Mercer Times

Nobel laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah engaged with audiences at Princeton University on October 30, sharing insights on literature and the interconnectedness of cultures. Born in Zanzibar, Tanzania, Gurnah is a professor emeritus at the University of Kent in England. He recounted his childhood experiences with travelers bringing stories to his island, which influenced his understanding of global connections.

Gurnah emigrated to England as a teenager in 1964. He explained that writing fiction allowed him to explore "another idea of belonging," free from polarized worldviews. His notable works include "Memory of Departure," "Pilgrims Way," and "Afterlives." In 2021, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature for addressing colonialism's effects and refugee experiences.

During his visit, Gurnah participated in a conversation with Simon Gikandi, Class of 1943 University Professor of English at Princeton. Reflecting on his education under British colonial rule, he shared how literature provided refuge during Zanzibar's 1964 revolution. He also discussed discovering African writers like Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o through radio broadcasts.

Gurnah noted that African fiction often didn't reflect his personal experiences, motivating him to write about them. He emphasized how oceanic cosmopolitanism connects people globally and highlights human qualities.

His visit was part of Princeton's Africa World Initiative (AWI), aimed at fostering partnerships across Africa and beyond. AWI Director Chika Okeke-Agulu described Africa as crucial for shaping the world's future and highlighted projects like incorporating African languages into AI models.

Gurnah's talk aligned with AWI's focus on the global African diaspora. It followed last year's lecture by Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

In addition to public events, Gurnah visited a graduate seminar led by Gikandi, where he read from "Afterlives" and answered questions about themes such as displacement and home. Students appreciated his emphasis on love and care as powerful political virtues.