The Open Book Festival will once again take place in Cape Town from September 4th to 6th. The event is expected to gather over 120 participants and feature a program including more than 60 events. The festival, which began in 2011, has gained a dedicated audience through a program that creates a space for discussing complex topics through the lens of literature.
This year's themes include African identity, queerness, gender-based violence, and futuristic thinking. The festival's coordinator and curator, Frankie Murray, specifically highlighted events such as 'Conversations with Mohale,' poetry readings, and sessions on 'African Identities | African Cosmologies.'
Festival Director Melvin Solomon presented his 'Director's Picks,' which featured works by Lolama Mali's 'Held,' I.O. Echeruo's 'The Comfort of Distant Stars,' and Selali Fiamanya's 'Before We Hit the Ground.' His second selection was the discussion 'Reflections on Parents,' focusing on memories of parents and the possibilities of forgiveness, moderated by Kelly Smith.
The three-day event will also host a vibrant Festival Market, bringing together creative professionals, partners, and activists. Visitors can participate in various activities, including book exchanges at Letterhead Lounge, handicraft workshops with Cape Town Craft Club, zine making with Make Muck, and collaborative mural creation with HC 360.
The festival will showcase a wide range of authors—from debutantes to established literary figures. This year, following the pandemic, the Open Book Festival is once again fully international. Among the writers coming from outside South Africa are Sanah Ahsan, Cristel Zara Appia, Lola Akinmade, I.O. Echeruo, Selali Fiamanya, David Lambert, Faraz Mohammed, Donika Merhazion, and Sahra Noor.