Programs & Events
Ambassador Williams Hosts Writers’ Coffee with Ms. Ntozake Shange
Jan 13, 2011
Ambassador Williams hosted a group of seven prominent Nigerien writers and poets to discuss their work and the current challenges.
Ms. Ntozake Shange reads selections of her poems, backed by local musicians.
The Voices of Two Continents
Ambassador Williams hosted a group of seven prominent Nigerien writers and poets to discuss their work and the current challenges facing authors in Niger with celebrated American writer Ntozake Shange. The artists, whose backgrounds encompassed different ethnic, gender, and religious communities of the country, spoke of how writing in native languages gave power to their messages, similar to the expressive language found in the writing of Ms. Shange, yet expressed frustration with the difficulty in finding publishers for their work whether in French or in local languages. The group also discussed the dynamic socio-cultural landscapes of Niger and the United States, and the obstacles that artists and writers must overcome when addressing the pressing issues of their communities or challenging conventional restraints of culture and tradition. The event underscored the links of artistic communities in both countries, and the support of the United States for the freedom of creative thought and expression.