Exploring the longing for home: AFRICAN NARRATIVES OF RETURN AND IDENTITY
As humans, we are bound by a deep-seated longing for a place to call home, a space where we can feel a sense of belonging and identity. This longing is especially resonant for the African diaspora, whose histories are marked by forced migration, displacement, political upheaval and slavery. In this issue of Bookmarked, we examine writers who have explored this theme.
words: Victoria Taylor
YAA GYASI
Yaa Gyasi, a literary sensation and proud Ghanaian-American, has captured the hearts and minds of readers worldwide with her poignant and thought-provoking novels. Gyasi’s insatiable passion for the written word led her to pursue a degree in English at Stanford University, where she honed her craft and developed her unique voice. Her dedication to her art paid off when she was accepted into the prestigious Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where she not only earned her masters of fine arts, but also received a Dean’s Graduate Research Fellowship for her exceptional work.