About

Omusana is a Ugandan word meaning the sun. We chose this word to highlight its symbolic application to art. Like the sun, which nourishes daily life, literature and art also are essential for improving the human condition.

For us, Omusana Review has two aims: First, we want to explore themes in African literature, art and culture. Our aim is to discuss how writers and artists have responded to social and historical problems taking place inside and outside the continent. We want to constructively engage works by emerging and established artists to see the trends, themes, and conditions being engaged in their works.

Second, we want to collect, record and publish interviews by Africans of all walks of life. Our goal is to create a record and a discussion of contemporary black experiences.We want Omusana Review to be place where anyone can access resources about African art, literature and culture. Omusana Review hopes to work with a diverse group of contributors and from an interdisciplinary perspective. We also hope to offer our expert knowledge through consultations, interactive workshops, and other initiatives.

Lydia Kakwera Levy is a literary critic and the founder of Omusana Review. Lydia has always had a passion for literature, which led her to obtain her doctoral degree from the Department of African Studies at Howard University.

Lydia specializes in African Literary Development and Culture. Over the years, her work has appeared in The Times Literary Supplement, WBEZ Chicago, Nerdette Podcast,  Barelit Festival and the anthology Unbreakable Bonds. She has reviewed events such as Africa Writes, Caine Prize For African Writing, 1-54 Contemporary Art Fair, WOW, African Book Festival Berlin, and Africa Utopia.  She has published and presented at numerous African Studies conferences such as  the Annual African Studies Conferences, the Annual Meeting of the African Literature Association, in Dallas, Texas, and at the Bouchet Fellowship Conference at Yale University.

Contact

If you are interested in African Literature, its commentary on politics, identity, class, gender, religion, and the family, please reach out to Lydia. If you wish to contact her, just fill out the form below.