"...i want to thank everybody for the experience of the 2014 writers unlimited festival. it was really a necessary breath for me and it is always essential to meet new people. thank you also for the opportunity to be associated with the other writers and being able to be on stage with antjie [krog]."
E-mail by Andries Samuel, South African poet and participant of the 19th edition of the Writers Unlimited literary festival
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What a fantastic literary festival it has been!
For four days, Den Haag/The Hague (NL) wasn't only the national city of peace and justice, but also host to the international literary festival Writers Unlimited 2014. The festival where writers meet others to discuss on a set of various themes. This year the focus has been on social media with its main focus on "LIKE ME".
Take the discussion on the Friday evening with its headline: "LIKE ME. PLEASE LIKE ME." The literary panel consisted of Amin Maalouf (F/LB), Aminatta Forna (GB/SL; see Quote of the Month - November 2013), Andrés Neuman (ES/AR), Fouad Laroui (NL/MA). It hasn't been about the newest book by one of the authors - it has been about the various approaches to social media, as facebook, twitter and blogger. As some of the authors explained, they are actually enjoying the exchange of ideas on the internet whereas others openly stated their aversion to it facing the accusation that they are being snobs or arrogant. A discussion totally on the impact of the subject on the authors. The writer as a personality stood in the centre of the discussion and Sheila Sitalsing did a wonderful job as moderator.
According to Ton van de Langkruis, director and founder of the festival, the Writers Unlimited winternachten festival in Den Haag is one of the literary festivals where the author stands central. Not her or his latest publication - though that is a welcome side effect because people certainly get curious about the books. But to Ton, it's the discussion, the exchange of ideas, the various points of view of the various authors that form the centre of the festival. And we, as audience are welcome to join and enjoy!
How did I enjoy those days! Just a few highlights: Antjie Krog from South Africa was one of the outstanding authors that had her poems on her grandchild presented with the headline: "My verre-verste kind" (=my far-farthest child) on Saturday night. What heartbreaking images on being a grandmother to a grandchild that lives miles away talking in a different language. How to connect? How to relate? And Wende, a Dutch singer-songwriter, put Antjie's poems in Afrikaans on music and made an impressive stage performance that certainly was breathtaking.
Not to mention Antjie's laudatory 'speech' on Tom Lanoye who received the Constantijn Huygens-prijs on Sunday for his complete oeuvre. What a show! What craft! Her own performance has been an excellent proof of her craftsmanship in poetry!
And please, don't tell me that poetry is dead. Arie Boomsma presented various poets: debut poet Kira Wuck (NL) next to honoured poet Alfred Schaffer (NL/SA), Rodaan al Galidi (NL/IQ) and the nominees of the VSB poetry prize Miriam van Hee (NL) and Antoine de Kom (NL). Everybody on the biggest stage of the festival! The hall was packed and everybody stood clapping in the end to Typhoon's musical poetry performance. Poetry has certainly been alive that evening.
But there had been also some serious discussions: 'Don't trust the experts! Question their knowledge!' - Noreena Hertz, British economist and author to the book Eyes Wide Open in discussion with Femke Halsema, former Dutch politician. Everybody probably agreed and didn't think she had something new to tell since Europeans tend to be overcritical. But then the turn in her argumentation: 'WikiLeaks isn't doing a good job - some things need to be secret...!' What an eye-opener, she was just contradicting herself!
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Not to forget the side shows: "De tekst van mijn leven / The Text of my Life" where authors had the opportunity to present a text to which they return regularly on behalf of inspiration. An intimate moment with the author in a side wing of the building and a casual meeting with the audience. To which text does an author return to for various reasons? And why? Interesting to learn about the various points of view.
And these are only the highlights - there had been more fantastic programmes with wonderful personalities - check the website of the festival www.winternachten.nl and enjoy the videos (also in English) that had been taped. To those of you being able to read Dutch: there is also a special edition of the literary journal TIRADE with essays and poems by all participants: authors and musicians.
As for one young author - he impressed me so much - that'll be another "Quote of the Month"...