Internationally acclaimed Somali novelist Nuruddin Farah joined K Anis Ahmed, director of the Dhaka Lit Fest, for an insightful panel discussion called Lost Country, Last Words on January 6.
The hour-long session came alive with Farah's witty storytelling and captivating anecdotes.
Addressing Ahmed's enquiries on his journey and methods as a novelist, Farah delved into stories from his youth, and how his experiences molded the writer he is today.
The multilingual author also spoke on how he picks what language to write in, stating: "Comfort determines what language you write in." He shared his snippets of his career, recounting his decision to pursue higher education in India, how language barriers affected his writing, and even evading going to prison at the cost of his book not being published.
Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune
In response to Ahmed's question as to how the writer can access the female psyche in his work, Farah pondered: "Is it possible that when one is writing, one lifts out of this body, out of this moment, and reaches another aspect of himself?"
The filled auditorium echoed with laughter and cheers throughout the hour, and the session came to an end after a Q&A segment.
