End of the road!

Last week, in my capacity as learning support teacher, I taught a lesson to the whole grade 4 cohort about my book project. Why you might ask. The Grade 4s are looking at why we read. I presented my project and blog then set them on their own discovery task, linked here. Thanks to the … Continue reading End of the road!

#MadagascarLitMonth: Summing Up A Magical Literary Trip

It has been a great pleasure and opportunity for me to be the guest editor for Madagascar Literature Month in December 2021. First of all, it was a pleasure to connect with so many talented Malagasy writers, poets, translators and publishers, to interview them, to read their works and to learn from them about this … Continue reading #MadagascarLitMonth: Summing Up A Magical Literary Trip

Jean Luc Raharimanana interviewed by Abhay K.

In this interview, novelist Jean Luc Raharimanana tells Abhay K., the guest editor of Global Literature in Libraries Initiative for #MadagascarLitMonth about his latest novel, Revenir, being translated into English and German, why did he write it, how long did it take to write it, surprises he came across while writing it and his favourite Malagasy … Continue reading Jean Luc Raharimanana interviewed by Abhay K.

Ibonia: The Ramayana of Madagascar

-Abhay K. Ibonia is an epic poem of Madagascar dating back centuries which tells the tale of conception, birth, betrothal, struggle and death of itsĀ hero Ibonia (Iboniamasiboniamanoro or "he of the clear and captivating glance"). The tale begins with the conception of Ibonia by his mother with the help of divine intervention. Ibonia starts talking … Continue reading Ibonia: The Ramayana of Madagascar

#MadagascarLitMonth: Contemporary Poetry of Madagascar

-Abhay K. I have been in Madagascar close to three years. During this time I have interacted with a number of young Malagasy poets while hosting the monthly literary programme LaLitTana which I started in April 2019. I present a selection of poems of some of these poets in English translation here. Most of the … Continue reading #MadagascarLitMonth: Contemporary Poetry of Madagascar

#MadagascarLitMonth: The Poetry of Elie Rajaonarison

By Mialy Andriamananjara Elie Rajaonarison was a Malagasy poet, for whom Malagasy literature was above all an oral literature. He was born on November 15, 1951 in Ambatondrazaka, a town in the central highlands of Madagascar known for its rice and tobacco production. He was a ā€œpoĆØte engagĆ©ā€ who ā€œserved as Secretary General to the … Continue reading #MadagascarLitMonth: The Poetry of Elie Rajaonarison

MichĆØle Rakotoson interviewed by Abhay K.

 In this interview well-known Malagasy writer and novelist MichĆØle Rakotoson tells Abhay K., the guest editor of Global Literature in Libraries Initiative for #MadagascarLitMonth about her novel Lalana translated into English by Allison Charette, her forthcoming novel and her favourite Malagasy writers. Abhay K.- Tell us about your book Lalana which has been translated into … Continue reading MichĆØle Rakotoson interviewed by Abhay K.

#MadagascarLitMonth: Mose Njo interviewed by Abhay K.

In this interview novelist and short story writer Mose Njo tells Abhay K., the guest editor of Global Literature in Libraries Initiative for #MadagascarLitMonth about his short story Siri mon Amour, Zuckerbook ma Patrie. translated into English by Allison M. Charette, why did he write it, how long did it take to write it, surprises … Continue reading #MadagascarLitMonth: Mose Njo interviewed by Abhay K.

Mialy Andriamananjara interviewed by Abhay K.

In this interview Malagasy short story writer and novelist Mialy Andriamananjara tells Abhay K., the guest editor of Global Literature in Libraries Initiative for #MadagascarLitMonth about her short story Dreams, Miracles and Jazz published in An Anthology for African Writers, why does she write in English, and her favourite Malagasy writers. Abhay K.- Tell us … Continue reading Mialy Andriamananjara interviewed by Abhay K.

The Immortal Poetry of Madagascar’s Jean-Joseph Rabearivelo

Jean-Joseph Rabearivelo (JJR) is generally acknowledged as the greatest twentieth-century poet of Madagascar and the first modern poet of Africa. He was born in 1901 in an impoverished but noble family in the capital city, Antananarivo, to an unwed mother. His birth name was Joseph-Casimir Rabearivelo, which he changed later to Jean-Joseph Rabearivelo. He worked … Continue reading The Immortal Poetry of Madagascar’s Jean-Joseph Rabearivelo