The International African Writers’ Association (IAWA) has paid tribute to the late Samuella Conteh, who served as the President of IAWA Sierra Leone.
Conteh, a renowned poet and a polished author, died on Friday, just a week after commemorating her 58th birthday; however, the details surrounding her death remain scant.
Munyal Manunyi Salami, the founder and president of IAWA, refers to Conteh as a literary giant whose influence will endure in both IAWA's history and the minds of its members and readers.
“The passing of Ma'am Samuella Conteh is a significant loss for IAWA-Global. She was a pioneer member of this great organisation, whose firm dedication and unwavering support helped in solidifying IAWA. She has also made significant impacts amidst the challenges facing African literature. Her legacy will be forever etched in IAWA-Global history," says Mrs. Salami in her condolence message.
On behalf of the association, she expressed her deepest sympathies to the family, wishing them comfort and resilience.
“We send our condolences to her family, hoping that her children and close relatives find solace and strength in the wake of this unbearable loss. As she expressed in her final poetry lines shared on her Facebook page before her passing, "Begin to live/leave... mentally," her legacy will remain in our hearts eternally," she adds.
IAWA, headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria, is an association established by writers of African descent in 2019. This network of African writers aims to rewrite African narratives, especially those that wrongly portray the true cultural heritage and beauty of the African nations.
Since its inception, the association has set up branches in numerous African nations and internationally, where it mentors writers through literary events.
