Margaret Busby is the headliner of the Johannesburg Festival of Women Writers 2024 to be hosted in South Africa on Sunday, March 10, 2024.
The Johannesburg Festival of Women Writers is an initiative hosted by the University of Johannesburg’s Johannesburg Institute of Advance Studies. Hosted for the first time in 2023, it showcased and celebrated the work of women writers, fostered intergenerational conversations between writers, encouraged new writers, promoted a culture of reading by creating dynamic and interactive links between writers, readers, and publishers as well as promoted sales of books.
The second edition promises to captivate literary enthusiasts, celebrate women’s voices, and honour a global cultural icon. Taking place at the Johannesburg Business School and dubbed Mothers and Daughters: An Intergenerational Conversation, it is dedicated to the memory of mother activists Ruth Mompati and Sally Motlana.
The special guest and keynote speaker for 2024 is Britain’s first black woman publisher, Ghana-born Margaret Busby who paved the way for generations of writers such as Buchi Emecheta, George Lamming, and CLR James. She is the editor of Daughters of Africa (1992) and New Daughters of Africa (2019) and has served on judging panels like the Booker Prize, the Caine Prize for African Writing, and the Commonwealth Book Prize.
There will be diversely curated panels, including a children’s panel, moderated by some of South Africa’s most prolific academics and authors. Here is the program;
March 9
Keynote and reception
18h00 – 20h00
- Intro Performance, Dr Gcina Mhlope, Storyteller, writer, playwright, composer, and actress
- Vice Chancellor Speech, George Lethlokwa Mpedi, VC of University of Johannesburg Program Director
- Dr Athambile Masola, Poet, Researcher and Writer, Patron Speech
- Dr Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka Former Deputy President of SA and UN Women Keynote Speaker
- Margaret Busby, Special Guest – Broadcaster, Editor of “Daughters of Africa” and “New Daughters of Africa”, Publisher, Writer Respondent Lebohang Masango Academic, Author of “Soft Life” and children’s books.
- Vote of Thanks, Barbara Masekela, Founder, Johannesburg Festival of Women Writers
March 10
9h00 – 10h30
Welcome and Introduction: One on One with Margaret Busby
- Program Director, Sebenzile Nkambule, Journalist and Strategic Communicator Welcome and Introduction
- Elinor Sisulu Activist, Writer, and Founder of Puku Children’s Literature Foundation Keynote reflections
- Margaret Busby in conversation with Dr Nokuthula Mazibuko Msimang, Academic, Author, Broadcaster, Producer, Research artist fellow at the University of Pretoria’s Future Africa Institute
9h00 – 12h30
Centring Family: Empowering children and parents in multilingual literature and literacy
Panellists
Sakhiwe and Kwande (bookclub activists), Nondumiso Ngqulunga (mother, administrator), Lihle and Botlhale (unique lovers of words in Sesotho and English), Motshidisi Tlhodi (broadcasting expert) Oratile (high schooler and multilingual reader), Lorato Trok (author & translator), Gomolemo Moagi (storyteller and disability activist), Doris Moagi (literature advocate and home-based reading instructor), Convenor of the Childen’s Program Nomvuyo Lerato Mzamane (educator and multimedia edutainment specialist) and Mutheyo Lengoasa
11h00 – 12h30
Lived Feminism and “The Sharp End of the Knife” The social cost of women’s freedom and autonomy?
Moderator:
Dr. Asanda Jonas Benya Sociologist
Panellists
Thami Nkadimeng CEO of Brand Architect and author of “Finding Purpose: Lessons from a Message Architect”; Performance Poet, Creative/Applied Arts Facilitator, Arts Project Curator Malika Ndlovu; and Poet and short story writer Makhosazana Xaba
11h00 – 12h30
Ageing Gracefully: Are Women Allowed to Age? Ageism in literature and the workplace.
Moderator
Sue Nyathi, Author of 4 bestselling novels
Panellists
Zukiswa Wanner Author of several publications including The Madams & contributor to the New Daughters of Africa; Xoli kaMadlala Author of “The Perimenopausal Globetrotter, Lynne Joffe; Author of The Gospel According to Wanda and Lebo Mazibuko Author of Bantu Knots”
14h00 – 15h30
Shifting Identities: Navigating Intimate Relationships using financial, social and emotional currency
Moderator
Dr Nthabiseng Motsemme, Associate Professor at the University of Johannesburg, Sociology Department
Panellists
Lebohang Masango Academic, Author of Soft Life and children’s books; Vangile Gantsho Author, Healer, Poet, Publisher; and Vangile Makwakwa Entreprenuer, Trauma coach; Author of What’s your money personality?; and Shafinaaz Hassim Author of “Durban Darlings.
14h00 – 15h30
The Burden of Expectation: #NotAllWomen: Navigating the landscape of difficult mother/daughter relationships
Moderator
Karabo Kgoleng, Literary Journalist, Research communicator
Panellists
Moshitadi Lehlomela Author of The girl who survived her mother, Busisekile Khumalo Author of Sunshine and Shadows, Auckley Mndlovu Author of The unbeloved daughter and Lebohang Jeanet Pheko Author of Mamello.
17h00 – 17h15
Closing Remarks
Elinor Sisulu Activist, Writer, and Founder of Puku Children’s Literature Foundation, and Barbara Masekela Author, poet, educator, activist
The festival is supported by the University of Johannesburg and the Vice Chancellors Office and Chancellor Dr. Phumzile, Mlambo-Ngcuka, the Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Studies, the British Council, WDB Investment Holdings, the Gautrain Book Club and a handful of private donors and champions.
- To take part register by clicking here.
Please consider supporting the work we do at Writing Africa with a one-off donation or regularly on Mobile Money, PayPal, or Patreon. Click here for information on how to support our work.
Leave a Reply