Steve Sharra, Goretti Kyomuhendo, and Kirpal Singh Interviews
Kirpal Singh interviews Steve Sharra. Sharra discusses the role of poetry in the aftermath of a post-dictatorship Malawi. Sharra discusses his apprehension of “donor-driven projects,” specifically, projects funded by UNESCO, where he feels a writer gets paid to produce “propaganda.” He also points out the importance of literature as a unifier of diverse peoples, and how a common language can likewise unite a nation.
Peter Nazareth interviews Goretti Kyomuhendo, who discusses the challenges faced by her generation of writers, who are writing after the censorship of the Ugandan government in the 1980s and early 90s. Kyomuhendo discusses how the issues marriage, polygamy, and family relations within African society are dealt with in her novels.
Rowena Torrevillas interviews Kirpal Singh, who stresses the importance of multiculturalism and multiracialism in both his personal life and in the development of his nation. Singh also discusses the literary climate of Singapore; he feels that because of the lack of public support, writing is considered to be a domestic and precarious venture.
In: International Writing Program Archive
Authors: Steve Sharra , Goretti Kyomuhendo, Kirpal Singh
Date Recorded: September 13, 1997
Program: --
Format: interview
Contributors: Peter Nazareth
Topics: Dictatorship; expatriatism; Chinua Achebe; oral tradition; folk tales; UNESCO; censorship; polygamy; 1994 Rwandan genocide; refugees; Joseph Conrad; multiculturalism; multiracialism