PAWA hails Accra as UNESCO World Book Capital

World Kids Literature Day holds September 28

By Godwin Okondo

THE Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA) has hailed the Accra, Ghana, for being named UNESCO World Book Capital 2023, saying the status is historic as Accra joins other three previous African countries to enjoy the enviable status of book capitals. PAWA also enjoined other African cities to emulate the cities already named UNESCO World Book Capitals by “intensifying their literary activities” to enjoy that special status.

  According to a statement made available by the continental writers’ Secretary General, Dr. Wale Okediran, “The Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA), Accra, Ghana, received with joy the recent announcement of Accra, as the 2023 UNESCO World Book Capital. As the headquarters of PAWA, Accra has already been playing a very important role as the hub for African literature since PAWA’S inception in 1989. With the new and historical role given to Accra come 2023, PAWA will continue to intensify its support to literary activities in the book capital.

  “PAWA is equally pleased that Accra has now joined other African cities such as Alexandria, Port Harcourt and Conakry which have been previous UNESCO World Book Capitals. It is our hope that more African cities will intensify their literary activities so that they too can join this noble group of World Book Capitals.”

  PAWA also expressed gratitude to UNESCO for looking the way of the continent in its quest to democratize the book and reading culture by naming deserving African cities World Book Capitals, noting, “Our sincere gratitude to UNESCO and all the organizations within and outside Ghana that made the choice of Accra a reality. PAWA will continue to count on their support to make the choice of Accra as the 2023 UNESCO World Book Capital a success.”

  Meanwhile, Dr. Okediran will participate in the Muna Kalati Talk Series 7 tomorrow, September 25, 2021, in Accra, Ghana via Zoom and Facebook Live on the theme ‘Business Models of Literary Ventures: How to Sustain a Book Initiative Overtime’. Time is 2–3.30pm (Ghana) and 3-4.30pm (Nigerian time).

  On the panel are the Co-founder of Literacy Beyond Boundaries, Carol Seera, and Co-founder of Golden Baobab Prize, Deborah Ahenkorah, with the CEO of Muna Kalati, Christian Elongue moderating the session.

  Also, PAWA Secretary-General has announced two events from its stable for next week, one for children’s literature and the other on how to manage characterization in a work of fiction. On Tuesday, September 28, 2021, at 9am Nigerian time, PAWA will celebrate World Kids Literature Day (WorldKidsLitDay: the PAWA Version 2021), a purely kids/teens international literary event, which will be held at PAWA House, Roman Ridge, Accra, Ghana. PAWA premises the celebration on “raising a future of literature lovers that starts with nurturing it in children at an early stage”.

   The next day, Wednesday, September 29, 2021, PAWA will host ‘Introductory Digital Workshop on Characterisation.’ According to a statement, the aim of the workshop is to introduce different games, experiments and techniques to help actors, writers and any interested person to create different types of characters in their literary works, be it drama or fiction. Time is 11am Nigerian time, 1pm Johannesburg and 2pm Nairobi and Kampala. The digital workshop will be facilitated by U.K.-based arts development practitioner and consultant, Mr. Tony Cealy. Participation in these two events is free.

  These two events will also be hosted via the virtual platform Zoom for a global audience.