Missionaries, Mercenaries and Misfits - a new anthology edited by Rasna Warah

Africa is worse off today than it was 30 years ago, despite being among the biggest recipients of development assistance and foreign aid. The reason, says a new book, is not because the aid is not enough, or that it does not reach the intended beneficiaries, but rather because the aid industry works in ways that perpetuate poverty in the so-called developing world, particularly in Africa.

Missionaries, Mercenaries and Misfits, an anthology edited by Kenyan columnist Rasna Warah, argues that aid stunts growth, feeds corruption and oils the cogs in the wheels of a highly dysfunctional development industry. The essays in the book come from various writers, most of whom are either based in East Africa, or are part of its diaspora, or who have worked, often as developmentalists in their own way, within East Africa. In the book, we find both young and established writers, who are either reformed developmentalists or observers who bring a knowing wit or first-hand knowledge to the debate. Consequently, this extremely accessible collection doesn’t attempt the grand sweep, raging aimlessly against the development machine with general complaints that fail to hit their mark. Rather, it is a focused peep into international, regional and local attempts to develop Africa, thereby exposing the reader to a much-needed African perspective on the development industry and why it has failed so miserably in lifting millions of people out of poverty. In it, you will find writers such as Binyavanga Wainaina, Parselelo Kantai, Kalundi Serumaga, Sunny Bindra, Bantu Mwaura, Issa G. Shivji and Firoze Manji, among others.

Whether we are players in the development industry or merely its “victims”, Missionaries, Mercenaries and Misfits is a book that will make us re-imagine our world and our place in it, and force us to reconsider the value of “development” and what it really means to the people of Africa.

To order a review copy, please contact:

Dean Shah, Book Sales Consultant

Authorhouse, U.K.

E-mail: dshah@authorhouse.co.uk

For further details on the book, please contact the editor, Rasna Warah, at:

grasp@nbi.ispkenya.com or call (254-20) 0733 960 269 (cell)

Countdown to Kwani Litfest 2008

Kwani Litfest 2008 is almost here…starting Friday, August 1 with an opening night party at the fabulous Acapulco restaurant (hosted by Just A Band), the festival begins in earnest the very next day. Get ready for two weeks of workshops, symposiums, panel discussions, writers retreats, and so much more. On August 10, the Litfest decamps to Lamu, where faculty and participants can talk shop in a more intimate, relaxed setting, and make the most of this tropical getaway.
It’s not too late to book a spot in the workshops, but they are filling fast. For full information, visit the website.
See you all there!

A call for (war) poetry

Against Agamemnon: War Poetry

WaterWood Press, a publishing consortium with editorial offices in
Texas, New York, London, Paris & Madrid will be accepting war poetry
beginning May 1, 2008, and ending September 1, 2008 for its upcoming
soft cover anthology entitled Against Agamemnon: War Poetry.

WaterWood Press is managed by a worldwide editorial staff, including
faculty from top universities, who have been published by leading
houses such as Peter Lang Publishing, Reed Elsevier Publishing,
Thomson Publishing, West Group, LEXIS NEXIS, and others.

American poet James Adams, a 2007 Pulitzer Prize nominee for his
poetry collection Noble Savage (St.-Lukes Presse), which featured
themes of American Indian genocide and African civil war, has agreed
to serve as editor. Noble Savage (available at Brazos Books, Houston,
Texas) was called “a substantial achievement” by Houston poet-research
physician Michael Lieberman. Adams’ war poetry has been called
“original and moving” by American poet-humanitarian Carolyn Forché.
Adams has edited over four dozen books and treatises.

Complete submission guidelines:

1. Seeking original poems/poetry translations on war from any good
poet (”known” or unknown) in any style.

2. No reprints or previously published work. Prior to publication,
all to-be-published poets will have to sign a document certifying that
their chosen work has not been previously published in any format.

3. Non-English originals must be accompanied by English translations.

4. Mail to: WaterWood Press, 47 Waterwood, Huntsville, Texas 77320,
Attn: 2008 War Poetry Editor

5. Snail mail submission only. No email submissions will be
considered, unless the author is located in a foreign country, and
regular U.S. mail is impracticable or overly expensive. These foreign
submissions may be made to:

waterwood.press.poetry.editor(at)gmail.com (replace (at) with @)

Please place the poem in the body of the email and ALSO as an
attachment. Note whether any attached poems are virus checked prior
to sending by indicating in the “RE:” line: VIRUS CHECKED. Email
submissions without such notice will not be opened.

6. 1-3 poems per poet. Three copies of each poem, each poem
identified with author’s name only.

7. Length: no more than 30 lines per poem. Will consider one poem of
two pages length maximum.

8. Include a separate one-page cover letter containing a list of your
poems submitted (or poems and translations), a one paragraph biography
(no more than 6 sentences), your mailing address, your email address,
and SASE.

9. The Editor will read every submission and may comment upon each
submission. Preference will be given to what poet Carolyn Forché has
termed “the poetry of witness.” Please do not send poems about 9/11,
as these will not be considered.

10. WaterWood Press will begin receiving submissions during National
Poetry Month, April 1, 2008. Submission ends September 1, 2008,
unless overload submiss
ions force an earlier ending date. All entries must be postmarked by
September 1, 2008.

11. The Editor has suggested that poets may wish to refer to American
War Poetry, edited by Lorrie Goldensohn (Columbia University Press);
Against Forgetting (Norton), edited by Carolyn Forché (also as
translator); Brian Hunter’s Here, Bullet (Alice James Books); and the
poetry of Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Isaac Rosenberg, Walt
Whitman, and other well known war poets.

12. There will be no fees charged to poets for submitting their work.
Those poets selected for publication will receive a copy of the
anthology as payment. All rights revert to poets except future reprint
rights for further “Best Of”-type anthologies from WaterWood Press.

Artist Residency at Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center, Italy

For nearly fifty years, the Rockefeller Foundation has hosted scholars, creative artists, and practitioners at Bellagio for concentrated work on major projects. Talented professionals use time at Bellagio to advance work that has impact across disciplines, while interacting daily with an active and diverse intellectual community. Artists and scholars stay for one month of work at Bellagio, away from their usual daily demands, and flexible schedules are available for practitioners working at non-profit or NGO organizations.

Residents at the Bellagio Center in 2007-2008 represent a diverse group of more than 20 countries, including: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Macedonia, Poland, Russia, the United Kingdom, Israel, Lebanon, Canada, the United States, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Togo. Applicants from outside the United States and Western Europe are particularly encouraged to apply, as are individuals working on projects aligned with the Foundation’s objective to expand opportunities for poor or vulnerable people. The Bellagio residency provides room/board and high-speed internet access to all residents free of charge. Please note that financial assistance can be made available to successful applicants whose limited means might otherwise prevent them from accepting a residency.

The selection process for Bellagio is very competitive, and will ultimately favor professionals with significant experience and strong project proposals. The Bellagio opportunity is not a grant, but rather a time to interact with a professional community while working toward tangible personal achievement.

The deadline for applications to the spring 2009 residency period is August 13, 2008. To learn more about Bellagio, and to view the online application, please visit: http://www.rockfound.org/bellagio/bellagio.shtml. You are also welcome to direct any questions you may have to the Institute of International Education Bellagio Office at bellagio_res@iie.org or (212) 984-5537.

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