Invitation to the launch of "Omulanga gwa Lawino" & celebration of Okot p’Bitek’s English version "Song of Lawino" at 50

The Department of Literature, Makerere University in conjunction with the Makerere Institute of Social Research are organising a one-day symposium, scheduled for 18 March, 2016, to celebrate the fifty years of the publication of p’Bitek’s Song of Lawino. The symposium will showcase oral performances, readings, a keynote address and a panel discussion, culminating in the launch of a Luganda translation of Song of Lawino by Prof. Abasi Kiyimba, titled Omulanga gwa Lawino. This event is conceived as part of a larger biennial Departmental initiative of recognising and celebrating Ugandan writing and literary icons who have left indelible marks on the East African literary scene and beyond.  

 

Song of Lawino is a seminal work that received wide acclaim, engaging critical responses right from its publication in 1966. Before its publication, East Africa did not have any notable written poetry. In effect, the poetic arena in Africa was dominated by West African and South African poets. With the publication of p’Bitek’s Song of Lawino the region added a luminous thread to the fabric of African poetry, captivating the African literary imagination and focusing attention to Uganda and East Africa, and making a major contribution to African Literature.

 

 

The programme will be forwarded as soon as it is ready. 

 

You are all invited