Call For Papers

Things Fall Apart & the Next Half-Century of African Literature (A 50th Anniversary Conference)

5 September 2008, University of Nottingham, UK

Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart is the biggest selling African novel, having been translated into more than 50 languages. Its publication in 1958 was the epochal event in African literature, leading to a transformation in the literary landscape. On the fiftieth anniversary of its publication, it is appropriate to appraise the impact and heritage of the book, as well as the direction of African Literature in the next half-century.

We invite proposals for panels and papers exploring this theme. We encourage papers exploring the universal reach of the book, its study and reception across cultural and disciplinary borders, its connection to current literary productions and its potential impact on future writings. African Writing magazine will publish selected proceedings from the conference.

Titles and 250-word abstracts of proposed 20 minute papers should be sent (with a one-paragraph bio) not later than 30 May 2008 to the following:

Dr. M. M. Daly
Associate Professor
Department of Cultural Studies
University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham
United Kingdom
NG7 2RD
macdonald.daly@nottingham.ac.uk