Simone Atangana Bekono
(Dongen, 1991) is a writer of prose and poetry. She has written columns and essays for various newspapers and magazines and is an editor at the literary magazine De Revisor. In 2016, she graduated from the Creative Writing program at ArtEZ with a collection of poems and letters titled Hoe de eerste vonken zichtbaar waren (How the first sparks became visible), which was reprinted by Wintertuin Uitgeverij in collaboration with Lebowski Publishers. In 2018, the collection was awarded the Poëziedebuutprijs Aan Zee (Poetry Debut Award by the Sea). In 2019, she received the Charlotte Köhler Stipendium for her poetry. In 2020, her debut novel Confrontaties (Confrontations) was published, which was highly praised and won the Hebban Debut Prize, the Anton Wachter Prize, and the Best Book for Young Adults Award. The novel was shortlisted for both the 2021 Libris Literature Prize and the Bronze Owl. In 2022, Simone wrote the novella Zo hoog de zon stond for the Brabants Book Present. A public edition was published by De Arbeiderspers, received widespread acclaim, and made the longlist for the 2023 Libris Literature Prize. In early 2024, her second poetry collection Marshmallow was published by De Arbeiderspers. Simone Atangana Bekono's work has been translated into English, German, French, Spanish, and Turkish, among other languages.
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James Baldwin, A Son of America: In honor of James Baldwin's 100th birthday
With: Lexter Woodley, Simone Atangana Bekono, Tracy Metz
'Not everything we face we can change. But we cannot change anything without first facing it.' - James Baldwin
In this installment of the Writers Series, we turn our attention to one of America's greatest writers, James Baldwin. This fall, De Geus Publishers released new translations of Giovanni's Room and Notes of a Native Son, translated by Eefje Bosch and Manik Sarkar. Both books have lost none of their topicality, and it is very interesting to look at today's U.S. based on Baldwin's essays from A Son of America. Simone Atangana Bekono will provide Baldwin's literary voice and Tracy Metz the look at America.
Simone Atangana Bekono, as a fan and expert on James Baldwin, will translate Baldwin's voice and reflect on his work. Tracy Metz represents the European perspective on America, particularly in light of Baldwin's writings. How is the U.S. faring with the upcoming elections?
Lexter Woodley will moderate the conversation. She is a speaker, hostess, presenter, actress, headhunter and more. With a background in Law and Journalism, Lexter also has a doctorate in Gender Studies. Translator Manik Sarkar will read from Notes of a Native Son.About Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin:
James Baldwin's nonfiction debut was published in 1955 when he was thirty and established his name as an inescapable thinker. Written in the 1940s and 1950s, the ten culturally critical and autobiographical essays depict a country in which social relations were beginning to shift cautiously. In highly perceptive prose of great beauty, Baldwin explores with anger and empathy what it means to be of color in America and Europe.
'Milestones in essay writing, of great power and beauty.' - The Guardian, 100 most important nonfiction books of all time (#26)
'I wish I could press this book into the hands of every American - actually every person.' - Celeste Ng
Simone Atangana Bekono is a writer of prose and poetry. She has published columns and essays in various media and is an editor at De Revisor. In 2016, she graduated from ArtEZ with the collection Hoe de eerste vonken zichtbaar waren (How the first sparks became visible), which won the Poëziedebuutprijs Aan Zee. Her debut novel Confrontaties (Confrontations) (2020) won multiple awards and was shortlisted for the Libris Literature Prize. In 2022, she wrote the novella Zo hoog de zon stond (As high as the sun stood), and her second poetry collection Marshmallow was published in 2024. Her work has been translated into English, German, French, Spanish, and Turkish, among other languages.
Tracy Metz is a journalist, author, presenter, and podcast maker. Originally from California, she moved to Europe after her studies, where she entered journalism in the Netherlands. Since 2013, she has been the director of the John Adams Institute, an independent platform for American culture in the Netherlands. She writes for NRC and De Architect. Her latest podcast, Future 400, explores the cultural exchange between the Netherlands and America, marking the 400th anniversary of the Dutch landing on Manhattan.Dr. Lexter Woodley is a lawyer and journalist with bachelor's degrees in Social Legal Services and Journalism, as well as a master's in Law. She earned her PhD in Gender Studies at Birkbeck, University of London, focusing on career women. As the founder of Dutch Einsteins, an international headhunting firm, she speaks at major career fairs such as FRED Expo and The Dutch Career Days, and regularly conducts workshops and lectures, particularly during the month of International Women's Day.
Manik Sarkar is a literary translator from French and English, working on authors such as Philippe Claudel, Joël Dicker, Hisham Matar, Kamel Daoud, and, together with co-translator Eefje Bosch, James Baldwin. Additionally, he is a board member of the Vertalersvakschool (School for Translators). In April of this year, his debut novel Ossenkop was published, and it has been nominated for the Bronze Owl award for best debut of 2024.
This Writers Series program is in Dutch
After the event, there will be a book sale by De Vries Van Stockum, along with an opportunity for book signing.
Programme curated by Ilonka Reintjens (Writers Unlimited)
Writers Series: James Baldwin, A Son of America Simone Atangana Bekono and Tracy Metz in conversation with Lexter Woodley. With reading by Manik Sarkar.
Wednesday 9 oktober 2024, 20:30-22:00 hr.
Centrale Bibliotheek Podium B, Spui 68 2511 BT Den Haag
Writers Unlimited organises the Writers Unlimited International Literature Festival The Hague every year in January (2025 dates: 23-26 January) and monthly Writers Series programmes throughout the year at various locations in The Hague, including the Central Public Library (Centrale Bibliotheek) The Hague. The festival, featuring more than 100 writers, poets, spoken word artists and musicians from the Netherlands and abroad, will take place over four days at venues including Theater aan het Spui, Filmhuis Den Haag, Paard, Koninklijke Schouwburg, neighbourhood libraries, Hague universities and secondary schools. -
Book of My Life with Simone Atangana Bekono
Writers tell us about their favourite book: the book that inspires or touches them, that set their artistic, moral or intellectual compass. In short, the book they would recommend to everyone. Interview: Abdelkader Benali.
Simone Atangana Bekono chose as her favorite Giovanni's Room, the 1956 novel by James Baldwin. The book focuses on the events in the life of an American man living in Paris and his feelings and frustrations with his relationships with other men in his life, particularly an Italian bartender named Giovanni whom he meets at a Parisian gay bar.
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Garbage In, Garbage Out: Poetry event
Is the lyrical voice a chatbot confidently making statements based on an outdated dataset?
Maarten van der Graaff, who curated Garbage In, Garbage Out, asked these poets to listen carefully to chatbots skimming the Internet to answer our questions. What does the tone of chatbots forging all that information into sentences mean for poetry?
What is the role of the body in writing, reading and listening to poetry? Who or what do you actually hear when listening to a poem: an intimate voice, or a cacophony? Can the poem be a garbage collector?
Garbage In, Garbage Out is an event featuring both formerly published poetry as well as work newly written for the occasion by and with Ronelda Kamfer, Simone Atangana Bekono, Astrid Lampe, Dewi de Nijs Bik and (via a previously recorded video presentation) Zheng Xiaoqiong.
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Fifty Ways to Free Your Language
How do writers relate to decolonizing language and literature, not only in their subject matter but also in the form of their poetry and stories?
During the Friday Night Unlimited program, several events will focus on the decolonization of the mind. How free is our mind, what does freedom mean, and are we truly free, or caught in the framework of our culture, society and history? This theme is partly based on the essay collection Decolonizing the Mind by the Kenyan writer Ngugi wa Thiong'o, in which he discusses colonized language and how its influence is still notable. Since he believes that language plays a constructive role in culture, history and identity, he argues for "linguistic decolonization".
This first program will be opened with a speech by writer Mukoma Wa Ngugi (USA, and son of Ngugi wa Thiong'o); then Simone Zeefuik discusses this subject with him and with poet Simone Atangana Bekone (Netherlands), poet and writer Antjie Krog (South Africa) and writer Petina Gappah (Zimbabwe).
Tip: Petina Gappah also appears at Opening Night - A Free Mind on Wednesday, 15 January, at Theater aan het Spui; Antjie Krog appears at Saturday Night Unlimited, 18 January, and during the Winternachten New Year's Concert on Sunday afternoon, 19 January, at the Zuiderstrand Theatre.
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The Secret Space - Poetry
Within De verborgen ruimte (The Secret Space), the map is newly read and drawn by nine poets. Which sounds and tones belong in it, what has not yet been said, and what is continually misunderstood? Who is on the sidelines or smack in the centre? The Secret Space could be in suburbia, in a body, in a factory farm, or in an addictions clinic. This has consequences - whoever peeks into the secret space loses a number of his or her certainties. When the map is redrawn, no one finds their way home.
The "VSB Poetry Prize on Tour" forms part of The Secret Space - among the performing poets are the authors of three volumes nominated for the VSB Poetry Prize: Kwaadgesternte (Born Under a Bad Sign) by Hannah van Binsbergen, Lichtmeters by Ruth Lasters and Koelkastlicht (Refrigerator Light) by Rodaan Al Galidi. In addition, Marieke Rijneveld, Dominique de Groen, Mira Feticu, Obe Alkema, Simone Atangana Bekono and Ton van 't Hof will read from their work. The Secret Space is organized and presented by the poet Maarten van der Graaff, winner of the C.Buddingh' Award 2014 for his debut collection Vluchtautogedichten (Getaway Car Poems). Programme in Dutch
