Dust over history

The backdrop to Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor’s 2014 novel Dust is Kenya’s violence-marred presidential election in 2007. Killed fighting the police, Oddi Oganda’s body gets taken north to where his mother lives.

No explanation of the historical and political causes of the rioting and unrest is provided in the novel. In the search for the truth about Oganda’s death, a brutal story is unfolded – but more through memories and lies. "Dust" can thereby serve as a metaphor for a forgiving veil cast over incidents where hate and violence are not far from love.

Owuor is an author, director and scriptwriter resident in Nairobi. She won the Caine Prize for African literature in 2003 for her short story Weight of Whispers, and the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Dust, her first novel. This was also shortlisted for the Folio Prize. In 2003-05, Owuor served as executive director for the Zanzibar International Film Festival. She also works actively on climate issues and conservation of the natural and cultural heritage.

The event will be in English.