Next month a huge literary/cultural event is taking place that is neither based
in Haiti, nor exclusively about Haiti, but will feature several of our own
brilliant writers and performers. This year's Yari Yari Ntoaso
women writers conference will take place May 16th-19th in
Accra, Ghana.
Yari Yari is a significant and dynamic conference for women writers of Africa and the diaspora. An
international symposium of women writers--it is simply without parallel.
This year's theme "Continuing the Dialogue" recognizes the huge
impact made by women writers all over the world while acknowledging the work
still left to be done and emphasizing as Yari Yari does, the importance of
solidarity and collaboration in creative work.
The event is sponsored
by institutions like the Organization of Women Writers (OWWA) and co-sponsored
by New York University. OWWA was founded in 1991, by
African-American poet-activist Jayne Cortez and Ghanaian author Ama Ata Aidoo.The first Yari Yari was held several years later in 1997 then again in 2004.
I had the honor of attending Yari Yari Pamberi in New York in 2004
(almost a decade ago!) where I experienced the matchless energy, inspiration
and encouragement that make it such a unique conference.
This year's
Haitian contingent is made up of our very own writer Evelyne
Trouillot, performance artist Gabrielle
Civil and scholar-artist-activist Gina
Ulysse. Each of these powerhouses will certainly bring their own
unique spirit and creativity to the wonderful space that is Yari Yari and I
cannot wait to hear about their time there!
Even if you cannot
be in attendance you can learn more about Yari Yari and support this project by
clicking here.
RMJC
