News & Events, September '09

Pan African Space Station

The Pan African Space Station launches on September 12 with Songs for Biko, a 24-hr marathon praise party at the PASS Studios (Africa Centre, 44 Long Street, Cape Town) from 1 pm on Sat 12 Sept (Biko Day) to 1pm on Sun 13 Sept. Plan Be; Dino Miranda; Brendon Bussy & friends; Dala Flats; The Congregation; Funafuji; DJ Mighty, Miss H; poets, musicians, soundists, PASS people present music and words inspired by Steve Biko's work. Fong Kong Bantu Sound System and chief chef Thobikile cook up an Ital breakfast on Sunday from 6am to 12pm. Nonkululeko Godana hosts spoken words from 2pm. More here.

SPARCK

SPARCK will host the first WiAiA: an international workshop dedicated to innovative writing and publishing about contemporary creation in the African world from 27 October to 4 November 2009. Applications to participate in WiAiA Lagos are sought from writers from and/or based in West Africa. Particular consideration will be given to applicants who have a demonstrated interest in developing original approaches to writing about contemporary culture and creativity as they relate to globally driven social, economic and political phenomena. Full details here.

Films, words, images

Artists, designers and illustrators: a call for book cover submissions for the next raft of titles in the Penguin African Writers Series: A Question of Power by Bessie Head, From a Crooked Rib by Nuruddin Farah, Voices Made Night by Mia Couto and The Beautyful Ones are Not Yet Born by Ayi Kwei Armah. The competition closes on 28 September, and the artist whose work is chosen will be paid R1200. More here.

4th Documentary Film Festival DOCKANEMA, September 11 to 20 in Maputo features documentaries, discussions, workshops, photographic exhibition, a jazz concert and music events. More here.

This year’s Tri Continental Film Festival runs from September 11th to October 12 in Cape Town and Joburg. Screenings include six world premiers, 19 African first showings and 22 South African films. Details here.

More than twenty poets, predominantly from South Africa and elsewhere on the African continent, will participate in the 13th Poetry Africa international poetry festival in Durban from 5 to 10 October.