African Storytelling Fiesta: A journey into African Knowledges
Photo by Eunice Adekunle
Join us for an evening of storytelling and discussion led by University of Sussex Chevening Scholar and writer Namse Udosen, Pendo Fondo (Sussex MA graduate International Relations), Mamoudu Sanghre (MA student International Education and Development), Similoluwa Adefioye (MA in International Education and Development) and Senamile Sishi (MA Energy and Climate Policy).
The evening will include traditional African drumming and poetic stories of wisdom about the environment and nature, including a reading by one of Africa’s foremost performance poets, Bash Amuneni. The performances will be followed by a panel discussion which will explore the power of oral tradition; the significance of oral storytelling in preserving and transmitting knowledge across generations in African cultures and how storytelling has been used as a tool for resistance against colonialism, oppression, and other forms of adversity in African history. Ushehwedu Kufakurinani, Lecturer in International Development, will join the panel discussion. The session will be moderated by broadcaster and Mandela Scholar at University of Sussex, Andisa Ndlovu.
Organised by Namse Peter Udosen: MA International Education and Development.
Bash Amuneni is one of Africa’s foremost performance poets. His poetry is laced with love, memory, and the subtleties of the human condition. He has performed poetry at Poetry Africa Int'l Fest in Durban, Lagos Int'l Poetry Fest & SLAMeroun Int'l Fest, Cameroun. In December 2017, Bash was a guest poet at the EU Human Rights Night. In 2018, he was also a guest performance poet both at the commissioning of African Dev Bank HQ and at 73rd Session of the African Parliamentary Union Congress held in Abuja. 'Listed amongst the 100 most influential creatives in Nigeria by YNaija in 2020, he is the author of' “There Is a Lunatic in Every Town” (a collection of poems). Bash is also an Architect, Project Planner & audio book narrator who narrated the audiobook version of 'The Whispering Trees' by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim for Recorded Books USA. Bash Amuneni is currently the Nigerian Ambassador of the World Poetry Slam Organisation and African Cup of Slam Poetry.
Namse Udosen is a renowned educational expert and distinguished author of Amang Goes to the Village. He is highly regarded for his captivating writing and unwavering advocacy for literacy and education reforms in Nigeria. Namse is an active participant in the African writing community, serving as a central figure at Writers Space Africa and the African Writers Conference and as an editor for WSA Magazine. He extends his impact as a mentor for teens at the Yasmin El Rufai Foundation in Kaduna, Nigeria. He serves as a panel member for the Wakini Kuria Prize for children's literature in Africa. He is also a respected voice in panel discussions at major events like KABAFEST, Open Arts, the Ibom Book and Arts Festival, and KAFART.
Ushehwedu Kufakurinani trained as African economic historian whose research interests are on informal drug markets, gender and empire; migration; musical arts and broadly the political economy of development. He has co-edited a book on women and Zimbabwean music and another on resilience and survival during the never-ending Zimbabwean economic crisis. He also has a monograph on White Women in colonial Zimbabwe. Currently, he is a lecturer in International Development at the University of Sussex and a research fellow at the University of St. Andrews. He is also a Research Associate at the University of Johannesburg.
Similoluwa Adefioye, also known as Beauty Writes, is currently pursuing an MA in International Education and Development at the University of Sussex. Prior to her studies in the UK, she operated The Penners Hub, a registered writing company in Nigeria, specialised in creating content and providing guidance for personal statements and visa applications for Nigerian students seeking education abroad.
In 2018, she organized a 20-day writing challenge that brought together writers from across Africa, exploring diverse themes each day.
When not immersed in the world of poetry, Similoluwa thrives as a Digital Marketer and Educator. With a rich blend of creative expression and professional versatility, she brings a unique perspective to her first poetry performance in the UK.
Dr Sean Higgins is no longer able to participate as was originally listed.