Gauteng International Book Festival 2023

Gauteng International Book Festival 2023 program revealed

The program for the Gauteng International Book Festival to be hosted in Soweto, South Africa on December 9, 2023, has been revealed.

In 2022, the Gauteng International Book Festival, founded by a team including literary evangelist Lorraine Sithole, announced itself on the African literary scene. South Africans who made their way to Ubuntu Kraal in Soweto to witness this new phenomenon were treated to literary events for both adults and children. The day had two headliners Dudu Busani-Dube and Fred Khumalo and a keynote address delivered by multi-award winner, Dr. Nokuthula Mazibuko Msimang.

The organisers have announced the program for this year’s edition. Here is the program in full;

9:00 HRS – 9:45 HRS

Panel 1

A re boleleng Asikhulumeni: Mother-tongue is best in childhood literary with Lorato Trok (author, publisher, biographer, and translator (Setswana – English – Setswana)), Phumzile Mthembu (author, self-publisher, motivational speaker, translator (isiZulu – English – isiZulu)), & Tumelo Moleleki (author, self-publisher, translator (Sesotho – English – Sesotho, French – English – French)) moderated by Yamkela Tywakadi (author, Publisher at Blank Page Books, translator (English – isiXhosa – English)).

Panel 2

“Hope just means another world might be possible, no promised… Hope calls for action; action is impossible without hope” with Don Lepati (The Legend of Don Zahobe: The Mamelodi Sundowns Story), Buntu Siblisi (Rugby, Resistance, and Politics), Sihle Khumalo (Milk The Beloved Country), & Refiloe Moahloli (Part of a Team) moderated by Ntokozo Ndlovu.

Panel 3

Here’s My Book: From Bookstores to the World with Sandra Tamele (Mozambican Publishers Association), Nikko Good (BlackAuthorsMatter Tour USA), and Thabiso Mahlape (Blackbird Books) moderated by Angela Makholwa.

10:00 HRS – 11:00 HRS

Panel 1

The Long and Short of it: The Novel Vs The Short Story with Nthikeng Mohlele (Breasts Etc), Jared Thompson (The Institute for Creative Dying), Dr Zaheera Jina Asyat (Tears of the Weaver), and Dr Nedine Moonsamy (Fluid, The Freedom To Be) moderated by Dr Danyela Demir.

Panel 2

I Don’t Know My Strength: stories of restoration with Lorato Trok and Gregory Maqoma (My Life, My Dance, My Soul), Felicia Goosen (Prison Child) & Rudzani Khashane (Thicker Than Water) moderated by Zukiswa Wanner.

Panel 3

#ConferenceLekgotla with Thando Pato (On The Rocks: Memoir of a High Functioning Alcoholic), Thandiwe Ntshinga (Black, Racist Bitch) & Melusi Tshabalala (Magenge, We Need To Talk) moderated by Dr Nedime Moonsamy.

11:15 HRS – 12:15 HRS

Panel 1

Places and Spaces with Sipho Sithole (Maye! Maye! The History and Heritage of Kwai Mai Mai Market), Farai Mudzingwa (Avenues By Train), & Terry Anne Adams (White Chalk) moderated by Fred Khumalo.

Panel 2

City Blues: Crime and Punishment with Sihle Qwabe (The Thing About Zola), & Angela Makholwa (The Reed Stalk Dancer) moderated by Sue Nyathi.

Panel 3

Are We A-Okay: December holidays and mental anguish with Ndumi Hadebe (Handle Black Tax Like A Pro: Setting Boundaries, Improving Relationships, and Achieving Freedom), Pamela Power (My Year of Not Getting Shitfaced) & Vangile Makwakwa (What’s Your Money Personality? Changing the way Black Families Manage Their Resources) moderated by Lorraine Sithole.

11:15 HRS – 12:45 HRS

The #InvisibleBorders: Finding a home outside of the home with Magogodi oaMphela Makhene (Innards), Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu (Lucky Girl), Morabo Mojele (The Three Egg Dilemma), & Dr Buntu Siwisa (Paperless) moderated by Karabo K Kgoleng.

12:00 HRS – 13:00 HRS

Meals in Minutes: A Life Cooking Show

Lunch Time: Launch with Xarra Books

12:00 HRS – 13:00 HRS

Paper Trail with Bulelwa Mabasa (My Land Obsession: A Memoir), Dr Mbuso Khosa (These Potatoes Look Like Humans: The Contested Future of the Land, Home, and Death in South Africa) & Eve Fairbanks (The Inheritors: An Intimate Portrait of a Brave and Bewildered Nation) moderated by Thobekile Masombuka.

13:00 HRS – 13:00 HRS

Panel 1

Life Stories and Memory Making with Dr Nokubonga Mazibuko Msimang (Dolly Rathebe), Dr Siphiwo Mahala (Can Themba), Mara Louw (My Name Is Mara), Lesley Mofokeng (The Man Who Moved Mountains: In the Footsteps of My Ancestors) & Clarence Hamilton (Molo Fish)

Panel 2

Uncovering, Unearthing, and Archiving Black Stories… Reimagining Ourselves as we take centre stage with Lerato Trok (My Life, My Dance, My Soul), & Lufuno Mulaudzi (The Parchments of Mpemba Kasi) moderated by Pumza Shabangu.

Panel 3

I Can’t Breath: From Home to the Lecture Halls with Dr Nechama Brodie (Domestic Terror: Intimate Partner Violence in South Africa), & Hosie Moleka (The Imperatives of Revoking Our Silence) moderated by Sizakele Nkosi (uGrand, Malume)

14:30 HRS – 15:30 HRS

Panel 1

Find Me At The Corner of “This Is It” and “It Could Be” with Ayanda Xaba (Damned), Tafadzwa Z Taruvinga (Gone With the Blue Zodia), Busisekile Khumalo (Sunshine & Shadows) moderated by Lorraine Sithole.

Panel 2

Ku Rough! Ku Wow: Life Lessons with Lebohang Masango (The Soft Life: Love, Choice, and Modern Dating) in a candid conversation with Danyela Damir.

Panel 3

#LifeSkillsForWomenNOT… Sshh… Girls 2 Women with Xoli kaMadiala (The Peri-Menopausal Globetrotter), Prudence Makau (My So-Called Friend) & Moshitadi Lehlomela (The Girl Who Survived Her Mother) moderated by Nolubabalo Memesa

16:00 HRS – 17:00 HRS

Panel 1

Take Charge and Drive Your Life with Onkabetse Rethabile Masobe (Daddy Issues), Janine Jellars (When The Filter Fades), & Khathu Maestro (Mulalo: The Masterpiece) moderated by Sewela Langeni.

Panel 2

I am Only Human: The Life and Times of Wanda and Comrade Mzala with Lynn Joffe (The Gospel According To Wanda B. Lazarus) & Sandile Memela (Comrade Mzala) moderated by Barbara Adair.

Panel 3

The Lounge Hour – A Musicography with Sam Mathe (Sankomota: An Ode in One Album | A Note to Taiwa: Reflective Essay on the Music of Moses Molelekwa) with a guest appearance by Morabo Mojele (A Three Egg Dilemma).

17:00 HRS – 18:30 HRS

Official closing and live poetry session emceed by Dr Danyela Demir

  1. The 2023 Dinaane Debut Awards
  2. The 2023 European Union Sol Plaatje Poetry Awards
  3. The Primrose Morwebi Tribute – Poetry Extravaganza featuring Sizakele Nkosi, Tshiamo Modise, Bokang Maragelo, Xoli Mcombothi & Barbara Adair.

This event will be hosted at the Ubuntu Kraal Lifestyle in Soweto, South Africa on December 9. The event will cost you R100. For more information, please click here.

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