Abdulrazak Gurnah is set to share his profound insights on colonialism and displacement with students and the public on December 11th in a literary event coinciding with Keele University’s 75th anniversary celebrations, per daily-focus.co.uk.
The Nobel Prize-winning author, the first black African writer in over three decades to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, will conduct a public reading and engage with Creative Writing students at the Staffordshire institution. The 75-year-old Tanzanian-born novelist, acclaimed for his “uncompromising and compassionate” exploration of colonial impacts, brings personal experience to his narratives, having fled persecution in Zanzibar during the 1960s before finding refuge in England.
The author of 10 novels, including the Booker Prize-shortlisted Paradise, has devoted his literary career to examining the complex intersections of cultural identity and displacement. His work, deeply informed by his journey from refugee to distinguished professor at the University of Kent, resonates with millions worldwide.
“This event offers a unique opportunity for our students to learn from an eminent writer whose work aligns perfectly with our focus on postcolonial and world literary cultures,” says Professor Mariangela Palladino, dean of research at Keele’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
The free event, featuring a reading, Q&A session, and book signing, will take place in the Westminster Theatre from 6-7pm.
