In 2021, Abdulrazak Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature, as the first African-born in almost 20 years. In the reasoning from Svenka Akademin it says that he «uncompromisingly and with great compassion has highlighted the impact of colonialism and the fate of refugees in the gap between cultures and continents».
All over the world, more and more readers open their eyes to Gurnah’s authorship. His novels Paradise, Afterlives and Betrayal explores the east of Africa and Zanzibar’s history, while others, such as The Isle of Silence and By the Sea, depicts the meeting with the British community as a migrant. Commonly for them all is that he writes memorable people who are not heroes, but whom rather are unique in their quiet everydayness, and who often can feel estranged from the world.
«Gurnah’s books are excellent, engaging and fascinating. He is a master in writing about the people who are suppressed by injustice and suppression.»
That has author Leila Aboulela expressed about Gurnha’s authorship, which she has a close relationship to. Aboulela is born and raised in Sudan and lives today in Scotland. She has released many novels, short story collections and plays, with the newest one being the novel River Spirit in 2023.
Now she meets Adbulrazak Gurnah for a conversation about his authorship, about writing the history of eastern Africa, about migration and colonial history, and about the unique human portraits and relations he writes about.
The conversation will be in English.
The event is supported by NORAD.
Tickets and prices
Ordinary: kr. 230
Student: kr. 150
Practical information
For security reasons, the University Aula has mandatory coat check. We recommend arriving well before the event starts.