8 – 24 November 2021
Open Book Festival returns with an eight part podcast series celebrating just some of the works of literature to come out of SA this year.
As was the case in 2020, planning the festival in 2021 came with a set of shifting goalposts, and so the decision was made to err on the side of caution and stay in the virtual space.
All the participants in the 2021 festival are either South African or South Africa based, a deliberate choice made by the festival team. Given the impact the pandemic has had on writers’ abilities to promote their new books and to drive sales, it felt important that all efforts be focused on the local literary landscape. Copies of all the books will be available for sale through the Book Lounge.
Listeners can expect to hear the writers engage on themes that include queerness, grief, gender based violence, love and so much more. This is a series you won’t want to miss.
The participants this year include Mia Aderne, Efemia Chela, Shana Fife, Madeleine Fullard, Damon Galgut, Pumla Gqola, Robert Hamblin, Gretchen Haley, Siphokazi Jonas, Joanne Joseph, Ashraf Kagee, Bongani Kona, Mandla Langa, Qarnita Loxton, Naledi Mashishi, Tshidiso Moletsane, Nick Mulgrew, Thenjiwe Mswane, Tiffany Mugo, Mphuthumi Ntabeni, Futhi Ntshingila, Yewande Omotoso, and Uvile Ximba. The facilitators of the conversations include Catherine Boulle, Mohale Mashigo, Africa Melane, Chase Rhys, and Koketso Sachane.