About Us
Word Power International Black Literature Festival and Book Fair was founded by Emmanuel Amevor in 2007. The Festival aims to acknowledge the literary contributions of people of African descent in the development of both Western literature and civilization. An event like this has become important since within very recent times, scholars and historians such as Wayne B Chandler (Ancient Future) and Anthony T Browder (Egypt on the P), have found it necessary to challenge the West’s attempt to falsify African History.
Word Power consciously embraces the mission of the African Progress Union formed in 1918 under the Presidency of John Richard Archer – the first person of African descent to be elected as Mayor of Battersea, London: “to spread knowledge of the history and achievements of African and Afro-peoples past and present”.
This 2nd annual event commemorates the 60th anniversary of Windrush. It is an opportunity to look back and honour the towering achievements of our literary forebears, while placing the spotlight on the works of present ‘chroniclers of our age and imagination’.
Word Power will also help to fill the void left the International Bookfair of Radical Black and Third World Book which after more than a decade ended in 1995. Whilst this is not an attempt to replace that event because of its unique nature and scope, we hope to make Word power a forum for enlightened discussion, interaction, dialogue, debates and promotion of literary works of people of African descent. This October 2008, London will be host to some of the truly astonishing talents that Africa has delivered to the World.
Word Power 2008 is not only for the people of African descent. Our literature and other literatures are different facet of the same prism and enrich each other.
We look forward to welcoming you.