Interview with Zimbabwean Author Fareda Banda
Zimbabwean academic and author of African Migration, Human Rights and Literature, Fareda Banda, wanted her book to explore the refugee/migration issue from the perspective of one whose people were being dehumanised: ‘I was also curious about whether literature could reach places or invoke emotions such as empathy, that law and policy did not seem to be doing.’
First Draft is our interview column, featuring authors and other prominent figures on books, reading, and writing.
Our questions are italicized…
Who are the young Zimbabwean authors and scholars you’re most excited about today (and why?)
As it turns out, BBC World service have just featured a wonderful documentary ‘Women Writing Zimbabwe’ which I recommend. On scholars—well, my late father was Malawian so for him, the young scholar whose work I look forward to reading is Dr Chisomo Kalinga at the University of Edinburgh. She looks at the use and impact of arts within health settings. She is the founder of the Malawi Medical Humanities Network.
I have long been impressed by Robtel Neajai Pailey, an amazing Liberian academic (she is based at the London School of Economics and Political Science), activist and author notably of the children’s story Gbagba (illustrated by Chase Walker) which tackles corruption. She also writes about citizenship and development…
