Programme

Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi speaks to Wanjiru Koinange about her latest novel.

Desiree Ellis, Sindiwe Magona and Patric Tariq Mellet speak to Firdose Moonda about overcoming the horrendous impact of apartheid.

Dawn Garisch, Busisekile Khumalo and SJ Naudé speak to Joy Watson about approaching death and grief.

Hugo ka Canham, Lebohang Masango, Thandiwe Ntshinga and Uhuru Phalafala present insights into living in a world designed for white comfort.

MC: Pumla Dineo Gqola.

Damon Galgut and Sylvaine Strike speak to Africa Melane about the process of getting from page to stage.

Jeanne Bodenstein and Nechama Brodie speak to Joy Watson about the successes and failures of the National Strategic Plan on gender based violence and femicide.

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

Farai Mudzingwa, Wisani Mushwana and Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah speak to Mapule Mohulatsi about African cities as spaces of reinvention and desire.

Brought to you by the African Literary Cities Project.

Nechama Brodie, Caryn Dolley and Morabo Morojele explore the normalisation of pervasive violence in the company of Erin Bates.

Busisekile Khumalo, Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu and Zibu Sithole discuss female characters and agency with Nwabisa Mayema.

Joy Watson and contributors Irvin Kinds, Sinelizwi Ncaluka and Cassandra Roxburgh launch this crucial collection of essays.

Jaco Barnard-Naudé, Desiree Lewis and Joel Modiri speak to Barbara Boswell about improving the university experience for all.

Isobel Dixon, Pieter Odendaal and Bridget Pitt explore spiritual connections to the land in the company of Kanya Viljoen.

Four writers take to the stage to highlight their own work.

Eleanor Damon, Gail Gilbride, Mogamad Salie and Liza Scholtz will be introduced by host Nancy Richards.

Note that the writers will be selling and signing their work after the event.

Marina Auer, Sarah Isaacs and Jane van der Riet speak to Qarnita Loxton about breaking the silence.

Join Helen Moffett for a Salon that will switch focus from local authors and creatives to a global line-up.

This event will feature Sipho Banda, Isobel Dixon, Sarah Lubala, Athambile Masola and Hilda Twongyeirwe.

Megan Choritz, Moshitadi Lehlomela and Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu speak to Buhle Ngaba about damaged mothers, wounded daughters and the possibilities of healing.

In the context of a drastically weaker rand, loadshedding woes and concerns about representation, Mervyn Sloman talks to Eugene Ashton (JB), Mbali Sikakana (NB) and Karina Szczurek (Karavan) about their thoughts and plans for the future.

This platform offers the poets, Siphokazi Jonas, Xitha Makgeta, Lisette Ma Neza and Burcu Sahin an opportunity to consider their experiences following the Hear My Voice Poetry Retreat, and respond to the query, “What does collaboration entail in the face of contemporary issues?”

Curated by Hear My Voice with support from the delegation of Flanders: Embassy of Belgium, and in partnership with The Open Book Festival, Flanders Literature and Göteborgs Litteraturhus.

Pumla Dineo Gqola, Lebohang Masango, Maneo Mohale and Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah speak sex, pleasure and consent.

John Maytham talks to Mills Soko about scenario planning and influencing the future.

Pumla Dineo Gqola, Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah and Hilda Twongyeirwe imagine the intergenerational communication of the future in the company of Mbali Sikakana.

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

Ron Irwin, Farai Mudzingwa and Marita van der Vyver speak to John Maytham about the significance of water in their novels.

Nadia Kamies, Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu and David Ralph Viviers speak to Wamuwi Mbao about the need to find the past in order to find oneself.

Join Daniella Djan aka Madam Daleena for a storytime and activity session.

Andrew Brown, Wanjiru Koinange and Sarah Lubala speak to Bongani Kona.

Wisani Mushwana, SJ Naudé and Pieter Odendaal speak to Branden Grant about queerness and masculinity.

Sam Beckbessinger & Dale Halvorsen and Qarnita Loxton & Gail Schimmel speak to Kelly Smith about the ins and outs of collaborative writing.

Diane Awerbuck, Sue Nyamnjoh and Zibu Sithole speak to Karina Szczurek about their writing journeys.

Join René Toesie for environmentally themed stories and activities.

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

Sipho Banda, Hugo ka Canham and Morabo Morojele speak to Koketso Sachane about changing the narrative.

Festival Coordinator, Frankie Murrey, is forced on stage by Mervyn Sloman to talk about her exquisite collection of short stories.

Sarah Lubala, Maneo Mohale and Uhuru Phalafala talk to Nondwe Mpuma about finding words to speak about the shatterings of life.

Sven Axelrad, Jarred Thompson and Marita van der Vyver speak to Alex Dodd about ways of living with death.

Athambile Masola speaks to Nomfundo Xaluva about the importance of bringing Noni Jabavu’s work back into print.

Lynsey Ebony Chutel, Thandiwe Ntshinga and Pieter Odendaal speak to Nadia Sanger about the roots of racial identity in South Africa.

Caryn Dolley, Patric Tariq Mellet and Chase Rhys speak to Barbara Boswell about writing the memories and (sub)cultures of Cape Town.

Brought to you by the African Literary Cities Project.

Craig Higginson, Wanjiru Koinange and David Ralph Viviers speak to Christy Weyer about blending research and fiction and blurring boundaries between past and present.

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 at an evening of fun and competitive quizzing.

Your Quiz Hosts are Nick Corbett and Nathalie Ledwidge.

Andrew Brown, Craig Higginson and Farai Mudzingwa speak to Ziyanda Stuurman about the impact on the people who have to fight.

Attend the Cape Town premiere screening of uNobuntu, the personal journey of a daughter who helps her mother fulfill a life-long dream to publish a treasured 40-year-old manuscript.

The screening is followed by a Q&A session with Nombeko and Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni.

A performance that expresses the lived experiences of womxn and the LGBTQI+ community.

This production is the result of a collaboration between poets and musicians. Featuring in this year’s edition are Lisette Ma Neza (Flanders, Belgium), Burcu Sahin (Sweden), Siphokazi Jonas (South Africa), Xitha Makgeta (South Africa), Lee Mokobe (South Africa), Tara Rose (South Africa) and  accompanied by musicians Brydon Bolton on bass, Thembelihle Dunjana on piano and Claire Röntsch (neè de Kock) on the saxophone.

Curated by Hear My Voice with support from the delegation of Flanderssi: Embassy of Belgium, and in partnership with The Open Book Festival, the Göteborgs Litteraturhus and Flanders Literature.

Sven Axelrad, Sam Beckbessinger and Busisekile Khumalo speak to Daniella Djan about complex friendships.

Four writers take to the stage to highlight their own work.

Fazila Cariem, Andre Swanepoel and Barbara Townsend will be introduced by host Beryl Eichenberger.

Please note that the writers will be selling and signing their books after the event.

Karen Dudley, Sarah Isaacs and Melanie Verwoerd speak to Pippa Hudson about moving out of trauma.

Athambile Masola, Nombeko Nontshokweni and Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, speak to Pumelela Nqelenga about writing to fill in gaps, unsilence and heal.

Join Lebohang Masango for a storytime and activity session.

Visit the Letterhead Stand for a basic introduction to the Khoikhoi clicks, counting and greetings.

Facilitated by Toroga Denver.

Sarah Isaacs, Wisani Mushwana and Gail Schimmel speak to Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni about the pervasive impacts of shame.

Hugo ka Canham, Maneo Mohale and Jarred Thompson speak to Pumla Dineo Gqola about finding new ways to live.

Tessa Dooms, Nadia Kamies and Patric Tariq Mellet speak to Lester Kiewit about grappling with the past to imagine a future.

Vuyokazi Ngemntu, Uhuru Phalafala and Hilda Twongyeirwe speak to Sindiswa Busuku about the power of words to drive change.

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

Zoey Black, Maneo Mohale and Manila von Teez explore Cape Town’s “queer capital” claims in the company of Lwando Scott.

Marina Auer, Diane Awerbuck and Moshitadi Lehlomela speak to Sara-Jayne Makwala King about the vulnerabilities of young women.

Lebohang Masango, Thandiwe Ntshinga and Sue Nyamnjoh talk to Dela Gwala about navigating postcolonial reality.

Diane Awerbuck, Sam Beckbessinger, Sara-Jayne Makwala King, Wanjiru Koinange, Bongani Kona and Mohale Mashigo compete to be this year’s champion.

Festival Director Mervyn Sloman is MC.

The Cape Cultural Collective (CCC) presents a showcase of poets featured in the anthology.

Featured Poets: Zenariah Barends, Chris Ferndale, Diana Ferrus, Khadija Heeger, Roché Kester, Vusumuzi Mpofu, Vuyokazi Ngemntu and Afeefa Omar.