African Literature Association members from all across the globe gathered in Baker Ballroom Wednesday through yesterday for the 37th Annual ALA Conference.
The yearly conference serves as an opportunity for likeminded writers, filmmakers and literature appreciators to gather and discuss, deliberate and expand different international concepts.
Ghirmai Negash, the conference convener’s, a professor in the department of English and Associate Director of the African Studies Program, developed the theme of this year’s conference: Visual Arts and Film in Local and Transnational Spaces.
“The theme pushes and hopes to achieve dialogue between local and international places,” Negash said.
Many universities compete to host the conference, and Ohio University submitted its application for this year’s event three years ago.
“This conference gives (OU) global visibility,” Negash said.
As is conference tradition, several keynote speakers presented throughout its duration. Laila Lalami — who has had material published in Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times, The Nation, The New York Times and The Washington Post — became emotional while reciting a nonfiction piece about her grandmother and womanhood. The piece addressed the evolution of women’s rights and the concept of the title “Middle Eastern.”
“I’m intrigued by (Lalami) herself,” Emilie Mingallon, a junior creative writing major, said. “I’ve read her essays, and I like the way she phrases and writes.”
The Ohio University African Studies program, the 1804 Fund, the Ohio University Press, among others, supported the conference financially. External funding came from Africa World Press, Research in African Literatures and Ohio State University Department of African American and African Studies.
Andrea Frohne, co-convener and professor in the school of Arts and Interdisciplinary Arts, said that a school can only host the conference once.
However, one chance might have been all OU needed to build international ties and understanding.
“Africa is here, here is Africa,” Negash said.
ag910309@ohiou.edu
@ThePostCulture
