[ 2017-11-07 ]

Tell the true African stories through your writings – Nana Addo to PAWA
President Akufo-Addo has charged African writers
to tell the true African story through their
writings.


The President observed that often on the
continent, the story out there is that of a failed
continent instead of the rising continent we are.
Delivering the keynote address at the Pan African
Writers’ Association Continental Colloquium and
24th International African Writers’ Day
celebration under the theme; “Language, Library
and the Book Industry: the Urgent Agenda for
Africa’s Destiny” held at the LA Beach Hotel,
President Akufo-Addo said it is time for African
writers to inject integrity and truth in their
writings and to stop those who seek to discredit
the continent through their books, articles and
dissertations.

Pan African Writers Association (PAWA)

The Pan African Writers Association (PAWA), a
leading Pan African Cultural Institution accorded,
full diplomatic status by the Government of Ghana
in 1992, is made up of the 52 National Writers
Associations on the continent, and seeks to
contribute its quota to moral, cultural and
intellectual renaissance in Africa.

Indeed, it is to play the role of being an
important voice of the African, while seeking to
restore to our people, confidence in themselves as
Africans and reinforcing the vision for a Common
African Home.

Aims and Objectives of PAWA

The aims and objectives of the Association are as
follows:


1. To provide a forum for all writers of Africa
and those of African origin.

2. To seek and vigorously defend freedom of
expression for all Africans and the material and
spiritual interests of African writers and their
Association.

3. To promote literacy and to eradicate illiteracy
in Africa.

4. To encourage the inclusion of African literary
works in the curriculum of educational
institutions.

5. To promote African languages and the
translation of African literature into African
languages amongst others

The Mission of PAWA

The mission of PAWA that was unanimously accepted
by African writers at its inaugural congress in
November, 1989, in Accra, is that the Pan African


Writer’s Association (PAWA) exists:

“to strengthen the cultural and economic bonds
between the people on the African continent
against the background of the continent’s
acknowledged diverse but rich cultural, political
and economic heritage”.

PAWA’s Noble Patron Award

The leadership of the Pan African Writers’
Association presented to the President PAWA’s
Noble Patron of the Arts Award. The award was
given because of the President’s commitment to
and love for African writers over the years. The
award was in three fold, a medal, a certificate
and a citation.

Language of the Heart or of the Head

Professor Beban Sammy Chumbow, Emeritus Professor,
University of Yaounde, Cameroon, in his lecturer
on the topic “Which Language Should Be Used for
African Literature; Language of the Head or
Language of the Heart”, the iconic Professor
observed that knowledge production the world over
determines who is developed, developing and
undeveloped.

 Africa’s under-development he said is because
knowledge production on the continent has mostly
been carried out through foreign languages which
do not resonate with the majority of the African
people. He recommended that Africans have the duty
and responsibility to use their mother tongue in
developing education on the continent.


He also observed that the use of the mother tongue
ought to be done in partnership with foreign
languages.

Source - ultimatefmonline.com

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