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Welcome to the Commonwealth Foundation network. 

Commonwealth Writers Conversation – The Untold Story: South to South? Visions of sustainable development through the creative imagination.

On 14 June in Kampala, Ellah Wakatama Allfrey (Chair of the 2014 Commonwealth Short Story Prize) chaired a conversation between Shahidul Alam (Bangladesh), Cresantia Frances Koya Vaka’uta (South Pacific), and Mike van Graan (South Africa) to explore inspiring and realistic visions for sustainable development and respond to the question:  how can artists, writers and arts organisations be more effective in getting “culture” on the political agenda as a driver of sustainable development and social change? What creative ways can the arts be used for development?

Shahidul Alam is a photographer, writer, curator and activist. He set up the award-winning Drik agency and Pathshala, the South Asian Media Institute. Director of the Chobi Mela festival and chairman of Majority World agency, his work has been shown in New York, Paris, London and Tehran. Commenting on Shahidul’s recent book My Journey as a Witness, John Morris, picture editor of Life Magazine said, “One of the most important books ever created by a photographer, and it goes far beyond photography.” 

Cresantia Frances Koya Vaka’uta is a lecturer in Education at the University of the South Pacific. Her doctoral thesis explored Pacific understandings of ecologically sustainable development through Samoan and Tongan Heritage Arts. Her research interests include Protest Poetry and Pacific Research and Evaluation. A poet and artist, she is interested in the role that the arts can play in formal and non–formal education with reference to issues of resilience, sustainability and crisis in the Pacific islands.

Mike van Graan isan award-winning playwright andExecutive Director of the Cape Town based African Arts Institute (AFAI). AFAI’s mission is to develop leadership for Africa’s creative sector and to build regional markets for African artists. He was founding Secretary General of Arterial Network, a pan-African network of artists and cultural activists in the creative sector and its contribution to human rights, democracy and development. He is a Technical Expert on UNESCO’s 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and Associate Playwright of Artscape in South Africa.

Ellah Wakatama Allfrey is an independent editor, critic and broadcaster. She was Deputy Editor of Granta magazine and Senior Editor at Jonathan Cape, Random House. She sits on the boards of English PEN and the Writers’ Centre Norwich and is Deputy Chair of the Council of the Caine Prize for African Writing and a patron of the Etisalat Prize for Literature. Her journalism has appeared in the Independent, the Guardian, the Telegraph the and the Observer and she is a regular contributor to the book pages of NPR. A Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, Allfrey was awarded an OBE in 2011 for services to the publishing industry.

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize aims to identify talented writers who go on to inspire their communities. It unearths and promotes the best new writing from across the Commonwealth, developing literary connections worldwide.

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2000 – 5000 words). It is open to translated fiction. The overall winner receives £5,000 and regional winners receive £2,500. Translators will receive additional prize money.

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The Commonwealth Foundation offers its condolences to the people and Government of South Africa on the passing of Nelson Mandela.

In his death as much as during his life he has united us as an enduring symbol of justice, dignity and magnanimity.

At this time we are reminded of his words: “The Commonwealth makes the world safe for diversity.” This remains an aspiration as much as it was an observation. This moment is an opportunity for us to reflect on that and re-dedicate ourselves to its pursuit.

Our thoughts and prayers are for Mrs Graca Machel, former Chair of the Commonwealth Foundation and the entire Mandela family.

Viva Mandela Viva

Commonwealth Writers inspires, develops and connects writers and storytellers in a range of disciplines. It builds communities of less-heard voices and links them to groups which seek to bring about social change.

As part of its global partnership with Hay Festival, Commonwealth Writers will be at the 2013 Storymoja Festival in Nairobi from 19 – 22 September for a four day celebration of stories and contemporary culture at Nairobi National Museum, Museum Hill.

Short Story Surgery
 
Friday 20 September, 12 noon, Shidas Tent

Join Alexander Ikawah (Kenya) and Dilman Dila (Uganda) who were both shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize in 2013 in this short story surgery to discuss the short stories you may want to enter for the 2014 Commonwealth Short Story Prize.

The Commonwealth Writers Conversation

The Untold Story
 
Saturday 21 September, 1pm, Ford Hall
 
The first in a global series of conversations invites writers, artists and thinkers to discuss the subjects and themes that are sometimes met with silence in societies around the world.  This is the place to talk about how to communicate the difficult and the unsayable, whether through words or other forms of expression. Panelists include Chief Nyamweya and Keguro Macharia.

Queer Life Stories – New Year’s Eve (film screening and Q & A)
 
Wanjiru Kairu, Eric Gitari and Anthony Oluoch
 
Saturday 21 September, 5pm, Discovery Hall

The Kenyan premiere screening of the Commonwealth Short Film ‘New Year’s Eve’ is followed by a Q & A with filmmaker Wanjiru Kairu.

Eric Gitari, the co-founder of the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission and Anthony Oluoch, previous Executive Director of Gay Kenya Trust and Regional Director of Kaleidoscope join the discussion about queer life stories.
 
In partnership with Commonwealth Writers and The Canadian High Commission.

Kwani? Sunday Salon
 
Alexander Ikawah, Dilman Dila, Temo Buliro, Stanley Gazemba and Tomothy Kimutai.
 
Sunday 22 September, 7pm, Museum Courtyard 

In 2007, a transatlantic connection established Sunday Salon Nairobi. This special edition of Sunday Salon celebrates readings and conversations with five East African Writers who have set the region abuzz.
 
Alexander Ikawah and Dilman Dila were shortlisted for the 2013 Commonwealth Short Story Prize and Temo Buliro is a Jomo Kenyatta Literature Prize Winner. Stanley Gazemba was shortlisted and Timothy Kimutai won the Kwani? Manuscript Prize.

Commonwealth Writers is re-focusing its prizes to concentrate on the Short Story, opening for entry on 1 October. 

The Short Story Prize is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2000-5000 words). Writers are able to enter stories translated into English from other languages. 

Regional winners of the 2014 Commonwealth Short Story Prize will receive £2,500 and the Overall Winner will receive £5,000. Translators will receive additional prize money.

The Commonwealth Book Prize will no longer be offered. 

The 2014 judging panel will be chaired by Ellah Allfrey, Deputy Chair of the Council of the Caine Prize, formerly Deputy Editor of Granta and Senior Editor at Jonathan Cape, Random House.

The 2014 Short Story Prize will open for entry on 1 October 2013 and close on 30 November 2013. Entry is via the online application form at www.commonwealthwriters.org. The judges, who reflect the five regions of the Commonwealth, will be announced on 1 October. The 2013 Short Story prizewinners, Eliza Robertson and Sharon Millar, are pictured receiving their awards at the Hay Festival, UK.