The writer Maaza Mengiste was born in Ethiopia and moved at a young age to the United States of America with her family. She has not forgotten her roots and her history and the people she belongs to. Ethiopia is part and parcel of her life. In her latest book The Shadow King she takes … Continue reading Maaza Mengiste: ‘The language of war is always masculine’
Helon Habila, Maaza Mengiste named The New American Voices award judges
Helon Habila (Nigeria) and Maaza Mengiste (Ethiopia/USA) form, together with Madeleine Thein, USA), the jury of a literary prize. The prize is run by an organization with a long name. The name is the Institute for Immigration Research New American Voices Award. The winner of the prize will receive $5000.
Maaza Mengiste on defeating the sophomore slump
Writing a book is one thing. Writing your second book is quite another thing. You have managed to include so many brilliant ideas in your first book. You have robbed your past from many details and plots. Now you are brooding and brooding and slowly the ideas come for your second publication. Maaza Mengiste published … Continue reading Maaza Mengiste on defeating the sophomore slump
Maaza Mengiste, Carrie Brownstein, and Jill Filipovic on gender and power
The issue of gender is coming more and more to the fore. Gender is a multifacetted way of describing your personhood, your being YOU. To many gender is linked to power, who is calling the shots, who is defining and setting standards. Maaza Mengiste is one of the speakers at a session on gender and … Continue reading Maaza Mengiste, Carrie Brownstein, and Jill Filipovic on gender and power
Maaza Mengiste talks about
Every picture tells a story. Some prefer to write stories, others prefer to shoot pictures. In the end both of them are storytellers, each in his or her own way. Maaza Mengiste is a storyteller with words, just have a look at her books. In recent times she has also included a look at photographs, … Continue reading Maaza Mengiste talks about
this ethiopian prince
Sometimes we get a glimpse into history. Maaza Mengiste writes about a young Ethiopian boy, whose remains are kept in the United Kingdom. Attempts have been made to get his remains back to his country of origin. To no avail. The next step in this story by Maaza Mengiste is present situation of refugees. She writes: … Continue reading this ethiopian prince
books touched by Africa 