University of Michigan-Flint

The project brings a renowned African writer to Flint every year, and a work of fiction by that writer is promoted extensively for study in the high schools in the region.  The school district (GISD) where the University of Michigan-Flint is located serves over 84,000 K-12 students in twenty-one district schools and ten charter schools.  As part of the events for the week, the Department of Africana Studies runs a free workshop on the writer and his/her chosen text for high school teachers under the general title:  "Teaching African Literature and Culture:  Things Fall Apart and More..."  So the whole event involves the University, high schools in the region, the community, and the Flint Public Library.

In February 2003, Wole Soyinka came as our first guest.  In May 2004, Buchi Emecheta came as the second guest (in place of Chinua Achebe whose health could not permit his coming at the last minute).  In March 2005, we hosted Ngugi wa Thiong'o as our third guest;  Dennis Brutus was our fourth guest in 2006 from April 5 to 11.  In March/April, 2007, Nawal El Saadawi came as our fifth guest.  In 2008, Femi Osofisan, dramatist and poet, will be our honored guest.