Steve Sharra Interview
Writer Kirpal Singh interviews the poet Steve Sharra who is from Malawi. Sharra shares how his writing has been influenced by oral tradition because his parents would narrate folktales to him as a child. Sharra discusses his children’s book Fleeing the War. Sharra believes that literature must have some sort of purpose and influence the reader in some way. Singh asks Sharra how he feels about Malawi writers leaving the country and never returning. Sharra responds by saying that Malawi’s political climate caused many writers to flee the country and never return in the past, but now that the political climate has improved, Sharra thinks it is important for Malawi writers to visit other countries and draw from their experiences there and then return home to Malawi. Singh observes that it seems Sharra draws inspiration from crisis and Sharra acknowledges this and says he hopes to incorporate more humor into his writing in the future.
In: International Writing Program Archive
Authors: Steve Sharra , Kirpal Singh
Date Recorded: September 11, 1997
Program: --
Format: interview
Contributors: Kirpal Singh
Topics: Oral traditions; social justice; English language; literature as a tool