Acclaimed Ugandan poet and academic Susan Kiguli hosted an intimate evening of literary discussion at the Onomo Hotel in Kampala on September 27, organized by African Writers Trust in collaboration with the Department of Literature at Makerere University. The event aimed to popularize Kiguli’s unpublished poems, including her latest bilingual collection, Weeping Lands / Terre Che Piangono, which explores the complexities of Uganda's political history through the lens of poetry.
Recently honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the Civil Poetry Festival in Vercelli, Italy, Kiguli expressed her excitement to share her work with an audience that included family, students, and literary enthusiasts. The conversation was moderated by Dr. Anna Adima, a prominent historian and writer, known for her research on East African women's literature and history.
In her remarks, Kiguli acknowledged the significance of the event, stating, "This is such a special time for me to be here with this audience." She expressed gratitude for the support of her family and colleagues, highlighting the importance of community in her literary journey.
The evening also featured remarks from notable guests, including Italian Deputy Head of Mission Giulio Michele Girardelli, who commended Kiguli for her contributions to poetry. "Poetry has the power to move hearts and emotions more than any other written text," he remarked, emphasizing its role in fostering understanding across cultures.
Dr. Edgar Nabutanyi, Head of the Department of Literature, welcomed attendees and encouraged student engagement in the literary arts. "It's important to appreciate our own writers and make their work reach as many people as possible," he stated.
Kiguli's presentation included readings of her unpublished works, showcasing her poetic prowess and personal reflections on her experiences as a writer. The event also featured a display of copies of Weeping Lands available for purchase at UGX 60,000.
This literary gathering not only celebrated Kiguli’s achievements but also underscored the rich tapestry of Ugandan poetry and its ability to address pressing social issues. With a dynamic exchange of ideas and heartfelt performances, the evening left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of Uganda.
In a heartfelt address, Grace Kyomuhendo, Director of the African Writers Trust, expressed her gratitude at a recent literary event in Uganda, emphasizing the importance of community and collaboration among writers. " I feel very big standing here," Kyomuhendo remarked, acknowledging the presence of esteemed guests and the challenges of navigating the city on a busy Friday evening.
Kyomuhendo highlighted her deep appreciation for fellow writer and mentor Susan, stating, "Susan is not just a writer friend; she’s a personal friend and a mentor. I always run to her for help with academic terms." She also recognized Susan's family, expressing gratitude for their support in allowing her to share her talents with the wider community.
Kyomuhendo introduced the African Writers Trust's mission, which aims to connect African writers in the diaspora with those on the continent. "We believe in dialogue and conversation, not just lectures," she emphasized, noting the importance of fostering discussions among writers.
Additionally, Kyomuhendo announced the subsidiary initiative Tobaze African Books, dedicated to promoting and selling works by African authors, regardless of their location. She expressed gratitude to Onoma Hotel for providing a venue for the event and showcasing African literature.
Assoc. Prof Susan Kiguli
Susan Nalugwa Kiguli is an academic and poet. She is an Associate Professor and served as Head of the Department of Literature, Makerere University (March 2012- July 2016). She holds a PhD in English from The University of Leeds (UK) sponsored by the Commonwealth Scholarship Scheme. She also has a Masters of Letters in Literary Linguistics from the University of Strathclyde, (UK), Masters of Arts (Literature) and a B.A. Education degree both from Makerere University, Uganda. She is the African Studies Association Presidential Fellow, 2011 and this presented her with an opportunity to read her poetry at the Library of Congress, Washington DC in November, 2011. She has also held the American Council of Learned Societies/ African Humanities Fellowship, 2010-2011 sponsored by Carnegie Corporation of New York, and as part of the fellowship, she was a researcher in Residence at the Centre for Humanities Research at the University of Western Cape, South Africa. Her research interests fall mainly in the area of Oral and Written African Poetry, Popular Song and Performance Theory. She has served as the chairperson of FEMRITE, Uganda Women Writers’ Association. She currently serves on the Advisory Board for the African Writers Trust (AWT) and on the board of the Eastern African Literary and Cultural Studies Conference Series.
Her first volume of poetry, THE AFRICAN SAGA (1998) situated her among the most exciting poets from Eastern and Southern Africa. The volume won the National Book Trust of Uganda Poetry Award (1999) and made literary history in Uganda by selling out in less than a year. Her poetry has appeared widely in journals and anthologies both nationally and internationally. Her second collection of poetry HOME FLOATS IN A DISTANCE/ZUHAUSE TREIBT IN DER FERNE( GEDICHTE) is a bilingual edition in English and German (2012). Her third collection TERRE CHE PIANGONO/ WEEPING LANDS is a bilingual edition in English and Italian. A critic of poetry herself, she has written on Ugandan poetry, oral performance and the position of women writers in African literature.
She has also served on the panel of judges for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize (African Region, 1999). She also served as one of the regional coordinators for the Women Writing Africa Project (Eastern region, 1999-2000) She was on the Board of Advisors for Beyond Borders: A Festival of Contemporary African Writing (Interaction Event) British Council, Uganda), 2005. She was a special participant in the Yorkshire Professional Development for Writers of African and Asian Descent-INSCRIBE (2005-2006) Project initiated by Arts Council England, Yorkshire in partnership with Peepal Tree Press in Leeds. She was a Commonwealth Researcher in residence at the University of Natal from Sept 2001-February 2002.
She attended the Summer Institute on Contemporary American Literature, 2008 at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, USA. She was a Poet in Residence at the Siftung Kunst: Raum Sylt Quelle, Germany between October- November, 2008. She has appeared twice as guest poet at the Poetry Africa Festival in Kwazulu –Natal among other literature festivals. She was also among three African Poets who not only performed before the former President of Germany, His Excellency Horst Kohler in 2008 at the International Literature Festival Berlin but was also honoured as one of the poets to appear in his book on Africa entitled SCHISKAL AFRIKA, 2010. She was the chief convener for both “Celebrating Ugandan Writing: Okot p’Bitek’s Song of Lawino at 50 Symposium” 18th March, 2016 and “The 2nd Eastern African Literary and Cultural Studies Conference”, 20th-22nd August, 2015, held at Makerere University. She was also part of the organising committee for the Professor David Rubadiri Memorial Symposium at Makerere University on 12th October, 2018 and was the Co-Chair for the Celebrating Wangusa@80 event, Makerere University, 8th July, 2022 as part of the Makerere @100 celebrations. She also served as one of the judges and member of the organising committee for the Makerere University Centennial Poetry Award event in which Prof. David Rubadiri was honoured as an illustrious poet and distinguished alumnus of Makerere University, 20th December, 2022.
She participated in the Afrowomen Poetry Project founded by the Italian journalist Antonella Sinopoli. She has recently been interviewed by Dr. Gilbert Ndi Shang for the Columbian National Library African Literature Programme. She was also been appointed as a member on the Peer Review Panel for the Department of English under the policy for Quality Assurance and Enhancement at Stellenbosch University, 2022.
She has served as International Judge and Consultant for the prestigious Nigeria Prize for Literature 2022. In 2023, she was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement International Award by the International Civil Poetry Festival in Vercelli Italy and later her book Weeping Lands won the Ali Sul Mediterraneo Libri&Cultura International Award by the Aliante Mediterraneo Cultural Association, Italy. She was the chair of the organising committee of the event codenamed Celebrating Literary Legends: Arthur Gakwandi and Austion Bukenya @80 that took on 5th April, 2024 at Makerere University.
She has recently also been guest speaker discussing the link between poetry, science and social transformation at the 3BY Seminar Series at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.