About this program
The Windham-Campbell Lecture is a central feature of the annual Windham-Campbell Prize Festival and is delivered each year by a distinguished writer on the topic “Why I Write.” This year, Ghanaian poet and writer Kwame Dawes shares insights into his craft and creative process. The annual lectures are published in extended form by Yale University Press in its Why I Write series.
About Kwame Dawes
Kwame Dawes is the author of numerous books of poetry and works of fiction, criticism, and essays. His most recent collection is Sturge Town (W. W. Norton, 2024). Dawes is Professor of Literary Arts at Brown University. He teaches in the Pacific University MFA program and is the series editor of the African Poetry Book Series, Director of the African Poetry Book Fund, and Artistic Director of the Calabash International Literary Festival. He is a chancellor for the Academy of American Poets and a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Dawes was the winner of the prestigious Windham-Campbell Prize for Poetry in 2019 and was a finalist for the 2022 Neustadt International Prize for Literature. In 2022 Dawes was awarded the Order of Distinction Commander class by the government of Jamaica. He is the poet laureate of Jamaica (2024–2027).
About the Windham-Campbell Prize
Established in 2013 and administered by the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, the Windham-Campbell Prize annually recognizes eight English language writers from around the world. The mission of the award is to call attention to literary achievement and provide writers the opportunity to focus on their work
