The line-up for the second annual Abantu Book Festival has been announced!

This year’s Abantu Book Festival will take place from 7-10 December in Soweto.

The impressive guest list includes Zakes Mda, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Zubeida Jaffer, Gcina Mhlope, Grace Musila, Kopano Matlwa, Ayobami Adebayo, Keorapetse Kgositsile, Mandla Langa, Shubnum Khan, Sisonke Msimang, Zethu Matebeni, Redi Tlhabi, Pumla Dineo Gqola, and many others.

The full programme will be available in November.

 

Full statement from Abantu Book Festival director Thando Mgqolozana:

Following the phenomenal success of its inaugural year, Abantu Book Festival announces the line-up for its second edition, which takes place on 7-10 December 2017. Founded as a platform for black writers and readers, Abantu Book Festival envisions itself as an annual pilgrimage and sanctuary for its participants and visitors, and requests that this sanctity be respected.

Eyethu Lifestyle Centre in Mofolo hosts free day events from 09:00, while evening sessions take place at the Soweto Theatre from 18:00, at just R20 per person. Guests attending the evening events are advised to book their seats early: https://www.sowetotheatre.com/abantu-book-festival/

The best poets, novelists, playwrights, biographers, literary scholars, activists and thinkers are integral to a programme that includes Zakes Mda, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Zubeida Jaffer, Gcina Mhlope, Grace Musila, Kopano Matlwa, Ayobami Adebayo, Keorapetse Kgositsile, Mandla Langa, Shubnum Khan, Sisonke Msimang, Zethu Matebeni, Redi Tlhabi, Pumla Dineo Gqola and many others. The full author profiles can be accessed at:www.abantubookfestival.co.za.

‘The line-up hints at a lively and highly topical programme, featuring panel discussions, in-conversations, poetry, hands-on writing workshops, children’s activities, film screenings, as well as music,’ Mgqolozana said. ‘Visitors should look forward to an Abantu weekend that grapples with, interrogates, and illuminates the stories of black lives.’

The full programme will be available in November.

Issued by Director
Thando Mgqolozana

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About Abantu Book Festival

The mission of Abantu Book Festival is to create a platform that amplifies the voices of black writers, as well as be a home for black readers. While the book remains the central medium of the festival, Abantu Book Festival embraces all forms of storytelling. Now in its second edition, and coming in the wake of the Rhodes Must Fall movement, Abantu Book Festival has become a major annual project, founded by novelist Thando Mgqolozana in 2016. The festival immediately found its niche in the literary scene, becoming the most anticipated literary event of the year.

Press contact

For images, interviews, or further information contact Abantu Book Festival Project Manager, Nontobeko Dlamini: molweni@abantubookfestival.co.za

Please note that we do not provide media accreditation, you simply show up and buy tickets where necessary.

Website: abantubookfestival.co.za
Twitter: @Abantu_
Facebook: @AbantuBookFest
Instagram: abantubookfest_
#AbantuBookFest

Categories Africa Fiction Non-fiction South Africa

Tags Abantu Book Festival Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀̀ Book events Book Festivals Gcina Mhlope Grace Musila Keorapetse Kgositsile Kopano Matlwa Mandla Langa Pumla Dineo Gqola Redi Tlhabi Shubnum Khan Sisonke Msimang Thando Mgqolozana Tsitsi Dangarembga Zakes Mda Zethu Matebeni Zubeida Jaffer