It is eleven days to the #Writivism2016 festival. Starting Monday August 22 to Sunday 28, Kampala shall host a gathering of readers, writers, publishers, academics and other players in the literary sector. We are looking forward to the seven-day event and in anticipation, this blog is featuring short Q & As with previous and current staff. We are doing this in order to briefly trace the history of the festival. This week’s Writivism Festival OB is Josh O Agaba, who was Deputy team leader in charge of communications at the 2014 festival and a blogger with the 2015 festival. He told us a few things about his involvement.
1. What pushed you to get involved in #Writivism 2014 and 2015 as part of the organising team?
I’m a lover of books. A writer and blogger. If anything pushed me to join Writivism, it was mostly curiosity. And then the hunger to learn. I knew little of African literature, even now though just a tad better. I was so challenged. Too challenged in fact. I didn’t hesitate when I was approached to help out.
2. What fond memories do you have of the festival?
The people I met. The drunken late night drives back to guest houses (we had to chaperone sometimes.) It is one thing to read someone’s books and poetry, it is a rare opportunity to be close to the people that feed minds. I enjoyed their stories, stories that had been flown in from different ends of the world to my backyard. So, bragging rights mostly. 😂😂😂😂
3. Thinking back now, what could you have done better, regarding the plans and execution of #Writivism2014 and 2015 festivals?
I wasn’t very very involved in 2015 as I’d been in 2014. I will only speak for 2014, there is nothing that I’d have done differently. I had a 360 experience.
4. How would you measure the growth of this festival in three years?
This festival grew so much in one year. I’ll say leaps and bounds. I’m so expectant because 2016 holds so much promise for the literary community in and around Africa. Thanks to Writivism.
5. Are you proud of this baby you nurtured?
Too proud. It wasn’t a waste of any body’s time then or now.
We look forward to having a blast at the 4th edition of the festival, with Josh and you, the reader of these interviews. This is the second last of the interviews for the series. Look out for the very last one, coming soon. See you at the festival.
Writivism 