I was invited to participate in this year’s Caine Prize for African Writing workshop which took place in Elmina, Ghana from April 6-19. I’d been following the Prize on- and off- for a few years and had made a mental note to one day, maybe submit something. This year, I resolved to be a bit more daring with myself vis-a-vis writing and creativity – to push my boundaries. The opportunity to do so came through a kind reader who recommended me for the workshop (thanks M.A.!). Two whole weeks to conjure up mischief, with no room for the usual excuses; both daunting and exhilirating.
Needless to say, it was a beautiful experience. I learned a ton about writing and myself as a writer; met and gained invaluable (life & writer) insights from an exceptional group of people; ate too much; and wrote ( re-wrote, edited, switched up, stressed & jubilated over, surrended to) a 6,500 word short story which will be published in the 2015 Caine Prize anthology this summer. Below, some snapshots from the unforgettable encounter and me playing tourist in my home country.
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Written by Jemila Abdulai
Jemila Abdulai is the creative director, editor and founder of the award-winning website Circumspecte.com. A media and international development professional and economist by training, she combines her business, communications and project management expertise with her strong passion for Africa. Besides writing and reading, she enjoys travel, global cuisine, movies, and good design.