This is Randi Hacker with another Postcard from Abroad from the KU Centers for East Asian Studies and Kansas African Studies

Available in 554 languages in its entirety and 2932 languages in part, the Bible is often considered the most translated book of all time. But when it comes to short stories, the new pan-African writers’ collective Jalada suggests that its latest project, The Upright Revolution: Or Why Humans Walk Upright, by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o (GU-gi wa-ti-ONG-go) might just be the most translated short story in African history if not all history. The previously unpublished piece was originally written in Kikuyu then translated into English. Jalada added translations into another 52 languages. Because most databases only list books and not short stories, the designation “most translated short story in history” is hard to prove, but with 54 translations now online, it certainly has a shot at the title.

With thanks to Mackenzie Jones for this text, from the KU Center for East Asian Studies, this is Randi Hacker. Wish you were here.