10 writers to feature in African anthology

Ten Malawian writers will feature in a continental book that is set to be out by February.

The stories will be published in a book titled Imagine Africa 500, together with 10 others from across the continent.

This is a project the Story Club Malawi is running in conjunction with Pan African Publishers.

The Story Club, established last year, is a social gathering of people who are passionate about literature in Malawi.

“Before writing the stories, we are training the writers in creative writing by acclaimed international writers. The workshop will take the authors through current trends in the short story, elements of futuristic writing.

“The 10 Malawian writers will be asked to write a story about Africa set 500 years from now, that will be featured in an anthology, Imagine Africa 500. The anthology will also contain 10 more stories from other African authors,” said Story Club founder Shadreck Chikoti.

The training took place over the weekend in Lilongwe where four international facilitators took the authors on a creative writing journey.

The four are Caine Prize shortlisted author and editor of Kwani? Billy Kahora from Kenya, Beatrice Lamwaka and Jackee Batanda from Uganda as well as Danish writer Trine Andersen.

The book is likely to be edited by some of African literary editors such as Ellah Alfrey, who worked on Africa 39 Anthology.

It will be published by the Pan African Publishers.