From the Bunker to Africa

Hi People,

First, I'd like to ask that all of you living in London who haven't already e-mailed me, please send me an e-mail that says OK so that I know you are... Also, I'd like to thank all of you that e-mailed me to find out how I was. It is very faith-reinforcing to find that the people on my mailing list actually care about my mortality. Thank you...

The truth is, I was in my TV-free bunker and had no idea what had happened until my girlfriend called me to see if I was OK... Immediately, I tried to reach my siblings and managed to call my mother i Accra just seconds before, in true Ghanaian-style, someone rushed into her office to tell her the news... phew!

Anyway, I am going to be out on a rare reading date doing some BRAND NEW poetry at the African Writers' Evening at the Poetry Cafe this Friday and I hope you can join me there. The details are as follows:

African Writers' Evening (hosted by Kadija Sesay)
Friday, 15 July 2005, 7.00pm
Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street
Covent Garden, London WC2
Door: 4.00 pounds
www.-bout.com/awe

The African Writers' Evening hosts another quality evening of literature with award-winning writer Sefi Atta, author of the acclaimed Everything Good Will Come, and Nii Ayikwei Parkes, founder of the African Writers' Evening and current Associate Writer-In-Residence on BBC Radio 3. Sefi will be reading excerpts from her novel, while Nii will be reading some new poems; they will both be responding to questions from the audience. As usual there will be poets and writers from all over Africa sharing poetry on the open mike and it all happens at The Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2. To reserve a seat send an e-mail to: events [at] x-bout [dot] com


Author Biographies:

Sefi Atta is a Nigerian writer whose short stories and plays have won awards from the BBC, Commonwealth Broadcasting Association and PEN International. Her debut novel Everything Good Will Come is published in Nigeria, Britain, and in the United States where she lives.

"You can feel the dust and the sun. This award-winning novel is an iridescent introduction to a fascinating nation." - The Observer


Ghanaian author Nii Ayikwei Parkes writes poetry, prose and articles. He co-edited the groundbreaking Tell Tales Volume I short story anthology with Courttia Newland and regularly edits x magazine. Nii is currently Associate Writer-In-Residence on BBC Radio 3 and is the author of three poetry collections; eyes of a boy, lips of a man (1999) and M is for Madrigal (2004) and the self-published shorter (2005), which is a vehicle to raise money for a writers' fund he is launching in Ghana in September.

Once again, please send me that OK e-mail if you haven't touched base with me and you are London-based. Thank you.

Much Respect,
Nii