In a demonstration of democratic commitment and pan-African literary unity, the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) has concluded its 2025 General Assembly elections, guided by a newly constituted Election Committee. Formed on July 12, 2025, the committee originally chaired by Professor Cherno Omar Barry of The Gambia, saw a seamless transition of leadership to Mr. Goima Peter Mwamwingila of Tanzania. Alongside members Ms. Lucille Mudenda (Zambia), Ms. Salma El Nour (Sudan), and Mr. Ernest Oppong (Ghana) as Technical Adviser, the committee embarked on the crucial task of steering the elections in a spirit of clarity, fairness, and inclusiveness.
Following an official call for nominations on July 13, PAWA sought candidates for its presidency, secretary generalship, and six vice presidencies representing key regions of Africa and the diaspora. It was also decided by the General Assembly that the position of Deputy Secretary General would be suspended until the financial stability of the organization could sustain it. The nomination process closed with a clear outcome: all posts except the presidency were uncontested, resulting in automatic elections of several notable figures — among them Mr. Ashraf Aboul Yazid (Egypt) as Vice President for Northern Africa, Prof. Egara Kabaji (Kenya) for Eastern Africa, Prof. Cherno Omar Barry (The Gambia) for Western Africa, Mr. Carlos Paradona (Mozambique) for Southern Africa, Mr. Eric Joel Bekale (Gabon) for Central Africa, Ms. Reyna Lineres Jones (Diaspora), and Dr. Wale Okediran as Secretary General.
The presidency, however, unfolded as a spirited yet respectful contest between Prof. Bill Ndi (Cameroon/Diaspora) and Madam Imela Oyono Ayingono (Equatorial Guinea). After the virtual ballot closed on July 18 at 4 PM GMT, 42 votes were cast by PAWA delegates. Of these, 5 were disqualified due to irregularities, resulting in 37 valid votes. Prof. Bill Ndi secured a commanding victory with 23 votes (62.16%), surpassing the constitutional threshold of 50% +1, and was duly declared President for the next three-year term.
This new leadership, now officially at the helm, marks a diverse and dynamic literary council poised to navigate PAWA through the evolving cultural, linguistic, and socio-political landscapes of African literature. In his closing statement, Mr. Mwamwingila extended heartfelt thanks to his fellow committee members and the General Assembly for entrusting them with this honorable responsibility. As PAWA enters a new chapter of its journey, the literary world watches with anticipation, inspired by the organization’s unwavering dedication to dialogue, creativity, and continental cohesion.
The re-elected Dr. Wale Okediran is a Nigerian author, medical doctor, educator, and seasoned public servant whose multifaceted career spans literature, governance, and health. He earned his medical degrees at Obafemi Awolowo University and practiced both clinical medicine and public health consultancy. From 2003 to 2007, he served in Nigeria’s Federal House of Representatives, advocating for health, education, and democracy. As a novelist, he has published fourteen books, notably Tenants of the House—a fictional dramatization of his legislative experiences—which won the 2011 Wole Soyinka Prize for African Literature and was adapted into a film. In 2010, Okediran co-founded Nigeria’s first writers’ residency, the Ebedi International Writers Residency, nurturing new literary talent across Africa. He led the Association of Nigerian Authors as National President (2006–2009) and has consulted for global agencies including UNICEF, UNAIDS, and ActionAid. Since 2020, he has served as Secretary-General of the Pan African Writers Association and Deputy Secretary-General (Africa) for the Union of Writers from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, championing literary exchange, cultural development, and youth mentorship across the continent.
The re-elected Dr. Wale Okediran is a Nigerian author, medical doctor, educator, and seasoned public servant whose multifaceted career spans literature, governance, and health. He earned his medical degrees at Obafemi Awolowo University and practiced both clinical medicine and public health consultancy. From 2003 to 2007, he served in Nigeria’s Federal House of Representatives, advocating for health, education, and democracy. As a novelist, he has published fourteen books, notably Tenants of the House—a fictional dramatization of his legislative experiences—which won the 2011 Wole Soyinka Prize for African Literature and was adapted into a film. In 2010, Okediran co-founded Nigeria’s first writers’ residency, the Ebedi International Writers Residency, nurturing new literary talent across Africa. He led the Association of Nigerian Authors as National President (2006–2009) and has consulted for global agencies including UNICEF, UNAIDS, and ActionAid. Since 2020, he has served as Secretary-General of the Pan African Writers Association and Deputy Secretary-General (Africa) for the Union of Writers from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, championing literary exchange, cultural development, and youth mentorship across the continent.
The new PAWA President; Professor Bill Ndi, is an esteemed Cameroonian poet, academic, and pan‑African literary activist whose career transcends geographical and cultural boundaries. Born in Cameroon and based in the diaspora, he holds a PhD in Creative Writing and Literature, and has taught extensively at international institutions. Ndi is the author of several acclaimed poetry collections and scholarly essays exploring themes of decolonization, identity, and linguistic innovation across Anglophone and Francophone Africa. A co‑founder of the Cameroon Writers Association and former regional chair for the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) in the diaspora region, he has organized transcontinental poetry festivals and mentoring programs aimed at empowering emergent writers. Under his leadership, PAWA diaspora initiatives have expanded literary exchanges, translation networks, and cross‑cultural collaborations. In recognition of his contributions, Ndi has received honors including the African Poetry Prize and Diaspora Lifetime Achievement Award. Known for his powerful stage recitations and academic rigor, he continues to inspire new generations to engage boldly with African literature and global dialogue.
Mr. Eric Joel Bekale (Gabon) PAWA Vice President for Central Africa stands as one of Gabon’s most dynamic writers and public intellectuals. The eldest among more than thirty siblings, he found his passion for writing early in boarding school, contributing poetry and reflective essays to school publications. After studying law in Libreville, he joined student movements in 1990 and moved to Paris, where he earned a diploma in Political Science from HEP Paris in 1993, the same year he published his debut poetry collection Le Chant de ma mère. Subsequently, he pursued graduate studies in political sociology at Paris VIII before entering ENA Libreville in 1996, exiting in 1998 as a Foreign Affairs Advisor and launching a distinguished diplomatic career. Bekale is the author of sixteen works—poems, novels, and essays—and has received multiple literary prizes, notably the Prix Ousmane Sembène for his novel in 2018. He led the Union of Gabonese Writers (UDEG) and has served in diplomatic posts, including at Gabon’s UN mission in Geneva. His writing, deeply rooted in social justice and African identity, reflects both personal narrative and public service, merging literature with activism and diplomacy
The new PAWA Vice President for Northern Africa, Mr. Ashraf Aboul‑Yazid (known by his pen name Ashraf Dali), is a celebrated Egyptian poet, novelist, translator, and cultural journalist. He has authored and translated over 40 books spanning poetry, fiction, travel writing, children’s literature, biographies, and literary criticism. He began his literary journey in 1989 and has since seen his works translated into a dozen languages including English, Spanish, Russian, Korean, Persian, Turkish, Sindhi, and German. A veteran of cultural journalism, he has worked for decades at publications such as Al‑Arabi Magazine, Reuters, and leading literary platforms across the Arab world. Since 2016 he has served as President of the Asia Journalist Association (2016-2-24), Editor‑in‑Chief of the Silk Road Literature Series, and Secretary General of the Congress of African Journalists (CAJ). Awarded the Manhae Prize in Literature (2014), Arab Journalism Award in Culture (2015), and PAWA’s Esteemed Patron of the Arts Medal (2022), he remains a passionate advocate for literary dialogue across continents.
Prof. Cherno Omar Barry (The Gambia) PAWA Vice President for Western Africa is a distinguished Gambian academic, literary advocate, and cultural diplomat whose work spans education, governance, and the arts. Holding a PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Limoges, France, he has served in key positions across Gambian ministries, including Higher Education, Health, and Youth, and currently serves as Vice-Chancellor of the International Open University (IOU). Barry is also President of the Writers Association of The Gambia and Chairman of the Alliance Française in Banjul, where he actively promotes multilingualism, literature, and cultural exchange. His contributions have earned him international recognition, including the French Légion d’Honneur and the Médaille d’Or from the Fondation Alliance Française. A prolific writer and public intellectual, Barry champions education as a tool for liberation and literature as a means of preserving identity. His leadership continues to inspire regional cooperation and global dialogue in African literary and educational spheres.
Mr. Carlos Paradona (Mozambique) PAWA Vice President for Southern Africa is a prominent Mozambican writer, literary leader, and cultural bridge-builder whose career spans over four decades. Born in Inhaminga in 1963, he published his first poems in 1980 in the Diálogo page of the late Notícias da Beira newspaper. Over the 1980s and 1990s, he contributed poetry, short stories, and essays to publications such as Diário de Moçambique, Letras e Artes, and literary magazines including Tempo, Charrua, Forja, and Eco. He published his debut poetry collection, A Gestação do Luar, in 1992, followed by novels such as Tchanaze, a Donzela de Sena (2009)—which won the PEN Translate International Award in 2022—N’tsai Tchassassa, A Virgem de Missangas (2013), Carota N’tchakatcha, Feitiços e Mitos (2018), and Mueda, Nos Labirintos dos Ritos de Iniciação (2022). Since 2009, he has served as Secretary-General of the Mozambican Writers Association (AEMO) and represents Mozambique on the jury of Angola’s SONANGOL Literary Prize. In recognition of his role in strengthening literary ties between Africa and Brazil, he received the Afrolic 2023 Trophy in Brazil. Fluent in Portuguese and deeply rooted in oral tradition and postcolonial storytelling, Paradona’s fiction and poetry continue to highlight Mozambican cultural heritage and foster literary dialogue across the Lusophone world
Prof. Egara Kabaji (Kenya) PAWA Vice President for Southern Africa, renowned as Kenya’s sole Professor of Literary Communication, is a distinguished scholar, author, and academic leader whose work bridges literature, culture, and education across Africa. Holding a PhD in Folk Media and Communication (UNISA), an MBA in Strategic Management (JKUAT), and advanced degrees in Literary Studies and Education (Kenyatta University), he formerly served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Planning, Research, and Innovation at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology. An accomplished writer, Kabaji has authored over 40 books—including more than 30 novels for children—and compiled the pioneering L’logooli (Maragoli) dictionary to preserve indigenous language and heritage. A celebrated Fulbright Scholar, he is Vice President of the Pan African Writers Association and President of the Creative Writers Association of Kenya. In June 2025, he was appointed Chancellor of Mount Kigali University in Rwanda, affirming his leadership in academic excellence and cultural advocacy. With decades of teaching, mentoring, and public intellectualism, Professor Kabaji continues to advance literary communication, storytelling, and cross‑continental dialogue across East Africa and beyond.
Ms. Reyna Lineres Jones, representing the African diaspora, is a dynamic writer, traveler, public health communicator, and storytelling advocate whose work spans continents and disciplines. Born and raised in Oxford and currently based in London and Atlanta, she blends global perspectives with African diasporic identity. Through her influential travel blog “Queen on a Journey”, Reyna shares reflections on culture, empowerment, and belonging, focusing on experiences in Africa and Europe. Simultaneously, as a health communication professional trained at the University of Missouri and Emory University, she leads strategic digital storytelling projects that amplify public health narratives for diverse audiences. Reyna’s commitment to narrative change is rooted in her belief that storytelling shapes health outcomes and cultural understanding. As PAWA’s Vice President for the Diaspora, she brings fervor for community connection, cross-cultural dialogue, and elevating untold stories of African heritage through both literary and public health lenses.
