The Doek Literary Festival 2024 was hosted in Windhoek, Namibia from August 21 – 24, 2024. Here is a view from the Southern African country. Jean-Claude Tjitamunisa took all images in this post and are courtesy of Doek Arts.
In 2022, Windhoek-based Doek, known for its literary magazine and awards, hosted the first edition of the Doek Literary Festival. It was a celebration of Namibian and African literature connecting Namibian readers and writers with their counterparts in Africa and the African diaspora. There was a promise of another festival in two years.
In August the promise was fulfilled, a sophomore offering with the theme “IndePENdence — freedom through reading and writing” over four days at Goethe Namibia. That it took two years to curate and organise was evident as guests were given a rundown of its very “Namibiana” look and feel designed by partners Turipamwe. In a panel moderated by founder Remy Ngamije, Team Turipamwe members Tanya Stroh and Elrico Gawanab spoke of visual aspects like the threads that were evident around the design of the venue and merchandise. The threads are about tenuous connections in which we live our lives as writers, readers, and humans.
In the same room at the Goethe was an exhibition of work by Jean-Claude Tjitamunisa the feature visual artist of the Doek Literary Festival 2024. The Windhoek resident was the subject of a conversation where he discussed pivoting into an artistic career from modelling and other artistic interests into photography. He spoke about his process, why he chose the subjects he did, and how he has evolved over the last half-decade. His most memorable takeaway? Art takes time, don’t rush it.
There were many high-quality guests from the host country and further afield on panels, performances, workshops, and other festival offerings. The local team led by Doek organisation Patron David Smuts included Roxane Bayer, Charmaine //Gamxamus, Veripuami Nandee Kangumine, Namafu Amutse, Jean-Claude Tjitamunisa, Filemon Iiyambo, and Ndawedwa Denga Hanghuwo. Many contributed to the Doek Magazine and had been longlisted, shortlisted, or won the Doek awards in 2022 and 2023. The international contingent featured writers who had studied or taught in Ivy League colleges (and NYU) or were the leading voices in their genres. They included Angolan Ondjaki, Jamaican Ishion Hutchinson, Nigerians Femi Kayode and Chiké Frankie Edozien, Kenyans Troy Onyango and Mukoma Wa Ngūgī, Ethiopian Maaza Mengiste, Zimbabweans Nelson Mlambo and Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu as well as South African Zukiswa Wanner.
Panels
The panels went through the gamut of what a writer would have to go through in their journey into the writing career from start to accomplishment should the need to commit. They came with names like “Dispatches From the Rough Drafts: Serving on the Frontlines of Literature”; “The Write Side of History”; “The Real Crime is Not Telling The Story”; “Continental Cousins: Transit Lounge For the In-Betweeners”; “Burn After Reading, Independence, Part 1: Freedom Through Reading”; and “Burn After Reading, Independence, Part 2: Freedom Through Writing.”
The typical format was a local moderator directing the conversation and culling insights from guests who had come in on planes. The conversations were of the highest quality and the full house audiences broke into applause when a contribution was given. It seemed to happen a lot which meant they were enjoying seeing the vicissitudes of a life in the literary arts. In a good way.
This blogger’s favourite moderator performance was Prof Mlambo’s joyous conversation with Maaza Mengiste, Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu, and David Smuts. A favourite panel had to be Ondjaki, Filemon Iiyambo, Maaza Mengiste, Ishion Hutchinson, and Chike Frankie Edozien on the “Continental Cousins: Transit Lounge For the In-Betweeners” session.
Performances
Guests were treated to performances at the Goethe’s courtyard which was set up with stacked crates as a background which a casual viewer might think were inspired by the “milk crate challenge” made famous by US Americans. We learnt that it was actually inspired by the crates that are a huge part of Namibian life, especially around imbibing that they came in.
There were two types of performances on offer: musical and poetic. The musical performances which came on the first and last night were given by three-person band Querida, Gabes, and Slow. With two guitars and a sort of drum, they gave covers and original songs that you would expect from a Tracy Chapman next to Santana that were quite enjoyable.
The evening of poetry dubbed, “Poetry and Picnic Vibes” had performances from local poets Charmaine //Gamxamus and Veripuami Nandee Kangumine as well as international performers Ondjaki and Ishion Hutchinson. It was a combination of topics that mattered to all present with varying degrees of technical excellence. It was a notable evening for those who attended.
On Saturday morning, the inspired and aspiring attended workshops conducted by Maaza Mengiste, Femi Kayode, Zukiswa Wanner, Chike Frankie Edozien, Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu, Cecile Barendsma, Troy Onyango, and Ondjaki. On offer were diverse topics like characterisation, structure, and more.
The festival ended with a dance party to end all dance parties as all let down their hair on Saturday evening. It was amazing to watch some of the best in African letters shake what their mamas gave them long into the Windhoek night.
A successful festival with everyone involved already anticipating the Doek Literary Festival 2026. No pressure team, you just have to do it all over again in two years.
P.S. All of Jean-Claude Tjitamunisa’s art pieces sold out.
P.P.S. A huge thank you to all the staff and volunteers who took care of the guests at the festival Oom Willem and Clement Dunaiski ensured that everyone made it to and from the airport and around the city. Also thank you festival volunteers Alexandra Dunaiski, Lischen Gorases, and Catherine Pickering.
P.P.P.S. That accommodation at The Village… World-class, it can’t be more highly recommended.
Please support our work at Writing Africa with a one-off donation or regularly on Mobile Money, PayPal, or Patreon starting at US$3 a month by clicking here.
Leave a Reply