroon and beyond.
January 8
14:00
University of Yaounde I, Translation Lab..
Nous sommes heureux d'annoncer la tenue du "Career Prospects for Literary Translators in Cameroon", premier épisode d'une série d'échanges, de conférences et de conversations visant à explorer les dynamiques qui animent la traduction littéraire, ainsi que les difficultés et les opportunités y afférentes, au Cameroun et au-delà.
8 Janvier
Dès 14h
À l'Université de Yaoundé 1 (Translation Lab)
Today at the Frankfurter Buchmesse. Dzekashu Macviban, Lola Shoneyin and Pierre Astier on independent publishing in Africa. Moderated by Claudia Kaiser.
“Reading is an exercise in empathy; an exercise in walking in someone else’s shoes for a while.”
Malorie Blackman
We are excited to announce that we are taking part in MISS READ this year.
MISS READ: The Berlin Art Book Festival & Fair 2023 takes place from September 22–24 at Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW), hosting 340 exhibitors from 55 countries, making it the largest and most diverse edition so far.
Admission to the fair and program is FREE and we hope to see you.
Friday, September 22, 5–9pm, followed by a party with DJs Minatha and Denya Denya (Weltwirtschaft 9pm–3am)�Saturday, September 23, 12–7pm (STAGE program until 9pm)�Sunday, September 24, 12–7pm
Recommended event:
On Friday, September 22, the public program will open with Jean-Pierre Bekolo’s new manifesto around the therapeutic intellectual. The avant-garde filmmaker and socio-cultural activist whose imaginative work overturns stereotypes of Africa and African cinema will present a lecture followed by a Q&A with Dzekashu MacViban , curator of Literature and Oralture Practices at HKW, and founder of Bakwa Books and Bakwa Magazine.
https://missread.com/exhibitor/bakwa-books-bakwa-magazine/
Dive into a world of endless possibilities with our brand new multi-genre short story collection, Walking on Cowrie Shells by Nana Nkweti !
From thrilling mysteries to heartwarming tales, there's something for everyone in this literary adventure. ✨
“Beautiful and immersive… Whether Nkweti is writing about water goddesses, zombies, or aspiring graphic novelists, she reveals and celebrates the rich inner lives of those who do not fit neatly into social and cultural categories… Nkweti’s sentences soar, enthralling the reader through their every twist and turn, and often ending with a wry punch… This is a groundbreaking and vital work.”
Publishers Weekly
https://bakwabooks.com/product/walking-on-cowrie-shells/
⚡️OUT IN SEPTEMBER ⚡️
Walking on Cowrie Shells by Nana Nkweti
An adoptee leverages her new parents to fast track her fortunes. A sword-wielding teenager navigates a crush at Comic-Con. A jaded PR man tries to spin a zombie outbreak in West Africa. A mother and daughter search for spiritual meaning in the midst of a family crisis. A water goddess sacrifices her power for the fisherman she loves.
In these stories, Caine Prize shortlisted author Nana Nkweti pulls from mystery, horror, realism and myth to showcase the complexity of characters whose lives span Cameroonian and American cultures. A dazzling, inventive debut, Walking on Cowrie Shells announces the arrival of a superlative new voice.
“This début collection of stories revels in variety—of character, style, and even genre.”
The New Yorker
Pre-order here 👇🏿
https://bakwabooks.com/product/walking-on-cowrie-shells-pre-order/
"Unboxing" Bakwa 11 by Leila Fortune Tsatchou. You can read her story "La Mémoire de l’Océan" online on Bakwa Magazine online here:
https://bakwamagazine.com/featured-content/la-memoire-de-locean/
The second iteration of the Salon de Livre Africain de Paris featured some 60 publishers from France and 11 markets in Africa.
"Astier, however, offered several positive examples of how splitting rights territories is possible.
In the case of his author Blaise Ndala—a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo who is a Canadian resident—Astier was able to divide the rights for the novel Dans le ventre du Congo (In the Belly of the Congo) between three Francophone territories: in France with Le Seuil; in Canada with Mémoire d’encrier; and in Francophone Africa in Côte d’Ivoire with Vallesse Éditions. For his Cameroonian author Hemley Boum, the agency split the English-language rights territory with Boum’s Days Come and Go translated by Nchanji Njamnsi. It was published by Two Lines Press in the United States, and in Cameroon with Bakwa Books
“Sharing territories and making partnerships is the future,” Astier said. “It’s crucial to go in this direction and is essential for us at the agency.”
Retnani said his publishing house often does co-editions, with sub-Saharan publishers as well as with French publishers such as Actes Sud. He cited the work of the International Alliance of Independent Publishers, which coordinated co-publications for Djaïli Amadou Amal’s Munyal les larmes de la patience (Munyal, the Tears of Patience) first published by Éditions Proximité in Cameroon, then co-published by seven members of the alliance in Africa in the collection Terres solidaires before being published in France as Les Impatientes (Emmanuelle Collas Éditions). The book won many prizes, among them the Prix Goncourt des Lycéens in 2020."
Olivia Snaije
The second iteration of the Salon de Livre Africain du Paris featured some 60 publishers from France and 11 markets in Africa…
We are at the Mini-Book Fair at the Goethe-Institut Kamerun, Bastos! Stop by and grab a copy of any of our books! ☕📚
Join the Alliance Française de Seattle, in partnership with Elliott Bay Book Company, for an online discussion with author Hemley Boum, who will discuss her latest book Days Come and Go, translated by Nchanji Njamnsi. Nkiacha Atemnkeng, a writer and music enthusiast from Cameroon, will moderate this virtual interview, which will be followed by a Q&A session with the audience.
Free event, in English, RSVP mandatory (Please RSVP at the bottom of this page).
This event takes place online via Zoom.
https://www.afseattle.org/community/event-rsvp/?event_id=224
African writers are producing excellent writing, and publishers, both on the continent and the diaspora, are making space for their work. This year, we expanded our Notable African Books of the Year list from 50 to 100 because of the large volume of good books published. [See here if you missed it.] The expansion of our list is part of a larger story about the culture—how it is growing but also facing new challenges. One advantage of curating this kind of list is that you get a broad sense of which direction things are going. Here are a few trends we observed from drawing up our notable African books of 2022 list.
https://brittlepaper.com/2022/12/9-major-trends-in-african-literature-in-2022/
"Cameroon Anglophone literature has been variously described as “peripheral, radical, a perpetual lament.” Consensus about any literature has historically been a hard thing to come. It should not even be desired. However, the Anglophone Cameroon literature I grew up reading—and that stuck with me—is quite varied. It spans tribes and villages, sprawling over the years into cities, countries, and continents to reach the globe. It is a cocktail of poetry, short stories, plays, novels, and non-fiction. It portrays villagers, boys, women, chiefs, elected officials, white men, and immigrants. Its presence can now be felt miles away from its epicenter in Cameroon.
At a time when Cameroon is plagued by rampant corruption, native land-grabbing by government officials, the erosion of traditional ruler authority, high amounts of illegal immigration, and the destructive rise of local Pentecostal churches, Cameroon anglophone literature takes on a prophetic character. It foretold—decades ago—many of the current challenges the country is wrestling with. Here are five novels from the stables of Cameroonian English-speaking authors that you should explore, to marvel at the breadth and depth of writing from this often-overlooked part of the world."
https://lithub.com/cameroonian-anglophone-literature-peripheral-prophetic-and-radical/
Days Come and Go by Hemley Boum is featured on Brittle Paper's "100 Notable African Books of 2022" and African Arguments' "The best African books of 2022"
"A chronicle about a rapidly changing Cameroon, [Days Come and Go] tells the story of three generations of women. Anna, a matriarch in Paris, Abi, her daughter, and Tina, a teen who comes under the influence of a militant terrorist faction. In different ways, they all confront, love and politics, tradition and modernity.”—The Millions
https://bakwabooks.com/product/days-come-and-go/
As the end of 2022 draws close, we are excited to share with you our main forthcoming titles for 2023. From a genre-bending debut collection named one of the Most Anticipated Books by Brittle Paper, The Millions, and The Rumpus, penned by a finalist for the AKO Caine Prize, to a debut novel about the devastating effects of a secret on a family in Limbe, and a collection of translated poetry celebrating the plurality of world Englishes, 2023 will be a remarkable year.
Read more about our main 2023 titles below
Walking on Cowrie Shells by Nana Nkweti
Thank You, Sister by Magdalene Janjo
Nineteen Ways of Looking at Awono by Georgina Collins
https://bakwabooks.com/2022/11/21/get-to-know-our-2023-authors/
We'll be at the Focal Point Art Book Fair, taking place from 25 to 27 November 2022, in Bait Obaid Al Shamsi, a heritage site in Sharjah’s historical quarter. Come say hi ⚡️
Focal Point is an annual art book fair showcasing independent bookmaking from the region and around the world. Audiences will find a compelling selection of printed material by artists’ presses, bookmakers, self-publishers and non-commercial cultural producers on offer. Committed to expanding and experimenting with the medium of publishing, the fair includes talks, book launches, artists’ signings, workshops, music and artist-made products.
An initiative of Sharjah Art Foundation, Focal Point places a special focus on UAE-based publishers and functions as a critical space for knowledge sharing and community building.
Highlights from the Yaounde launch of Days Come and Go by Hemley Boum (trans. Nchanji Njamnsi) at Goethe-Institut Kamerun on the news in English
Highlights from the Douala launch of Days Come and Go by Hemley Boum (trans. Nchanji Njamnsi) at Galerie MAM on the news
About last night!
The launch of Hemley Boum Days Come and Go (trans. Nchanji Njamnsi) at the Goethe-Institut Kamerun was such a wonderful event. Shout-out to Ray Ndébi, who is such a talented moderator. We are grateful to everyone who was able to attend. This means the world to us. Below are a few highlights from yesterday's event.
We are so grateful for your presence and the wonderful conversation with Hemley Boum, Nchanji Njamnsi, & Ray Ndébi during the launch of Days Come and Go at Galerie MAM today!
The conversation will continue at Goethe-Institut Kamerun, moderated by Commy M***a on 29.10.2022 at 17:00
What are you reading next week?
We're looking forward to seeing you at Hemley Boum 's book tour as she engages in conversations with Ray Ndébi , Nchanji Njamnsi and Commy M***a on the following dates:
Oct 26: 18:00, Galerie MAM (Dla)
Oct 29: 17:00, Goethe-Institut Kamerun (Yde)
Bakwa Books presents Days Come and Go book tour.
Join us for a series of passionate and engaging conversations around Hemley Boum's award-winning English debut, Days Come and Go, translated by Nchanji Njamnsi.
“Employing the portraits of mothers and their children fighting for survival in a crumbling patriarchal society, Hemley Boum blurs the lines between personal stories and history in Days Come and Go.”
Séverine Kodjo-Grandvaux, Le Monde
Tour Dates:
Oct 26: 18:00, Galerie MAM (Dla)
Oct 29: 17:00, Goethe Institut Kamerun (Yde)
📣As part of its program dedicated to authors of the world, the Litquake Festival invites, in partnership with the Villa Albertine San Francisco the French-Cameroonian author Hemley Boum . The translation into English of her novel Days Come and Go, published by 2 Lines, will be the subject of an exchange with journalist & author John McMurtrie , as well as readings of passages from the novel in French and in English by the author herself and by comedian Lance Gardner. KQED
🔗 Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/days-come-and-go-hemley-boum-with-john-mcmurtrie-tickets-413425826777
📖Hemley Boum is the author of the novel, Les Maquisards, which received the Great Literary Prize of Black Africa. First novel translated into English and winner of the Amadou Kourouma Prize, The Days Come and Go, tells the story of three generations of strong women in Cameroon.
🗓 Litquake Festival – Sunday october 16th from 13:30pm to 14:30pm
photo © Francesca Mantovani/Gallimard
💥THE💥NEW💥Hemley Boum💥 IS HERE!
Stop everything and grab your copy!
Described by Jennifer Martin as “one of the most powerful books I’ve read this year” and by Anna Claire as “a bold, beautiful, and breathtaking accomplishment of a book.”
Chronicling the beauty and turmoil of a rapidly changing Cameroon, Days Come and Go is the remarkable story of three generations of women both within and beyond its borders.
Translated by Nchanji Njamnsi,
Days Come and Go is available in:
Cameroon via Bakwa Books
USA via Two Lines Press
South Africa via Modjaji Books
Cote d'Ivoire via 1949
And also available in Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Sénégal and côte d'ivoire via Legrandvidegrenier Cmr
https://bakwabooks.com/product/days-come-and-go/
"I write, compelled by a fundamental need to crush solitude and forge bonds"
Hemley Boum
A few more days to go before the Cameroonian publication date of Days Come and Go by Hemley Boum. Are you as excited as we are?
https://bakwabooks.com/product/days-come-and-go/
Ahead of the release of Hemley Boum 's Days Come and Go (trans. Nchanji Njamnsi) next month, here's an excerpt from Lit Hub:
https://lithub.com/days-come-and-go/
Friends in South Africa, we have good news!!!
Days Come and Go by Hemley Boum will be distributed in South Africa by Modjaji Books
📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣
In October Hemley Boum's award-winning novel, Days Come and Go will be available in SA, published by Bakwa Books, and distributed into the SA market by us. Order from Protea Distribution or from our website.
"At the dusk of her life, Anna is cared for by her daughter, Abi––a reversal of roles which draws mother and daughter closer and opens a window into their lives. Opening with the memories of the dying protagonist, Days Come and Go is the exciting story of three Cameroonian women from three generations: a young Anna who, allured by Western education, finds herself in the midst of a conflict between modernity and tradition; Abi, the journalist, whose liberating idyll with a married artist plunges her tepid family life into turmoil; and Tina, Anna’s young neighbour in Douala, who falls into the clutches of Islamists. The fates of the women in this novel span––and inevitably intertwine with––the history of Cameroon, from pre-colonial and colonial times through the independence movements to the contemporary terror of Boko Haram."
https://www.modjajibooks.co.za/?mgi_724=237861/days-come-and-go
Banned books week is a yearly reminder of the censorship that is imposed on certain books and a celebration of freedom to read. In April 2022, nonprofit organization PEN America found that 1,586 book bans targeting 1,145 unique books had occurred in the past nine months. Book banning occurs when private individuals, government officials, or organizations remove books from libraries, school reading lists, or bookstore shelves because they object to their content, ideas, or themes. In some cases, this has led to book burnings. One of the most effective ways to support a banned book is to buy and read it.
Yaoundé
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"Unboxing" Bakwa 11 by Leila Fortune Tsatchou. You can read her story "La Mémoire de l’Océan" online on Bakwa Magazine online here: https://bakwamagazine.com/featured-content/la-memoire-de-locean/
Highlights from the Yaounde launch of Days Come and Go by Hemley Boum (trans. Nchanji Njamnsi) at Goethe-Institut Kamerun on the news in English
Highlights from the Douala launch of Days Come and Go by Hemley Boum (trans. Nchanji Njamnsi) at Galerie MAM on the news
Laure Bledou met à l’affiche l’auteure camerounaise Hemley Boum qui fait l’actualité grâce à son roman " LES JOURS VIENNENT ET PASSENT " Days Come and Go (tr. Nchanji Njamnsi) is available for preorder here: https://bakwabooks.com/product/days-come-and-go-pre-order/
What does it mean to be a black traveller? https://bakwabooks.com/product/bakwa-09-taxi-drivers-who-drive-us-nowhere-and-other-travel-stories/
⚡️End of Year Sale⚡️ Haven't caught up to all our books yet? Here's your chance. Up to January 10, there's a 15% discount on our book bundle 🤯. The bundle features award winning writers and the following books: 🌟Bakwa 09: Taxi Drivers Who Drive Us Nowhere and Other Travel Stories 🌟Bakwa 10: Family Politricks 🌟Limbe to Lagos: Nonfiction from Cameroon and Nigeria 🌟Your Feet Will Lead You Where Your Heart Is/Le crépuscule des âmes sœurs 🌟Of Passion and Ink: New Voices from Cameroon 🌟Twilight of Crooks
“You have a fullness you need to bring out” interrogates and reimagines how we consume text-based art, specifically what we read and how we read, by offering an immersive approach. Drawing from a curated archive of work from Bakwa Magazine and Bakwa Books, this exhibition gives new meaning to the written word by exploring the possibilities beyond the page and bringing down the barrier between the written word and word art. https://bakwamagazine.com/featured-content/you-have-a-fullness-you-need-to-bring-out/
Buy someone a book on international literacy day!
I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being. ~Oscar Wilde https://bakwabooks.com/product/collected-plays-vol-1-and-2-15-off-pre-order-plus-free-tote-bag/
Who no get Bakwa tote? Introducing the 18 x 18 inch customized stylish tote to reward our supporters and give them the best customer experience. We see you, and we appreciate you! To get a Bakwa Books tote bag, pre-order any two books on bakwabooks.com or buy at least four of our books. For more details email [email protected] or call (+237) 6 52 97 55 13.
Bakwa Magazine issue 10 pidgin review by The Bagus NG Today tok tok for Pidgin na Bakwa Magazine Issue 10 wey dem call Family Politricks. Dem release am for February, 2021. Di tori dem dey ask question like - wetin family mean? How we take see am? Na only member of ya family be ya broda or sista? among many tinz wey you go find out wen you buy am. Pipu wey write di tori: Pwaangulongii Dauod, Sada Malumfashi, Bertille Mbarga, Lebohang Mojapelo, Géraldin Mpesse, Eleanor TK, Nelson Kamkuimo, Mignotte Mekuria, Kanyinsola Olorunnisola, and JK Anowe. Cover by Christo Musinguzi Make una helep us tell oda pipu, una friend, una mama and papa them say sometin dey happen for hia. The Bagus NG na ogbonge platform for Africa wey sabi this book mata pass and dem dey Lagos, Nigeria. Pesin wey edit awa video + tell Ijeoma how she go siddon plus arrange her face na: Ijeoma Where dem shoot the video na: Ijeoma house Pesin wey tok di tok na: Ijeoma wey be awa content pesin. ..... Bakwa 10 is available at these places: Okadabooks (ebook) @BakwaBooks & Legrandvidegrenier Cmr (Cameroon) InterKontinental (Germany) MagCulture (UK) Housmans Radical Booksellers (UK) Soon at: Rovingheights (Nigeria) Frab’s Magazines & More (Italy)
We are over the moon with this video review of Bakwa Magazine 10: Family Politricks by Dyna Sow.
