By Kirabo Byabashaija (Published originally at My Wandering Journey)
With the back of her hand on her lips, she tries to suppress a smile. She finds that this is a little hard to do, as the corners of her lips are being pretty persistent. Her eyes gaze off, outside the window, past the palm trees on her horizon, further past the white fluff pasted on today’s blue sky.
She remembers 2016, at the very start. The resolutions she penned down.
More Writing. More Reading. At least that’s what her journal said. Keeping it an any type of reading or writing would be easy. No. She was determined to dive into the genre named ‘African’…
Today, 9 stories (and book reviews) later – She is excited and anxious all a once. You see this is her first Writivism. Yes. That sort of thing is worthy of excitement with a heavy dose of anxiety.
She wants to meet these people that are coming — the ones living her dream! She has questions to ask them? How do they write? What happens when the story leaves you? How do you write of a place that you’ve never been? Where do they get the gall to attempt to change the narrative? Did they kill their editors? Did they follow Nike and just do it? Was the story already burdening them, forever assaulting their dreams and waking moments? Or did the words just sort of pop up on the page as they committed to it?
This festival has planned 7 days of mind-blowing literary conversation! From Book Launches, there is literally a launch every day – pun noted
, to Literary Agent Speed Dating – Yeah, that’s right! How fast can you pitch that book idea?
Other activities that she is pumped about are the Book Signings at the Autograph Points; Award Ceremonies (Okot p’Bitek Prize, Short Story Prize); Keynote Addresses (Zukiswa Wanner & Julius Ocwinyo); Readings; Performances and Films; Panels and Discussions on a whole range of things. She is seriously considering apologising to her boss and just pitching camp at the venue – for just seven days. What are the odds that she will be missed?
Truth be told, she is a bit overwhelmed. You see she is a newbie and will probably need a guide, lest she embarrasses herself.
I am she and I’m ready for #Writivism2016.
I hope to see you there!
The Writivism Festival is organised by the Centre for African Cultural Excellence (CACE). The organisation’s flagship initiative that brings together established writers from the African Continent and beyond. The festival grooms young talent in the writing craft and engages in Workshops and Panel discussions revolving around critical issues relating to the creation and dissemination of African Literature. Though young, it is East Africa’s leading literary festival.
2016 is it’s 4th year running. It will be happening this week (22nd to 28th of August) at the Uganda Museum.
Monday – Thursday: 6pm – 8pm;
Friday: 12pm – 8pm;
Saturday: 10am – 8pm;
Sunday: 12pm – 8pm.#Writivism2016 http://writivism.com/
Writivism 