Resonanzen. Schwarzes Literaturfestival, a publication from a literary festival earlier in the year, was presented in Frankfurt, Germany on October 22, 2022.
In May, “Resonanzen – Schwarzes Literaturfestival” (Resonance – A Festival of Black German-Language Fiction) a project of Ruhrfestspiele and writer and political activist Sharon Dodua Otoo was hosted. It aimed to rethink, reimagine and further develop perspectives and experiences within the German-language literary scene with a focus on Afro-German writers.
One of the highlights was the introduction of six promising writers Joe Otim Dramiga, Raphaëlle Red, Bahati Glaß, Melanelle B. C. Hémêfa, Winnie Atiedo Modesto, and Dean Ruddock. They read previously unpublished texts written especially for this event and inspired by the word “Erbe” (heritage). There was a promise that these works would be the home of a new publication from Leipzig publishing house Spector Books.
The new publication was presented in an event emceed by Hadija Haruna-Oelker at the Anne Frank Educational Center, Frankfurt on Saturday, October 22, 2022. The event which was in German featured many of the writers who were in the new book. The book comes with the following blurb;
Black German-language fiction has a long, remarkable tradition that has come to life in many streams. For example, in Dualla Misipo’s novel The Boy from Dualla (written in the late 1920s), and in recent titles by Black women authors, which are making an ever greater impact. “Resonances – Black Literature Festival” was created to illustrate the traditions, influences and references of authors from the African diaspora in German-language literature. As part of the three-day festival, six young black writers presented texts that were written specifically for the event and centered on the impulse word “heritage”. In addition to the short stories, the volume brings together the jury discussions, the introductory and concluding lectures, and the opening speech by Peace Prize winner Tsitsi Dangarembga. Jeannette Oholi is a doctoral student at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen. Sharon Dodua Otoo is a writer and political activist. In 2016 she won the Ingeborg Bachmann competition.
You can get a copy of this book by clicking here.
Here are some images from the event by Mareike Graepel courtesy of the event organisers;
