African Writers Trust
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- Plot 819, Off Kiira Road, Kyaliwajjala – Namugongo (P.O. Box 6753), Kampala, Uganda
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| Formation | 2009 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Goretti Kyomuhendo |
| Purpose | To bring together writers in Africa and the African diaspora in order to promote sharing of skills and other resources |
| Location |
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| Website | africanwriterstrust.org |
The African Writers Trust (AWT) was established in 2009 as "a non-profit entity which seeks to coordinate and bring together African writers in the Diaspora and writers on the continent to promote sharing of skills and other resources, and to foster knowledge and learning between the two groups."[1]
The founder and current director of AWT is Goretti Kyomuhendo, an internationally recognized novelist with a distinguished career as the first Programmers Coordinator for FEMRITE – Uganda Women Writers' Association.[2]
African Writers Trust is governed by its advisory board, currently (as of 2017) composed of Zakes Mda, Susan Nalugwa Kiguli, Ayeta Anne Wangusa, Helon Habila, Leila Aboulela, Mildred Barya, and Aminatta Forna.[3]
Although presently headquartered in London, England, African Writers Trust has so far (as of 2011) conducted its activities primarily in East Africa based in part upon that region's perceived needs and opportunities.[4][5]
Diana Nabiruma, of The Observer (Uganda), reported on the fiction workshop and competition organized by the AWT and held at the Uganda Museum in February 2010.[6] On the same, The Standard (Uganda Christian University's community newspaper) reported on the success of the Uganda Christian University student writers who attended.[7]
Martin Kanyegirire, also of The Observer (Uganda), reported on a follow-up one-day workshop held by AWT in January 2011 that involved 20 student-writers from three East African universities.[8]
Since 2013, the AWT has held the biennial Uganda International Writers Conference, with participating international writers.[9] The 2017 conference, on the theme "Contemporary Publishing Trends in Africa",[10] featured a keynote address by Bibi Bakare-Yusuf of Cassava Republic Press,[11] and a poetry performance by British-Ethiopian poet Lemn Sissay.[12][13][14]