What do writers mean when they say they are ‘possessed’ by a character or a story? How much intuitive freedom does MFA courses offer writers, and hwat is it like to discover and translate a 3000 year old Hieroglyphic Egyptian love story? We discuss these and more with writer and researcher, Ayesha Harruna Attah, author of four books including the recently published novel, The Deep Blue Between — a multi-directional migration story of a displaced set of twins in 1800s Ghana, and its predecessor, The Hundred Wells of Salaga.
We use the music of Mayra Andrade, Les Nubian, Sampa The Great, Nina Simone, Salif Keita and so much more to discuss Ayesha Harruna Attah’s experience of being mentored by, and working closely with the literary giant, Ayi Kwei Armah, her experience of being published in Continental Africa and Europe, and other topics. For more information of Ayesha Harruna Attah’s work, visit AyeshaAttah.com.
Listen to Ayesha’s curated playlist on Spotify, Deezer and YouTube
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Ayesha Harruna Attah’s bibliography
– Saturday Shadows (Per Ankh Publisher)
– Harmattan rain
– The Hundred Wells of Salaga
– The Deep Blue between
Books published as part of project that translates Hieroglyphics to multiple African languages:
– Sanhat
– Smi n skhty pn: Multilingual Translation of a 4000 year old African Love Story (also known as The eloquent peasant) translated by Ayi Kwei Armah, Ayeesha Harruna Attah et al.
– Skhmkht Ea: On Love Sublime– A Multilingual Translation of an African Love Poem.
– The instructions of Ptahhotep
Books discussed and referenced in this episode:
– One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
– Daughters of Africa – Margaret Busby
– New Daughters of Africa – Margaret Busby
– The Eloquence of the Scribes: A memoir on the sources and resources of African Literature – Ayi Kwei Armah
– Two Sisters – Ama Ata Aidoo
– Woman who runs with the wolves: Myth and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype – Clarissa Pinkola Estes
– Bird by Bird – Anne Lamont