Resonanzen - Schwarzes Literaturfestival

This is a German-language event.

we write until our last breath,
so that a touch of consciousness remains,
a spark of liberation inflames,
and, deep inside, the urge for action awakens,
to change everything.
(Furat Abdulle, "Pieces of the World" - her translation)

Black German-language fiction has a long and distinguished tradition, from the first novel by Black German author Dualla Misipo, written towards the end of the Weimar Republic, to recent titles by Black authors, who are making an ever-greater impact. Today we ask: When will we see more Black writers making it onto the longlist of the German Book Prize? When will the first novel by a Black male German-language author appear in a major publishing house? How can there be more well-connected, established German-language literary critics who recognize and know how to interpret the traditions, influences and references of African diasporan writers? "Resonanzen - Schwarzes Literaturfestival" (Resonance - A Festival of Black German-Language Fiction #Resonanzen22) is a cooperation between the Ruhrfestspiele and the writer and political activist Sharon Dodua Otoo. This festival aims to rethink, reimagine and further develop perspectives and experiences within the German-language literary scene. The result is a festival within the festival.
As part of the three-day literature festival, six promising writers will read previously unpublished texts. Each text has been written especially for this event and has been inspired by the word “Erbe” (heritage). The identities of the six writers will remain secret until the opening evening - neither the four-member jury nor the writers themselves know who (else) will be participating. Each reading will be followed by a jury discussion. In this way, the authors and the jury members will collectively highlight, analyse, honour and celebrate Black aesthetics in German-language literature.
In addition, the festival and its accompanying program will provide opportunities for networking; ideas for literary texts and interpretations may also be exchanged here. In this way "Resonanzen" will provide a broader platform for the critical appreciation of Black German-language fiction.

#Resonanzen22

The authors of Resonanzen22 are:

Program:

Day 1 - Thursday, 19/5/2022
Start 7:00 pm

• Opening speech by Tsitsi Dangarembga, writer, filmmaker and Peace Prize winner of the German Book Trade.
• Welcome address by Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, MEP in the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance
• Introduction of the Resonanzen jury Aminata Cissé Schleicher, Elisa Diallo, Ibou Coulibaly Diop and Dominique Haensell
• Announcement and introduction of the six authors and selection of the reading order
• Reading by Ada Diagne, winner of the 1st Young Storyteller Award 2021

Day 2 - Friday, 20/5/2022
Start 6:00 pm

• Lecture on Black Aesthetics in German Language Literature by Philipp Khabo Koepsell, spoken word artist, author, editor, and expert on Afro-German literary history.
• Readings followed by public jury discussions of the first three authors

Day 3 - Saturday, 21/5/22
Start 3:30 pm

• Readings followed by public jury discussions of the other three authors
• Break for warm meal in the evening
• Live music performance by The String Archestra
• Commentary and a summary of the entire festival by Nouria Asfaha, co-founder of "afro look!" the first magazine of the most recent Black German Movement
• Ceremonial commendation of the authors

Except for the opening speech, all other talks, readings and discussions will take place in German.

Team:

Conception and curation: Sharon Dodua Otoo
Jury: Aminata Cissé Schleicher, Elisa Diallo, Ibou Coulibaly Diop and Dominique Haensell
Moderation: Alexandra Antwi-Boasiako
Copy-editor: Doreen Tringali
Public relations: Patricia Eckermann
Photography: China Hopson
Academic consultant: Jeannette Oholi

Team Ruhrfestspiele: Roman Sroka (Technical Production), Jan Hein (Consulting), Christine Hoenmanns (Press and Communication), Anne Liebtrau (Production), Antje Sterner (Social Media and Communication), Jesko Vorbeck (Production), Jonas Wüstefeld (Set Design)

Events: 19 to 21 May, Festspielzelt