It was all happening when a whole bunch of writers converged in Durban, South Africa on 16-21 March. This bunch of writers or is it a gaggle of writers or a bar of writers or wit of writers or a… Anyway, these writers from all corners of the continent were joined by a few from around the world for one of the most highly respected literature festivals on our rock; Time of the Writer 2015.
The festival now in its 18th year is brought to you by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal) and made possible by the National Department of Arts and Culture, the City of Durban, the French Institute (IFAS), and the Goethe-Institut. Completely off-topic but I’m starting to see a pattern where Goethe always seems to be popping up where literature is happening on the continent.
Sorry, I keep digressing. Now these authors were, in no particular order, NoViolet Bulawayo (Zimbabwe), Carol Campbell (South Africa), Imraan Coovadia (South Africa), ZP Dala (South Africa), Ousmane Diarra (Mali), Dilman Dila (Uganda), Jacob Dlamini (South Africa), Ekow Duker (South Africa), Craig Higginson (South Africa), Mandla Langa (South Africa), Thando Mgqolozana (South Africa), Kirsten Miller (South Africa), MJ Mngadi (South Africa), Nthikeng Mohlele (South Africa), Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho (South Africa), Futhi Ntshingila (South Africa), Sue Nyathi (Zimbabwe), Charlotte Otter (South Africa), Margaret Von Klemperer (South Africa) and Mzilikazi wa Afrika (South Africa). The majority of the authors participating are South African which makes sense seeing as they are the country hosting the festival.
So what were they up to? It’s a literary conference so you know that there were panels and panels for you to select from. Panels on topics such as “Shapeshifting – Form and the Modern Writer,” The Writer is the Witness, Writing Without Permission and Female Narratives. Then there were the readings. All these were happening at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre (Howard College Campus).
Apart from the panels and readings (and drinking; these are writers after all) they got to go for school visits, a publishing forum, and a range of seminars and workshops so that the next generation of writers came to the fore.
All images in this post were taken by Gerald Mthembu.
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