Programme

Sanah Ahsan, Siphokazi Jonas and Lebogang Matseke speak to Maneo Mohale about finding ways to balance the world.

Will Milani find the courage to share her beautiful voice with the world? Join Lebo to find out at this fun storytime and activity session.

Lulama Mali, Athambile Masola and Bonile Ngqiyaza speak to Wamuwi Mbao about the work of adding the missing voices to our history.

Don’t miss this chance to get a bespoke poem for yourself or a loved one, written by Kirsten Deane, here are your stories owner.

While this slot is free, a non-framed poem is R250 and a framed one is R350.

Booking is essential.

Sven Axelrad, Thandi Moagi and Cathrine Phiri speak to Qarnita Loxton about the good, the bad and the ugly in love stories.

Zubayr Charles, Preven Reddy and Wesley Roodt speak to Riley Herbert-Henry about creating space for vulnerability for both reader and writer.

Join English Alive, the South African Council for English Education’s annual anthology, to celebrate 60 years of publishing young writers.

Following a performance by a surprise guest poet, the editor of the anthology and MC of the event, Kirsten Deane, invites students to perform their poems.

Don’t miss this opportunity to support the next generation.

Melinda Ferguson, Thato Sebastian-Charles Mmereki and Dominique Olivier speak to Firdose Moonda about grief becoming part of the fabric of their lives.

Tom Eaton, Sue Nyathi and Puseletso Tsotetsi speak to Shawn Buck about keeping their readers glued to the page.

Lọlá Ákínmádé, Dyondzo Kwinika and Faraaz Mahomed speak to Kelly Smith about the moments of parental success and failure in their work, and the possibilities of forgiveness.

When the world feels broken, imagination is more necessary than ever. Join Climate Lounge for a writing workshop that aims to move beyond the familiar grammar of dystopia and into the work of imagining liveable, just, and ecologically alive futures.

The workshop will draw on the visionary fiction of Ursula K. Le Guin, the Solarpunk movement, and the African Speculative Fiction anthology Our Move Next that imagines into being Pan-African visions of a post-Capitalist world. Together, we will explore how fiction can not only warn but also dream, design, and plant seeds for futures that transcend doomerism and dystopia.

The workshop will include a discussion on craft, close reading, and generative writing exercises, that will leave you with an expanded sense of what speculative fiction can be.

DARG’s bookshop and FAIR’s little free libraries invite you to take a book, leave a book, and find a brand new read!

Nothing to swap? DARG’s book sale has you covered.

Please note that no tickets are required.

I.O. Echeruo, John Hunt and Keely Shinners speak to Kelly-Eve Koopman about their novels that blur boundaries between the familiar and the speculative.

Join the discussion as Noma Tsheleza facilitates an interactive conversation with the author of Death Rattle.

Megan Choritz, Mphuthumi Ntabeni and Jean-Paul Willemse speak to Stevlyn Vermeulen about how their different novels are a product of our history.

Tarryn Crossman, Mmatshilo Motsei and Zimbini Ogle speak to Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni-Bikitsha about how their work ripples through their own lives.

Krystle Zara Appiah, Pumla Dineo Gqola and Sue Nyathi speak to host with the most, Mohale Mashigo about love and loneliness in a world on fire.

Red Wheelbarrow presents a powerful lineup of not-to-be-missed poets.

Performances by vangile gantsho, Siphokazi Jonas, Keith Oliver Lewis, Naidene Lottering, Athambile Masola, and Thalente Ndlovu.

Hosted by Lisa Julie and Jacques Coetzee.

Multi award-winning comedians Yaaseen Barnes and Dan Corder return with their big show on another mad year in South Africa, and it’s not even nearly done yet!

Get ready to laugh, learn, and remember so much special South African insanity.

Faraaz Mahomed, Donica Merhazion and Sahra Noor speak to Gabeba Baderoon about forced migration and how the impact of those ruptures echo through time.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to witness the work of the next generation.

Rhymes Articles Poetry Short Stores & Sketches #4 is brought to you by Heal the Hood, and will feature performances and readings.

Don’t miss Siphokazi Jonas launching her brand new children’s book in the company of Malusi Ntoyapi. For all readers and lovers of stories!

Sanah Ahsan, Jorge Alejandro Ccoyllurpuma and Kirsten Deane speak to Nondwe Mpuma about poetry as a vehicle for transformation.

Thando Fuze, Jessica Horn, Vashna Jagarnath and Zimbini Ogle speak to Pumla Dineo Gqola about interventions that could enable a better future.

There’s nothing like being told a story by Sihle-isipho! High energy plus an activity focused on Hueverse.

I.O. Echeruo, Lebogang Matseke and Mphuthumi Ntabeni speak to vangile gantsho about integrating the seen and the unseen worlds through writing, the blurring of boundaries, and a more holistic world experience.

Mia Arderne, Sue Nyathi and Joy Watson speak to Colin Wardle about their motivation behind putting men under the microscope.

Come and celebrate the launch of New Contrast 212, a special issue in honour of Diana Ferrus and Zoë Wicomb, hosted by editors Gabeba Baderoon, Robyn Paterson, Shane van der Hoven, Paul Kammies and Niamh Ahern.

Look forward to readings at the launch by Laniëlle Hartzenberg, Pumla Dineo Gqola, Mavis Smallberg, Toni Giselle Stuart, Gaireyah Fredericks, Gertrude Fester, Zubeida Jaffer, Nic le Roux, Ingrid de Kok and other contributors.

Cynthia Fan, Julia Martin, and Onezwa Mbola speak to Zayaan Khan about decolonising the way we live in the hope of a sustainable tomorrow.

Write a letter to the future while grounding your imaginings in action for the present! Join the Climate Lounge team, who will guide you through a process of crafting a letter to someone in the future, through a combination of imagining, writing and somatic embodiment.

This informal workshop will give you the opportunity to connect with yourself and a radical hope for the future while being part of DearTomorrow’s global storytelling project, using the power of words to create the conditions for change.

Please note this is a first come first served opportunity and space is limited.

Lọlá Ákínmádé, Krystle Zara Appiah and Vashna Jagarnath speak to Bongani Kona about writing that reflects the complexities of African life in the global north.

Take a moment to breathe. Through intentional and collaborative readings, Toni creates space for joy, hope and quietness.

This intimate session is not to be missed, and booking is essential.

John Hunt, Kopano Matlwa and Bonile Ngqiyaza speak to Sindiswa Busuku about using fiction to understand the world.

Presented by UCT Writers’ Series.

Poets Kirsten Deane, Thando Fuze and Nokwanda Sihlali speak to Ntombenhle Shezi about systemic violence and ways to drive change.

Publishers Morné Bam (Penguin Random House), Jessica Powers (Catalyst Press) and Stevlyn Vermeulen (Jonathan Ball) reflect on the impact of AI (including the positive), social media numbers influencing publishing decisions, fighting for readers’ attention, cover design, the relationship between local publishing and international distribution and some thoughts about the future of the industry in SA.

Chaired by Festival Director, Mervyn Sloman.

Join Athi-Patra Ruga and Sibusiso Mnyanda for a glimpse into their archival research work at the historic Lovedale Press.

In a series of flash talks followed by quick question sessions, we’ll unpack the Press’s history and significance today.

David Lambert, Lulama Mali and Thato Sebastian-Charles Mmereki speak to C.A. Davids about the work of writing in a world burdened by the legacies of colonialism and apartheid.

Selali Fiamanya, Wesley Roodt and Keely Shinners speak to Janine Adams about becoming an adult in a world that is not always safe.

Siphokazi Jonas, Mmatshilo Motsei and Quentin Williams speak to Nkgopoleng Moloi about the impact of colonisation on indigenous knowledge systems, and their different projects of healing.

Dan Corder, Caryn Dolley and Tara Roos speak to Karabo Rajuili about truth in an age of misinformation.

Lọlá Ákínmádé, S.E. Bhamjee and Thandi Moagi speak to Amogelang Maledu about navigating unbalanced relationships.

Maneo Mohale returns to the Open Book stage, and this time they are speaking to Athambile Masola.

Athambile’s work deftly stretches over language and genre, illuminating the extraordinary lives of Black women throughout history as they resist injustice and erasure.

Artificial intelligence is already outperforming humans in multiple domains, and many of us seem perfectly happy to sleepwalk into species obsolescence. Worse, AI refuses to stay in its lane: having mastered all the boring technical tasks, it is now producing art, music and fiction. But humanity still has one thing over AI for now: it can’t be funny.
Using the possible extinction of the human race as a cheerful point of departure, writer and journalist Rebecca Davis presents an hour-long comic exploration of how we got here, where we may be going, and multiple unhinged digressions about the strange choices we have made along the way.
A gloriously unserious examination of technology, family, work, civilisation and whatever else happens to be bothering her by September.

Due to foul language, not suitable for kids or delicate adult ears.

Every generation has a call to answer. Within the call is a mission to be discovered, then lies the choice to embrace or abandon it. This poetry showcase honors the poetry collectives and clubs that have wrestled with the obscurity of that mission, fulfilled it and carried it forward to the next circle of voices. Fifty years after the 1976 Soweto Youth Uprising, we pay homage to those who first answered the call and as we inherit their courage, we press on, carrying the mission to the present.
Passing on the baton: from Lingua Franca to Amazinc Unplugged, from the Red Wheelbarrow to the Cape Cultural Collective and onward.

Poets: Amy Brown, Inzima, Rea Mmethi, Mtunzikazi Ngozana, Mbongeni Nomkonwana, Riyo, Winslow Schalkwyk & Lwanda Sindaphi.
Curated and hosted by Zizipho Bam.

Selali Fiamanya, David Lambert and Donica Merhazion speak to Ncedisa Nkonyeni about creating a space to call home.

Join Fehmz, Onezwa Mbola and Jane Nshuti as they speak to Karen Dudley about the intersection between food, storytelling, community and history.

Sven Axelrad, Cynthia Fan and Shane van der Hoven speak to Dela Gwala about the joy they find in writing.

Jessica Horn, Sahra Noor and Zimbini Ogle speak to Natalie Sifuma about who gets to belong, and who stands to benefit when the vulnerable are targeted.

Mphuthumi Ntabeni and Athi-Patra Ruga speak to Julie Nxadi about the complicated role of religion in eroding indigenous knowledge while simultaneously creating platforms for knowledge production.

Do not miss this opportunity to have a one-on-one conversation with Michèle Betty, the Director of Dryad Press. Bring your questions about the process of getting your poetry into print – from editing to submitting.

Slots are limited to ten minutes each, and booking is essential.

Mia Arderne and Preven Reddy discuss how to emerge from naaihood and achieve comedy success with Mohale Mashigo.

S.E. Bhamjee, Samantha Keller and Faraaz Mahomed speak to Andrew Brown about bringing the personal and political of apartheid South Africa to life in the present day.

Fehmz, Cathrine Phiri and Puseletso Tsotetsi speak to Ondela Mlandu about building a brand organically in the age of the algorithm.

I.O. Echeruo, Selali Fiamanya and Lulama Mali talk to Mervyn Sloman about capturing complicated families in fiction and memoir.

Don’t miss the annual quiz about all things bookish! Assemble your team (up to six) to showcase your knowledge at this fun afternoon session. Bragging rights and awesome prizes (think book hampers, vouchers and wine) are up for grabs.

Your quiz hosts are Nick Corbett and Marnus Janse van Vuuren.

Imraan Coovadia, Sally Cranswick, and Kopano Matlwa speak to Lufefe Boss about the layers of inequality reflected in their novels.

Krystle Zara Appiah, Megan Choritz and Tarryn Crossman speak to Nwabisa Mayema about the anguish inherent in writing vulnerable bodies.

Who will walk away as this year’s champion?

Wrap up your Festival in the company of Krystle Zara Appiah, Mia Arderne, Dan Corder, Selali Fiamanya, Sue Nyathi and Preven Reddy.

Festival Director, Mervyn Sloman, returns as MC.

As the Festival comes to a close, join us for a gathering of powerful poetic voices in a space to cultivate hope, possibility, and reflection.

Hosted by vangile gantsho, with live ikebana by Cynthia Fan; Letters to the Future curated by Climate Lounge and DearTomorrow; and performances by Sanah Ahsan, Gabeba Baderoon, Jorge Alejandro Ccoyllurpuma, Thando Fuze, Pieter Madibuseng Odendaal, Koleka Putuma, and Sarah Uheida.