On Whose Terms? Critical Negotiations in Black British Literature and the Arts March 12, 2008

A two-day conference to consider the impact of Black literature and the arts will be hosted by the Department of Drama at Goldsmiths, University of London on 13-14 March.

‘On Whose Terms? Critical Negotiations in Black British Literature and the Arts’ is being organised by Goldsmiths, Birkbeck, University of London and the University of Münster, Germany, and will focus upon local, international and transnational engagements with Black British literature and the arts, in relation to its production, reception and cultural position. The conference is open to the public, and it will bring together a wide variety of prominent and emerging scholars, writers, practitioners and experts, including actor, playwright and broadcaster Kwame Kwei-Armah, author Andrea Levy and Diane Abbott MP.

Along with a comprehensive programme of keynote addresses and seminars, a variety of performances and events will contribute to the celebration and critical investigation facilitated by the conference. Author and winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction, the Whitbread Book of the Year and the Commonwealth Writer’s prize, Andrea Levy, will be interviewed by celebrated author and Professor of Creative and Life Writing at Goldsmiths, Blake Morrison; children’s author and television writer, Malorie Blackman, will lead a forum on young people’s writing and writing for young people with pupils from Deptford Secondary School; and spoken word artist, Malika Booker, will perform her acclaimed one-woman show, ‘Absolution.’ There will also be poetry performances by SuAndi and Sheree Mack with MC Queenie (Valerie Mason-John).

The latest photographic works by Ajamu, titled ‘Man-Royal, Whickers and Zamis’ will be exhibited during the conference, and ‘Hidden Gems,’ an anthology of unpublished plays by writers such as Lemn Sissay, Lennie James and Mojisola Adebayo will be launched. The winner of the John La Rose short-story competition will also be presented with a prize by Sarah White of New Beacon Books, in honour of poet and activist, John La Rose.

For further information, rates and booking forms visit the conference website: www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/onwhoseterms or e-mail onwhoseterms@gold.ac.uk

Official Website: http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/onwhoseterms