SASKIA HOUTTUIN || RADIO NETHERLANDS WORLDWIDE || JANUARY 2012

Storytelling has always been a part of African culture, but the translation to literature is only just beginning. What is the role of the contemporary African writer? At the start of the Dutch literature festival Writers Unlimited, Radio Netherlands Worldwide talked to three African writers from different corners of the continent.

A taste of African culture brings some warmth to the cold winter in The Hague, the Netherlands. The Writers Unlimited literature festival celebrates its 17th anniversary with a packed programme filled with lectures, discussions, music, movies and food.

The festival offers an annual platform for writers from all over the world, but this year the African influences are remarkable. Babah Tarawally, a writer from Sierra Leone and program coordinator of the event, has certainly made his mark.

African ambassador
“I tried to build up a festival that I would like, where I would go to,” Tarawally, who lives in the Netherlands, explains. “It was clear from the start that Africa should be on top. Over the past few years we’ve heard very negative and strange stories about the continent. As though it was a continent from space. I see myself as an ambassador. It is my obligation to make sure I represent Africa in a positive way”. >>READ MORE

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