Africa is a mosaic of colours, crafts and cultures. The best way to capture and celebrate these elements is through the art of literature. The Abantu Book Festival is now one of the hottest events of the year for African writers and the readers that value their style and approach to the power of the written word.

This festival is held in the vibrant, historically significant township of Soweto, just outside Johannesburg. It is designed to acknowledge and hail the incredibly diverse literary heritage of this continent.

Although the Abantu Book Festival has its focus on novels (both fact and fiction), there is also a generous portion of it dedicated to poetry performances, musical acts, workshops that deal with various aspects of writing and publishing, panel discussions, and film screenings. This makes it an exciting hub of cultural and literary activity for local South Africans and those from further afield that appreciate the wealth that words impart.

A massive feature of the Abantu Book Festival is the participation of a number of renowned poets, authors, playwrights, scholars, actors, readers, biographers and more. These ones descend from all corners of the African continent and transform the dynamic township of Soweto into a literary village.

WHERE?

The festival is held at the Eyethu Lifestyle Centre (Mofolo) during the day and at Jabulani’s Soweto Theatre in the evening. Books can be purchased directly from the festival.