The guests attending the Abantu Book Festival 2019, happening in Soweto, South Africa from December 5-8, were announced on November 14, 2019.
The Abantu Book Festival was founded in 2016 by a team led by Thando Mgqolozana for black readers, writers, performers, scholars, publishers, booksellers, and abantu interested in literature. It was a revolutionary idea by those who decided to disengage themselves from a colonial literary system that failed to see them as human beings. The first edition of that festival became one of the hottest events of that year with artists from all over the continent converging on Soweto; this was followed by even bigger events in 2017 and in 2018.
The 2019 edition started with the organisers annual appeal for donations for operations. Apart from the donations from South African bibliophiles and lovers of Abantu, the festival has gotten support from among others South Africa’s National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Arts & Culture, Zenex Foundation, First Rand, Soweto Theatre, Eyethu, GP Sports, Arts, Culture & Recreation, Ford Foundation, Miles Morland Foundation, Kaya FM, Brand SA, and JIAS.
The guests who the black audience at the Eyethu Lifestyle Theatre and the Soweto Theatre will enjoy include Mona Eltahawy, Basetsana Kumalo, Zakes Mda, Chris Abani, d’bi. young anitafrika, Chike Frankie Edozien, Sihle Bolani, Buhle Ngaba, Keletso Mopai, Wana Udobang, Masande Ntshanga, Kopano Ratele, Zukiswa Wanner, Siphiwo Mahala, Sihle Bolani, Masande Ntshanga, Outwile Tsipane, Mohale Mashigo, Tlaleng Mofokeng, Xolisa Guzula, Lerato Mogoatlhe, Nontobeko Sibisi, Mteto Nyati, Christopher Ouma, and many others.
For more information on the festival as it unfolds please follow the Abantu Book Festival on Twitter and Instagram.
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