Bethlehem Attfield

Bethlehem Attfield is a PhD candidate at Birmingham University, researching the translation of African-language literature with a focus on Amharic Fiction. Her translation of a novel written in Amharic by Yismake Worku; The Lost Spell, was published by Henningham Family Press in March 2022, and was shortlisted for 2022 TA First Translation Prize by Society of Authors.  She translated the Amharic short story የድንች መዋስዕት written by Adam Reta and produced it as an audio musical story – ‘Requiem for Potatoes’, available on several audiobook stores.  She received the Global Africa Translation Fellowship Award 2023, for her project which aims to build a more inclusive African literary canon, beyond the hierarchies that currently relegate literature in indigenous languages.

Recent publications:

Attfield, B. (2023). African Literature in Translation: Towards Adopting a Minor Translation Theory. In Media and Intercultural Communication.

Attfield, B. (2023). Translating Amharic Literature: A Literary Trove to Behold. In Oxford Anthology of Translation.

Worku, Y., Attfield, B. & Henningham, D. (2022). The Lost Spell. Henningham Family Press.