On 11 december 1906, Senegalese poet and storyteller Birago Diop was born. Diop's work restored general interest in African folktales and promoted him to one of the most outstanding African francophone writers. He is featured in our #LibraryWeekly ascleiden.nl/content/library…

On 12 Sept. 1977, South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko died as a consequence of state violence following his arrest. He was at the forefront of an anti-apartheid campaign the Black Consciousness Movement. He is featured in our #LibraryWeekly ascleiden.nl/content/library….

Wahome Mutahi (24 October 1954 – 22 July 2003) was a celebrated Kenyan writer, humorist, and journalist. He was popularly known as Whispers after the name of the column he wrote for The Daily Nation (1982-2003). He is featured in our #LibraryWeekly ascleiden.nl/content/library…

On 17 April 1929 the Senegalese author and feminist Mariama Bâ was born in Dakar. She is known for her two novels So Long a Letter (1979) and Scarlet Song (1981). Mariama Bâ is featured in our #LibraryWeekly. ascleiden.nl/content/library…

Jean-Marie Adé Adiaffi or Jean-Marie Adiaffi (1 January 1941 – 15 November 1999) was a writer, screenwriter, filmmaker and Ivorian critic. He is featured in our #LibraryWeekly ascleiden.nl/content/library…

On 27 June 1948, South African-born German anthropologist and philologist Dorothea Frances Bleek died in Newlands, Cape Town at the age of 75. She is known for her research on the San in Southern Africa. Dorothea Bleek is featured in our #LibraryWeekly. ascleiden.nl/content/library…

On 27 May 1977, one of the most famous Bissau-Guinean poets and musicians of the 20th century, José Carlos Schwarz, died near Havana at the age of 27. His works and actions have inspired generations of musicians. He is featured in our #LibraryWeekly. ascleiden.nl/content/library…

On 31 March 2021, Angolan poet and scholar Arlindo Barbeitos, in full Arlindo do Carmo Pires Barbeitos, died in Luanda at the age of 80. He is featured in our #LibraryWeekly. Enjoy reading his poems, books and articles. ascleiden.nl/content/library…

On 25 March 2019, Nigerian poet and novelist Gabriel Imomotimi Okara died at the age of 97 in Yenagoa, Nigeria. The first modernist poet of Anglophone Africa. He is featured in our #LibraryWeekly ascleiden.nl/content/library…

On 8 March 2021,Guinean historian, playwright,and short story writer Djibril Tamsir Niane died at the age of 89.He is probably best known for introducing the West African epic 'Sunjata' to the rest of Africa and the world at large.See our #LibraryWeekly. ascleiden.nl/content/library…

Spotlight on Nigerian filmmaker Tunde Kelani, popularly known as TK,born on 26 February 1948 in Lagos.@tkelani specialises in producing movies that promote #Nigeria's rich cultural heritage and promotion of the culture.He is featured in our #LibraryWeekly. ascleiden.nl/content/tunde-k…

On 20 February 1952, Muslim scholar, poet and imam Ustadh Mau, was born on #Lamu island. Since the 1970s, audio recordings and, to a lesser extent, printed versions of his poems have been circulating on the Kenyan coast and beyond. See our #LibraryWeekly ascleiden.nl/content/library…

On 27 January 2020, Tunisian Internet activist, blogger and lecturer in linguistics at Tunis University, Lina Ben Mhenni died at the age of 36. She is internationally recognised for her work during the 2011 Tunisian revolution. #LibraryWeekly. ascleiden.nl/content/library…

In 1793, Fulani scholar, poet and educator Nana Asma’u was born in a village called Degel. Her Yan Taru, a programme aimed at making education accessible to all, especially women, continues into the 21st century. She is featured in our #LibraryWeekly ascleiden.nl/content/library…

On [31?] December 1949, Bissau-Guinean film director Flora Gomes was born in Cadique. Gomes's 'Mortu Nega' (Death Denied; 1988) won the prestigious Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO 1989.He is featured in our #LibraryWeekly. ascleiden.nl/content/library…

Spotlight on Santomean poet and journalist Maria da Conceição de Deus Lima, also known as Conceição Lima, born on 8 December 1961. She is featured in our #LibraryWeekly ascleiden.nl/content/library…