Background to the FIFTH PAWA Annual Lecture 2008

7th November is the International Day for the African Writers as declared by the OAU Resolution AMCED/RES5/93.
The PAWA Annual Lecture was specially instituted for delivery on the occasion of the celebration of the annual International African Writers Day, (every 7th November).

As part of our efforts to sensitize the African people to the basic truism of their common destiny through literature, PAWA has instituted the PAWA ANNUAL LECTURE for which prominent sons and daughters of Africa and the Diaspora who have excelled in any field of endeavour-literature, politics, science, religion, etc. are invited to address an issue outstanding in terms of its consequences for the African condition. As writers, we are very much aware of the fact that a true explanation and hence understanding of our condition is a vital factor in our literary efforts to contribute to the improvement of that condition through literature.

In trying to move their societies forward, African countries have had to contend with various forces - internal and external - political, social, economic and cultural, which have all combined to create states of turmoil in most African countries. On the other hand, in trying to fashion systems, - political, economic, cultural, - which would enhance the creation and sustenance of an enabling environment for the individual to survive, grow, flower and

contribute to societal development and personal self-realisation and self-fulfilment, some Africa Governments have had to battle with opposing views from some articulate sections of their population, including writers. This has led to some writers being harassed or thrown into jail for their views. The lectures wilt examine Africa's priorities in the face of the dramatic political changes occurring in parts of Africa and the world.

The first PAWA Annual Lecture was delivered by Prof. Ali. Mazrui, Albert Schweitzer, Professor in the Humanities and Director of the Institute of Global Cultural Studies, Binghamton University, USA. The second PAWA Annual Lecture was delivered by Nadine Gordimer, the Nobel Literature Laureate of South Africa on the theme "The Status of the Writers In The World: Which World, Whose World?", and the third PAWA Annual Lecture was on the theme: "Pan-Africanism and the Challenges of Globalisation" by Dr. Nathan Shamuyarira, former Foreign Affairs Minister of Zimbabwe. The fourth PAWA Annual Lecture was on the theme: "Shifting the gains of the glass: The African Dictator and the making of African Unity" by Prof. Ferri Osofisan of Nigeria.