Organization Promoting Literature Opens Center in Addis

By Meron Tekleberhan

Addis Ababa, February 26, 2012 (Ezega.com) - PEN an internal organization promoting literature and freedom of expression in more than one hundred countries across the world inaugurated its first center in Ethiopia on the 25th of February.

After a three year long process of formation PEN Ethiopia was officially launched at its first writer’s conference held at the Italian Cultural Center. The conference was attended by British author and President of PEN International, John Ralston Saul.

Ato Solomon Hailemariam, founder and President of PEN Ethiopia, said in his opening speech that PEN was established in Ethiopia to promote Ethiopian literature domestically and internationally.

With this end in mind PEN will exert effort to translate Ethiopian works of literature into international and national languages said Solomon. The association will also work to advance the ability of Ethiopian authors to profit from their labors which is rarely the case noted Solomon.

PEN Ethiopia is open to all interested in supporting its mission here in Ethiopia and is dedicated to its commitment to promote literature as opposed to becoming an institution of any sort noted Solomon personally.

Ato Solomon was followed by the Dr. John Ralston Saul who stated his pride in being the first president of Pen to visit Ethiopia.

Pen began in Europe but an estimated 80% of its membership is to be found outside of Europe at this time explained Dr. Saul. The PEN African Association alone has eighteen member countries and is involved in a program that promotes literature in addition to literacy he noted.

Literature requires creativity, freedom and openness to new ideas which explains PEN’s commitment to freedom of expression according to Dr. Saul who also mentioned the need to keep national and regional languages alive and vibrant as each language feeds into the unconscious of the society at large.

PEN International has counted amongst its members well known authors such as Chinua Achebe, Salman Rushdie, Arthur Miller and Czeslaw Milosz as well as having as its first presidents John Galsworthy (1921–33) and H. G. Wells (1933–36) he noted.

Regardless of the prestigious careers of some its past and present members, however, noted Dr. Saul that PEN is equally dedicated to all its members be they Nobel Prize winners or bloggers on the internet.

Two studies prepared by, Ato Abraham Alemu and Teferi Negussie, instructors from Addis Ababa University were presented at the writers conference. The first study presented by Ato Abraham discussed encouraging and discouraging trends that affect the culture of reading and writing in Ethiopia. The study incited a very lively debate from the participants of the conference that included notable authors and literary scholars in Ethiopia.

Attempts were made to look back at the reading and writing culture before the onset of modern education in Ethiopia and the various trends seen since. According to some participants utilitarian policies to insure functional literacy have done little to contribute towards the formation of a literate society. To this end educational policies on the national level are responsible for facilitating a culture of reading and consequently writing at the elementary level stressed the comments.

The need for tax reform in regards to the import of papers, books and the publishing industry here in Ethiopia was a point raised over and over again at the conference. The alarming increase in print costs associated with the increases in the price of paper and other materials used in publishing has resulted in a corresponding increase in the price of books, which is expected to inhibit the ability of readers to purchase printed materials. The increase in printing costs is also discouraging for authors who are forced to self publish in most instances it was said.

The second study was presented in the last two hours of the day-long seminar and raised issues associated with book publishing as well as offering an overview of the history of literature in various national groups in Ethiopia.

The various issues raised at the conference illuminated areas that PEN Ethiopia can become active in to enhance literature in Ethiopia. PEN can particularly offer the unique perspective of its international affiliates which have many years of experience in their diverse contexts.

It is hoped that the links that PEN enjoys internationally will make it a more inventive and vibrant association allowing it to play a significant role in the development of literature in Ethiopia.

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Meron Tekleberhan is Addis Ababa based reporter for Ezega.com. She can be reached by sending email through this form.

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