Gambia Literature Day Call for Papers

The Department of Humanities of the University of The Gambia, will be organising the 3rd edition of Gambian Literature Day in March 2008.
There will be a series of activities, especially a seminar which will be centred on: A Critical Analysis of Dr Lenrie Peter’s Works.

Considered by many critics as the father of Gambian Literature, Dr Lenrie Peters is one of the most accomplished African writers of our time. His works include The Second Round (novel), Satellites (poetry), Katchikali and Selected Poetry and are considered by many as new classics. He has explored different themes ranging from politics, corruption, moral decadence, religious hypocrisy, exploitation and artificiality of modern culture to the effects of creeping technology.

Going by Robert Frazer’s words in A Critical History (Cambridge University Press, 1986):”National aspiration, the desire for cultural identity, a determination to undermining neo-colonialism: all of these are very close to his heart.  He is, however, very weary of writing a poem which attacks these themes directly, preferring to explore them under the cover of metaphor or analogy.”

Peters’ thematic works go beyond the negritude school of writers as well as the other Anglophone poets.

As well as the thematic study of Peters’ works, contributors are expected to make submissions on the author’s style. Interested scholars are kindly asked to tender in their rÈsumÈs on or before 15 February 2008 and are advised to adopt the CODESRIA format.