We’re here. Against all odds, in a world that feels increasingly fraught, we’ve made it to 2025, and we’re bringing you a festival that’s absolutely blazing with talent, conversation, and community.
This year’s lineup is nothing short of extraordinary. We’re thrilled to welcome returning Festival family including the incomparable Pumla Dineo Gqola, Mohale Mashigo, Maneo Mohale, Zizipho Bam, Lesedi Molefi, Sven Axelrad, and Siphokazi Jonas.There’s also a wealth of new talent, like Andile Cele, Nadia Cassim, Popina Khumanda, Manthipe Moila, Jeffrey Rakabe and Sarah Uheida to name only a few.
It is crucial that we are able to include voices from across the continent, and we’re honoured to host:
- Foluso Agbaje (Nigeria/London)
- Goretti Kyomuhendo (Uganda)
- Bibi Bakare-Yusuf (Nigeria/London), James Murua (Kenya) and Rémy Ngamije (Namibia) thanks to African Literary Cities Project
- Tsitsi Dangarembga (Zimbabwe) thanks to Littlegig
- Nadia Davids thanks to Caine Prize
A full list of participants is available on our website. Keep an eye on it, as it will continue to grow as we confirm new authors.
We’ve been overwhelmed by the response to our crowdfunding appeal. Your support means everything to us. It’s a testament to how much this festival matters to all of us who believe in the power of literature and storytelling. There is still time to donate if you would like to do so.
None of this would be possible without our partners and sponsors. Our heartfelt thanks go to: the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust, Jonathan Ball Publishers, NB Publishers, Pan Macmillan, Penguin Random House, Stellenbosch University English Department, Africa Literary Cities Project, Littlegig, House of Sachane, the Caine Prize, Climate Lounge, and Letterhead. For more info, click on their logos at the bottom of this email.
For those eager to dive into the worlds created by our featured authors, all participants’ books will be available for purchase from our partner, The Book Lounge. We encourage you to support these talented writers and get reading ahead of the festival.
See you at the Festival.