Globally Lit

Exploring Identity, Connection & Hospitality in Madagascar

Exploring Identity, Connection & Hospitality in Madagascar

I traveled to Madagascar in the Summer of 2023 to meet a small community that converted to Judaism in 2016. Not well known to the broader international Jewish community, I had heard about them through word of mouth and a few videos and articles here and there online. It is possible to access practical information about this group, such as how they learned about Judaism and who converted them, but not much else is available. Converting to Judaism is often a difficult and prolonged process because according to Jewish belief, one does not need to be “part of the tribe” in order to be a good person or achieve salvation, so conversion is generally discouraged unless one feels deeply compelled. As an extrovert, I wanted to meet the individuals who spent years studying as a community to assume this new identity—one that I share with them. I was curious about the possibility of connection in an unlikely place. As a poet, I wanted to visit Madagascar to experience a new world, meet new people, and learn a new terrain. Both of these pieces of myself and this experience were to ultimately contribute to my broader work on identity and its connection to land, to books, and to the stories and histories we tell.

The Nigerian Hustle

The Nigerian Hustle

Cheuse Fellow O. Dada says, "or a couple of years now, "The Nigerian Hustle" has been my passion project, taking form (for the time being) as a podcast operating from a distance. I've had the fortune of a steadfast partner on the ground, Adeoye Shobakin, a vital presence without whom the pulse of the project would not beat as strongly. Together, we've stitched a narrative quilt from the stories of countless Nigerians, connecting through the magic of the internet. But last summer, I took a step closer to the heartbeat of my endeavor – I traveled down to Nigeria, not as a visitor or a returning son, but as a seeker of stories, looking to profile the protagonists of my tales in person."

Baldwin100: A Celebration

Baldwin100: A Celebration

The BALDWIN100 is a collaborative arts, scholarship and cultural project encompassing a year-long series of initiatives designed to convene a wider Washington area audience to engage deeply with James Baldwin’s work. By celebrating Why Baldwin Matters, the Alan Cheuse International Writers Center is in a unique position to highlight a global Baldwin, whose impact on American intellectual and cultural life holds promise for a just world. The final outcomes of the initiative are: connecting the individual to their role to progress America towards a more just society.

Globally Lit

Globally Lit

Globally Lit is a podcast that goes deep on international literature and translation. In each episode, we interview an international author, their English translator, and share book recommendations from independent booksellers.