Festival Programme-Holding

Bertha Spaces: Find out more about how space and activism intersect on this full day tour that includes a trip to Bertha House in Mowbray and Bertha Retreat on Boschendal wine farm.

Megan Choritz, Haidar Eid and Nathi Ngubane discuss softening the hard lines in conversations about Gaza. Chaired by Pippa Green.

Sven Axelrad, Gothataone Moeng and Buntu Siwisa speak to Anna Stroud about building the world of friendship

Busisekile Khumalo, Siya Khumalo and Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu speak to Amogelang Maledu about subversive characters.

Join Nomboniso Tafeni of Nal’ibali for a storytime and activity session that shows how fun reading is!

Be one of three people at a short reading and Q & A session with Shubnum Khan.

Oyama Mabandla, Uhuru Phalafala and Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo speak to Ncedisa Nkonyeni about disrupted lives.

Siphokazi Jonas, Lesedi Molefi and Margie Orford speak to Buhle Ngaba about writing mental health.

Hamza Koudri, Damilare Kuku and Zibu Sithole speak to Karina Szczurek about complex sibling relationships.

Leo Joubert, Nathi Ngubane and Pontsho Pilane present their thoughts about key issues. Hosted by Pumla Dineo Gqola.

Join Maneo Mohale and Koleka Putuma for a session exploring each other’s work and what poetry makes possible.

Busisekile Khumalo, Caitlin Stobie and Thobeka Yose speak to Joy Watson about surviving womanhood.

Ohene Yaw Ampofo-Anti, Gothataone Moeng and Ivan Vladislavić speak to Amrita Pande about vulnerability, safety and meaning in the city.

Presented by African Literary Cities.

Qarnita Loxton, Niq Mhlongo and Zukiswa Wanner speak to Jordan Pieters about defying expectations.

Gaireyah Fredericks, Hamza Koudri and David Mann speak to Azille Coetzee about authenticity and representation.

Shubnum Khan, Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu and Anna Stroud speak to Bongani Kona about histories that won’t stay in the past.

Oyama Mabandla, Alan Storey and Joy Watson speak to Rebecca Davis about how to engage with institutions which have disappointed in our democratic era.

Nadine Dirks, Nozibele Mayaba and Lesedi Molefi speak to Firdose Moonda about accessing essential care.

Four writers take the stage to highlight their work. Featuring Nikki Bower (Memoirs of a BiPolar Bear), Pumla Makeleni (Early Rain), Thandiwe Nqanda (No Time to Mourn) and Jennifer Stern (A Big Hand for the Spirits). Hosted by Beryl Eichenberger.

Pumla Dineo Gqola, Damilare Kuku and Zukiswa Wanner speak to Mohale Mashigo.

Join celebrated vocalist and anthropologist Birdie, together with broadcaster Koketso Sachane, for a journey merging conversation and performance. Immerse yourself in the universal language of music alongside a discussion on the advocacy for a more inclusive, de-colonial approach to conservation. How do we rekindle a sense of connection between individuals and communities with their environment in post-apartheid South Africa?

Brought to you by House of Sachane.

Barbara Boswell, Pumla Dineo Gqola and Gothataone Moeng speak to Mbali Sikakana.

This event is in collaboration with the NRF SARChI Chair in African Feminist Imagination at Nelson Mandela University.

Karen Jennings, Alistair Mackay and Niq Mhlongo speak to Athambile Masola about the intersection of urban spaces and characters’ lived experiences.

Presented by African Literary Cities.

Shubnum Khan, Nathan Trantraal and Ivan Vladislavić talk about living histories with Nkgopoleng Moloi.

Ohene Yaw Ampofo-Anti, Buntu Siwisa and Anna Stroud speak to Nondwe Mpuma about life in the margins.

Join Bianca Flanders for a storytime and activity session.

Be one of three people at a short reading and Q & A session with Pontsho Pilane.

Haidar Eid, Uhuru Phalafala and Lebogang Seale speak to Aphiwe Ngalo about land, forced removal, and the settler colonial story.

Michèle Betty, Shari Daya and Lynthia Julius speak to Bibi Burger about the possibilities of writing as a bridge to healing.

Busisekile Khumalo, Hamza Koudri and Zukiswa Wanner speak to Wanelisa Xaba about sex and power.

Live Drawing: For this session only, caricature artist, Tyler Pike, is sketching portraits free of charge – don’t miss out!

Note that you do not need a ticket to be at this session.

Barbara Boswell, Margie Orford and Buntu Siwisa chat to Andrew Brown about their latest books.

Damilare Kuku, Kharys Laue and Nozibele Mayaba speak to Nwabisa Mayema about women coming into their own.

Join a selection of the winners and librarians involved in the Cape Town Libraries 2024 writing competition to hear more about their writing journeys. Hosted by Thandiwe Mtshengu.

Leo Joubert, Kelly-Eve Koopman and Hedley Twidle explore living at the end of times in the company of Alexandra Dodd.

Ohene Yaw Ampofo-Anti, Siya Khumalo, Maneo Mohale and Eloghosa Osunde speak to Lwando Scott about acts of reimagination.

Qarnita Loxton, Niq Mhlongo and Zibu Sithole speak to Samantha Waligo about the work that goes into an effortless read.

Sven Axelrad, Shubnum Khan and Alex Latimer speak to Dela Gwala about the many faces of love.

Nick Clelland, Olivia Coetzee and Tanya Meeson speak to Keely Shinners about creating fictional worlds which reflect our reality.

Drawing inspiration from Bhanu Kapil’s “The Vertical Interrogation of Strangers”, New Contrast invites you to a session featuring headline poets Zizipho Bam, Lynthia Julius, Athambile Masola and Uhuru Phalafala.

Lesedi Molefi, Margie Orford and Hedley Twidle speak to Festival Director, Mervyn Sloman, about crafting their work.

Siphokazi Jonas, Pontsho Pilane and Thobeka Yose speak to Maneo Mohale about inherited belief structures.

Through a meditation of live music, song, archive footage and readings, A Letter to Sobukwe serves as a report back to PAC founding President Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, on the South Africa he sacrificed his life for. Don’t miss this contemplation on the nation that was longed for, now is and could still be. This stage production by House of Sachane features the band Kujenga, vocalist Birdie and authors Oyama Mabandla, Uhuru Phalafala and Lebogang Seale.

Barbara Boswell, Pumla Dineo Gqola and Philippa Namutebi Kabali-Kagwa speak to Floretta Boonzaier about raising men of the future.

Andries du Toit, Lesedi Molefi and Nathan Trantraal discuss the intersection of trauma, anger and fear in the context of South African masculinities. Chaired by Kopano Ratele.

Nicky Greenwall, Alistair Mackay and Zibu Sithole discuss writing privilege in their entertaining novels in the company of CA Davids.

Join Toroga Denver for a basic introduction to the Khoikhoi clicks, counting and greetings.

Be one of three people at a short reading and Q & A session with Sven Axelrad.

Siya Khumalo and Eloghosa Osunde speak to Kelly-Eve Koopman about fluid characters and homophobic spaces.

Siphokazi Jonas, Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu and Lebogang Seale speak to Mapule Mohulatsi about rebuilding the past to make sense of the present.

Charmaine Africa, Alistair Mackay and Thobeka Yose speak to Lester Kiewit about writing fathers.

Karen Jennings, Shubnum Khan and Qarnita Loxton speak to Erin Bates about isolation and invisibility.

Live Drawing: Come and watch professionals at work – suggest an idea and the super talented HC360 graffiti crew will bring it to life.

Note that you do not need a ticket to be at this session.

Michèle Betty, Damilare Kuku and Buntu Siwisa speak to Sue Nyamnjoh about paths to acceptance.

Join Koleka Putuma and Dani Kyengo O’Neill for a sonic conversation.

Olivia Coetzee, Karen Jennings and Nathan Trantraal speak to Bettina Wyngaard about writing poverty.

The One-Stop Words Shop invites you to a quiz about all things bookish: characters, first and last lines, crossovers in culture, and more. Assemble your team of up to six, show off your skills, and secure bragging rights and prizes for an afternoon of fun and competitive quizzing. Your Quiz Hosts are Nick Corbett and Nathalie Ledwidge. Prizes include a R500 voucher from the Book Lounge.

Tanya Meeson, Gothataone Moeng and Hedley Twidle speak to Catherine Boulle about storytelling, imagination, and rituals.

Pumla Dineo Gqola, Damilare Kuku, Maneo Mohale, Margie Orford, Zibu Sithole and a wild card from the audience compete to be this year’s champion. MC for the event is Festival Director, Mervyn Sloman.

Join us in closing the Festival with poetry and song. Featuring the aBantu Chorus and poets, Zizipho Bam, Siphokazi Jonas, Lynthia Julius and Eloghosa Osunde, this performance touches on healing, unity and the power of storytelling.