Sarah Ladipo Manyika

sarah publicity 2_medSarah Ladipo Manyika's fabulous debut novel In Dependence is published in Nigeria in December.

The book is an historical romance set in Nigeria and England.  Its a good old-fashioned read and begins thus:

"One could begin with the dust, the heat and the purple bougainvillea. One might even begin with the smell of rotting mangos tossed by the side of the road where flies hummed and green-bellied lizards bobbed their orange heads while loitering in the sun. But why start there when Tayo walked in silence, oblivious to his surroundings. With a smile on his face he thought of the night before when he had dared to run a hand beneath the folds of Modupe’s wrapper. Miraculously, without him even asking, Modupe had loosened the cloth around her waist. Of course they had kissed many times before, usually in the Lebanese cinema when all was dark, but that was nothing compared to Friday night. And while Tayo was lost in his thoughts, his father, who walked alongside, noticed his son’s smile and read it as excitement for the forthcoming trip."

Listen to Sarah read from her novel:

 
Toni Kan wins prize

tk 1Toni Kan has won the NDDC Ken Saro-Wiwa prize for his collection Nights of the Creaking Bed. The prize was awarded at the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) awards gala night on Saturday 31st October.

The book was published in 2008 by Cassava Republic Press. On winning the award, Toni had this to say, "The ANA awards is the most credible and widely respected literary awards in Nigeria today. I am happy to have received this honour which is, above all else, a recognition of my work and the resurgence of a publishing industry with companies like Cassava Republic at the forefront."

 

 
Brian Chikwava interview

brian chikwavaBrian Chikwava’s Harare North is one of the most talked-about African novels of the year. We caught up with Brian in London just after this year’s Hay festival in June. In this 30 minute interview, he talks about the language of his book, the writing process, artistic integrity, his favourite books, the importance of the internet, the location of the writer and the short story as the ideal medium between the poem and the novel.

 
Lola Shoneyin interview

bw lola_smallLola Shoneyin was interviewed recently on RTE’s the Art Show. Shoneyin’s much-anticipated debut novel, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives is published by Cassava Republic Press in February 2010.

We’re utterly excited to be the first to be publishing this fresh voice in African writing. The American and UK publication will follow later next year.

Her poetry collection For the Love of Flight will be out in October.

Lola’s website.

 

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