FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 22, 2001 CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 INTERNATIONAL WRITERS TO VISIT DRAKE FRIDAY Seven writers from the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa will visit Drake University on Friday, Oct. 26 to participate in a panel discussion on “Literature and Politics” and to read from their works. The program, which will start at 4 p.m. in the Cowles Library Reading Room, will address the relationship between politics and literature, reflecting a wide range of viewpoints and opinions. Christopher Merrill, director of the International Writing Program, will moderate the discussion. Cowles Library is located at 28th Street and University Avenue. The participating writers are Rehman Rashid, a journalist from Malaysia; Thongbay Photisane, a poet from Laos; Aida Nasrallah, a poet from Israel; Ghassan Zaqtan, a poet from the West Bank; Yawo Weka (Victor) Aladji, a fiction writer from Togo; Antonije Zalica, an essayist and filmmaker from the Netherlands; and Sitok Srengenge, a poet from Indonesia. The International Writing Program, which is the oldest and most celebrated international writing program in the world, is a unique residency program that brings together the writers of the world. Since its inception in 1967, it has become world-known as a community of influential thinkers and artists brokering avenues of communication – a United Nations of writers. Because Iowa cities and other cities across the nation share the strengths and goodwill of American culture, the writers of the International Writers Program return to their homelands with a more complex understanding of the United States culture and the culture of other countries. The writers are strengthened by the opportunity to write and interact free from political pressures and influence. The International Writers Program presents numerous programs throughout the country, including weekly public panel discussions held on Wednesdays at the University of Iowa. The International Writers Program will launch this year a 13-part hour-long radio series on the art of writing, in collaboration with WSUI/KSUI Public Radio. In 1997 the International Writers Program marked 30 years as a facilitator of intellectual interaction, a promoter of global understanding, an advocate of literary freedom and a celebrant of the importance of writers everywhere. The program brings established writers of the world to the University of Iowa, where they become part of the lively literary community on campus. Over the years, more than a thousand writers from more than 100 countries have completed residencies in the program. The writers participating in the panel discussion are: Yawo Weka Aladji (fiction writer, Togo; b. 1941, Hanyigba-Duga) is assistant professor of the sociology of communications in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Lome, and director and publisher of Editions Haho. Dr. Aladji was formerly head of the publication section of Togo's Ministry of Information and was a journalist at Radio-Lome. His publications include "La Voix de l'Ombre" (1985) and "La Mediation des Conseils de Presse at Organismes Similaires dans l'Afrique en Transition: Annales de l'Université du Benin" (1998). Aida Nasrallah (poet, Israel; b. 1958, Uhm el Fahm) is the pen name of Mahammeed Nasra. She teaches at the High School for the Arts in Naamat, and organized and ran a weekly salon for women poets and writers, serving as mentor for Arab women in Israel who wish to experiment with poetry and fiction. Most recently, she was the driving force behind an art exhibit, "Common Threads," that displayed the work of Jewish and Arab women artists side by side at the prestigious gallery of the Tel Aviv University. She has published over 40 short stories and 60 poems in various Arabic publications in Israel. Thongbay Photisane (poet, Laos; b. 1960, Svanakhet) directs and edits the only monthly literary magazine in Laos, and serves as second secretary of the Lao Writer's Association, editing its newsletter. His most recent short stories, "The Life of Love," "The Love of the Luang Prabang Song," "Life and Family," and "Song of Man" have appeared in Vannasin magazine, the monthly publication of the Lao Ministry of Information and Culture; these were also published as a book. He is the IWP's first representative from Laos. Rehman Rashid (journalist, Malaysia; b. 1955, Perak) is the author of "Malaysia Journey," a best-selling book that presents reflections on Malaysian society since independence, and on the relations among Malaysia's three major ethnic groups. He also wrote "Pangkor: Treasure of the Straits." He is currently at work on another novel. As a journalist, he served as senior writer for Bermuda Business (Bermuda) and Asiaweek (Hong Kong), and leader writer for the Straits Times . He holds a bachelor of science in marine biology from the University of Swansea (Wales). Sitok Srengenge (poet, Indonesia; b. 1965, Grobogan, Central Java) is program coordinator for the Utan Kayu Community in West Java; he is also a lecturer at the Jakarta Arts Institute, a literature teacher for Eksotika Karmawiggangga and editor of the Kalam Cultural Journal. His work has appeared in "2001: Secrets Need Words" (ed. Harry Aveling, to be published by the Ohio University Press); the "Nonsens Poetry" anthology, and various poetry and short fiction anthologies in Indonesia. Last year, Srengenge was cited as one of his country's leaders in society in culture by Asiaweek magazine. Antonije Zalica (essayist, filmmaker, the Netherlands, b.1959, Sarajevo) studied comparative literature and philosophy at Sarajevo University. He writes poetry, prose and plays. He has published a collection of poems ("TILT," Svjetlost, Sarajevo 1984) as well as short stories in various magazines. His novel, "Trag zmajeve sape" (The Print of a Dragons Paw, RadioB92, Belgrade) was published in 1995. In 1992 he joined the SAGA Sarajevo documentary film production group . His short films, "Travelling Children" and "Eight Years After" (co-directed with Ademir Kenovic), parts of SA-life film anthology, were awarded the Golden Grain Ear at the 1993 Bienale del cinema per la pace in Pisa. In 1994 his short film, "Angels in Sarajevo," part of SAGA's production, was awarded the European Film Academy's Felix Documentary Award. He directed a short documentary, "Open Space," for Belbo Productions in Amsterdam, where he has been living since 1993. Ghassan Zaqtan (poet, West Bank; b. 1954, Beit Jala) is co-founder and director of the House of Poetry in Ramallah. He is chief editor for the Al-Shua'ra (Poets) quarterly and writes weekly columns for two newspapers in Ramallah and in the Gulf. His poetry collections include "Luring the Mountain in Beirut" (1999), "Prescription of a Description in Jerusalem" (1998) and "Weightless Sky" (1980). His novel, "Describing the Past," was published in Jordan in 1995. Mr. Zaqatan has also written a number of scripts for various film documentaries. He is currently working on a poetry/prose anthology whose theme is "roads," comparing paths in life with the physical environment. His play, "The Narrow Sea," was honored at the 1994 Cairo Festival. For more information about the panel at Drake, call Susan Breakenridge, serials manager, Cowles Library, at (515) 271-3994.