Illinois Theatre

Celebrating Writers of the African Diaspora Festival
April 4-11, 2010

The Department of Theatre in cooperation with the Center for African Studies (CAS) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will host the inaugural Writers of the African Diaspora Festival.  Our first theme will be Celebrating African Women Writers.  This event will celebrate and acknowledge the writings - plays, novels, poetry, and short stories - by African women.  
 Kathy A. Perkins, Professor of Theatre who specializes in African women in theatre, is coordinating this exciting event. The goal of this occasion is to expose the University of Illinois community to works by African women, and to broaden this experience with partners in Chicago.  We envision this festival will become a biannual event growing in scale and function with each future occurrence.
Seven prominent African artists will be in residence for seven days.  These artists include renowned South African novelist/playwright /poet Sindiwe Magona who will present writing workshops and give a public lecture.  Also from South Africa is playwright/poet Malika Ndlovu (aka Lueen Conning) and actress Chantal Snyman who will perform Ndlovu’s popular play A Coloured Place. Rwandan playwright, director and artistic director of the Rwandan based company Mashirika, Hope Azeda, will direct a reading of Homecoming by Kenyan playwright, Andiah Kisia.  Later in the week we will be joined by Tanzanian scholar/actress/playwright Amandina Lihamba and scholar/dancer/actress Omofolabo Ajaui-Soyinka of Nigeria.
    The visiting artists will participate in two round table discussions involving additional prominent scholars. One round table will focus on African women and performance, and the other will center on publishing and the inclusion of works by African women into university curriculum.
    The final day will culminate with a community-wide celebration featuring music, dance, and poetry, complimented by African dishes and other continental treats.  

Tentative Program
-April 4-8  (Sunday-Thursday)  

Artists in Residence at Allen Hall/Unit One and Pennsylvania Avenue Residence Hall Global Crossroads. (Magona, Azeda, Ndlovu, and Synman) will conduct workshops; visit classes, direct theatre students and artists from the local and University community.

-April 8th (Friday)
Round Table Discussions - Levis Center

10:00am-12:00pm
African Women and Performance    
Ruth Nicole Brown, Moderator (UIUC faculty)
Malika Ndlovu (South Africa)
Hope Azeda (Rwanda)
Andiah Kisia (Kenya)
Omafolaba Soyinka (Nigeria)

1:00-3:00
African Women and Publishing   
Sandra Richards, Moderator (Northwestern University)
Amandina Lihamba (Tanzania)
Praise Zenanga (Zimbabwe)
Sindiwe Magona (South Africa)

-April 9-11  (Friday-Sunday)    
Performances - Armory Free Theatre
      
Performances of A Coloured Place, stage reading of Homecoming (directed by Hope Azeda), readings by Sindiwe and TBA. Times: Friday-Saturday at 8:00pm  and  Sunday at 3:00 and 7:00pm

-April 10 (Saturday)
Community Celebration - Temple Buell Hall  

1:00 to 5:00pm
Performances by guests
African music and dance
African Women Book signing
Samplings of African food