kwazman vwa

November 1, 2021: A conversation with Evelyne Trouillot

We are truly honored to be in conversation with Evelyne Trouillot, celebrated as one of the key figures of today’s Caribbean literary landscape. She will be discussing her latest novel, Désirée Congo (Educa Vision), set in Saint Domingue shortly before the final defeat of Napoleon and the proclamation of the independence of Haiti. With its innovative polyphonic narrative technique, this novel beautifully testifies to Trouillot’s unique talent for blending history and fiction, the intimate and the collective. Kwazman Vwa’s Lucy Swanson and Jennifer Boum Make will be welcoming her for this event, which will be held via Zoom, on November 1 at 5:30 PM EST | 2:30 PM PST. RSVP below to receive a link.

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September 22, 2021: A conversation with Dr. Myriam J. A. Chancy

To start off this new season, we are grateful to be in conversation with the brilliant Myriam J. A. Chancy, who will discuss her latest novel, What Storm, What Thunder (Tin House), with our very own Nathan Dize. This gorgeous text masterfully intertwines the lives of survivors — and the afterlives of their loved ones — in the wake of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Edwidge Danticat has called this text “Sublime. A striking and formidable novel by one of our most brilliant writers and storytellers,” and we look forward to delving into it with the author, as we continue to make sense of the latest natural disaster that struck Haiti last August. Please note that this special event will be live on Instagram @kwazmanvwa.

March 31, 2021: A conversation with Jessica Oublié

For our next conversation, we will welcome Guadeloupe-based author Jessica Oublié, who will discuss her graphic novel tour de force, Tropiques Toxiques, published just last year. In this impressive volume, Oublié tackles the Chlordecone scandal, an ethical embarrassment at the confluence of racism and capitalism, resulting in the poisoning of Martinique and Guadeloupe’s natural resources — sea, land and people. It’s not enough that Oublié effortlessly mobilizes multiple discourses — scientific, historical, psychological, and more — but her decision to turn yet again to the graphic novel to democratize Antillean history makes her an original voice to reckon with. Oublié will be in conversation with Kwazman Vwa’s very own Jennifer Boum Make and Charly Verstraet. This interview will be conducted in French. A recording will be posted shortly thereafter with English subtitles.

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A conversation with Néhémy Pierre-Dahomey

We are delighted to start off the year in conversation with Néhémy Pierre-Dahomey, whose début novel, Rapatriés, will take us (back) to Haiti. Pierre-Dahomey’s prose has been described as rhythmic, metaphorical, haunting, and we look forward to sharing it with you. The conversation will be held in French and a recording with English subtitles will be posted on our site shortly thereafter.

Belli marchait, vaillante et décidée, sur ce sentier aussi simple qu’un calvaire. Le soir arrivait. Il portait avec lui une lune bien ronde et un air en mouvement qui jetait des bourrasques sur les quartiers amoncelés.”
— Rapatriés, Néhémy Pierre-Dahomey