Thursday, October 12, 2023 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM EDT
Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Meeting Room D
Chika Unigwe and Leila Aboulela take readers on difficult and heart-felt journeys spanning time and continents. Unigwe’s The Middle Daughter, a modern reimagining of the myth of Hades and Persephone within a Nigerian family, tells the story of seventeen-year-old Nani’s journey to freedom and homecoming after marrying an abusive man. Publisher’s Weekly says, “Unigwe’s textured imagery and rich, lyrical prose make this a welcome addition to Nigerian feminist literature.” Aboulela’s River Spirit is the unforgettable story of the people of Sudan, who, against the odds and for a brief time, gained independence from foreign rule. With the spotlight on Akuany, a Sudanese girl who was orphaned in a village raid, this coming of age novel, illuminated by the voices of seven men and women, tells the bloody history of Sudan’s fight against imperialism bound by the tensions of Christianity versus Islam. Author Abdulrazak Gurnah calls it “A novel of extraordinary sympathy and insight … a wonderful achievement.” Ungiwe and Aboulela will be in conversation with Helon Habila.
Location: Johnson Center, 3rd Floor, Meeting Room D
