International writers and contemporary conflicts at Uppsala International Literature Festival

The conversation between Hermele and Rosenberg will be moderated by Kholod Saghir and will address the significance of the Holocaust today, a Swedish-Jewish upbringing, the use of the term anti-Semitism and the state of Israel.

During the festival, some of Nigeria's literary stars who have made an international impact will also make their first visit to Sweden in Uppsala. Nigeria is a nation that has produced not only Nobel laureates like Wole Soyinka, the first from Africa, and world-renowned writers like Ken Saro-Wiwa, but a host of prose writers and poets. Many are challengers of tradition and patriarchal values.

The obligations of international law are brought to the fore by the Swedish poet and writer Johannes Anyuru, who in his book ‘The Fact’ has tried to remedy the ‘post-factual state’ that is said to prevail on the issue of Israel's warfare in the Gaza Strip. He summarises the essence of South Africa's indictment filed with the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The newly translated poetry of Palestinian-American poet Fady Joudah on the ‘time of annihilation’ shines here with particular relevance.

The obligations of international law and the role of a writer are continued in a posthumous publication. The young Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina was killed in a Russian missile attack while working on a book of testimonies about the human consequences of Russia's invasion. Her fate and work is presented by friend and PEN Ukraine's Director Tetyana Teren.

Democracy and higher education also collaborates in one of the festival's events at Uppsala City Theatre. Swedish author Johannes Anyru and Nigerian poet Logan February will meet in a conversation about the relevance of James Baldwin. The discussion will be moderated by Christina Kullberg, Professor of French at Uppsala University, who has also been interested in Baldwin’s thought in her research.