Chris Abani lectures Buffalo

African writer, Chris Abani, appeared on Friday, April 15, 2011, in the finale of Babel season at Kleinhans Music Hall in a presentation of the Just Buffalo Literary Center. Welcome by Laurie Dean Torrell, Introduction, Michael Kelleher, Artistic Director. Dr. Abani is a Professor at the U of California, Riverside and the recipient of many awards. He was a political prisoner in Nigeria from 1985 to 1991. This resulted from the publication of his novel at 16, where he was arrested, the novel considered subversive in 1985. Again in 1987 upon entering the University, he joined a guerrilla theatre group, re-arrested sent to Kiri Kiri maximum security prison. He returns to the University to be re-arrested again for writing the play Song of a Broken Flute in 1990 for 18 mts, six mts in solitary confinement sentenced to death row for treason without trial in the company of murderers, rapists and the most undesirable criminals in society. Dr. Abani talked about the 14 year-old boy he met in prison, the one who had been horribly tortured, his name John James who didn't leave prison alive. He writes, "every day is a careful balance fought between the despondency that threatens to swamp me and the incredible joy for living." He choked up a bit when he talked about his mother now passed, but continue the lecture. It was one of the finest ever and the orchestra area at Kleinhans nearly filled. Subscriptions available for next year Babel Series. Those attending the lecture on Friday still get the early bird discount extended one week. Just Buffalo Literary Center, 617 Main St., Ste 202A, Buffalo, N.Y. 14203, 716 832-5400
Video clip produced by Maria Rosa for http://thelatinjournalblogfromthebarrio.com
http://buffaloempirestar.wordpress.com

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