“When They Become Me: Responsibility and Action in Literary Activism: The Case of the African Poetry Book Fund”

In just over four years, the African Poetry Book Fund has published the work of almost forty African poets. It has established five poetry libraries on the continent of Africa and has created a networking of mentors and colleagues among African poets and poets of the African diaspora that is changing the way African poetry is viewed. It has also won awards for its visionary work and accomplishments. And this is just the beginning. Prior to the establishment of this entity, there existed no single publishing enterprise devoted exclusively to the publishing of African poetry. Now there is, and already the entire landscape for poetry has changed.

How does such a project emerge here in Lincoln, Nebraska? How has this project demonstrated the ways in which with vision, and hard work, a small outfit can impact the wider world? In this talk, founder and director Kwame Dawes will offer a brief and exciting history of this remarkable organization called the African Poetry Book Fund.

Reception following.