Sunday, March 1, 2pm at Clay Pit Ponds State Park, 2351 Veterans Road West (@Sharrotts Rd), SINY 10309
This is an unusual opportunity to become familiar with a leading voice in African literature, presented at the close of Black History Month. Ayi Kwei Armah was born in Ghana, educated at Groton, Harvard and Columbia. He has worked as a translator in Algeria, as a scriptwriter in Ghana, and as an editor in Paris. He has taught in Ghana, Tanzania, the National University of Lesotho, the University of Wisconsin and Amherst.
Ayi Kweh Armah now makes his home in Dakar, Senegal, and has continued to work throughout the African continent as an educator and writer. The Healers is a novel that traces the history of the Ashanti Empire, but in a very personal way.
As we gather inside the Interpretive Center at Clay Pit Ponds State Park and gaze at the woodland, we’ll read several chapters of The Healers. The story describes traditional coming of age ceremonies. It brings to life the concerns of traditional healers who seek a solution and a future for the people of Africa, their new nations and their coming generations. This event will be co-hosted by Gregory Taylor, a beloved Staten Island community leader and member of Staten Island OutLOUD’s Board of Directors. This event is free and open to the public.
INFO ON HOW TO GET THERE: Take 440 South to Exit 3A S (to merge onto Veterans Road West. Then turn Left onto Englewood Ave. Then turn Left onto East Service Road/Veterans Road East. Veterans Road East turns slightly left to become Woodrow Road. Continue on Woodrow Road; the road turns slightly left to become Veterans Road West. Continue a short distance on Veterans Road West, and on your right you will see the entry to Clay Pit Ponds Interpretive Center.
Here’s a link for the Clay Pit Ponds Interpretive Center: http://parks.ny.gov/environment/nature-centers/14/details.aspx
Here’s a link for directions from your home to Clay Pit Ponds Interpretive Center: http://parks.ny.gov/environment/nature-centers/14/getting-there.aspx