The fifth Cape Flats Book Festival will bring together more than 90 speakers and 50 sessions to West End Primary School in Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain, over the weekend of 31 January to 1 February.
The free festival, the only one to be hosted in the Cape Flats, is hosted by literacy NGO Read to Rise, which writes, prints and donates books to learners at underprivileged schools.
Read to Rise founder Athol Williams explained the festival’s broader mission: “The Cape Flats Book Festival is rewriting the narrative of the Cape Flats by bringing stories, ideas and dreams to life. We are recasting literary festivals as events relevant and accessible to everyone. We are building bridges between communities. Our mission is to explicitly bring SA’s authors and publishers to the Cape Flats and to showcase the Cape Flats’ authors.”
The festival has secured sponsorship from the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports, the National Arts Council and West End Primary School and brings together authors, including some of the best-selling authors in the country, booksellers, publishers and poets.
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The festival takes place across six stages; adults, young adults, children, workshops, poetry and Afrikaans poetry — with literacy events, including workshops, readings and live performances taking place on every stage, every hour.
Booksellers big and small will also host sale stalls in the main courtyard and food will also be on sale.
Read to Rise Executive Director Taryn Lock said: “We are grateful to our wonderful supporters as so many people benefit from this book festival – it brings together children, adults, aspiring, new and award-winning writers and experts from all walks of life to celebrate literature.”
This year’s festival will feature authors, poets, moderators and performers across programmes designed for children, young adults and adults. Activities will include writing workshops, a puppet show, giveaways, books, food and exhibitors.
Featured speakers and workshops
The programme will include notable authors such as Anwar McKay, Mandy Wiener, Julian Jansen, FEHMZ, Patric Taariq Mellet, Nicole Engelbrecht, political cartoonist Zapiro, Brandan Reynolds, former Mitchells Plain police station commander Jeremy Vearey, best-selling author Deon Meyer, Craig Japhta, Nadia Cassim, Qaanitah Hunter and Kim Bagley.
Poets appearing at the festival include Sarah Uheida, Jadrick Pedro, Koobus Moolman, Chantal Stewart, Thabo Leholo, Ryan Pedro, Mengelmoes Digters and Cape Cultural Collective.
Children will enjoy storytelling sessions with authors Bianca Flanders, Diana Ferris, Sibu, Bosa, Samantha Adams, Lulu Fellowes, Lauren O’Connor-May and Paulvin Webster. Young visitors can also attend the OAKY Puppet Show, meet the OAKY mascot and receive free face painting.
Aspiring writers can participate in specialised workshops including a Memoir Workshop by author and publisher Melinda Ferguson, a romance writing workshop by Sarah Bullen, a true crime writing workshop by Nicole Engelbrecht, and a publishing workshop by author and publisher Liezel Snyman.
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Williams said the festival brings together “two worlds, so often structurally divided” whilst facilitating economic opportunities for book sellers, publishers, food sellers and authors.
Festival details
Sessions will run from 09:30 to 16:00 on Saturday 31 January and from 10:00 to 14:30 on Sunday 1 February at West End Primary School on Merrydale Avenue, Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain.
Attendees who participate in more than three sessions and get their programme punched can receive a goodie bag with a book from the Read to Rise stand, whilst stocks last. Lucky draws with prizes will be held at 12:30 each day.
Roadshow
From 26 January until March, Read to Rise will conduct a roadshow to 30 primary and high schools around the Cape Flats to promote the festival, authors and poets, and encourage reading and writing. Sixty authors and poets will participate in the roadshow.
For more information, visit www.capeflatsbookfestival.co.za or email info@readtorise.co.za
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