The South African Book Fair takes place at the Turbine Hall in Newtown
The South African Book Fair takes place at the Turbine Hall in Newtown, Johannesburg, from July?31 to August 2, alongside the sixth M&G Literary Festival that runs at the same venue on August 1 and 2.
More than 100 authors, writers, poets, publishers and playwrights will share their experience, talents and knowledge at the fair.
Fair highlights include:
- Lauren Beukes reads her Wonder Woman comic with art by Mike Maihack.
- Twenty-one born-frees discuss what 21 years of democracy means, chaired by Melanie Verwoerd and Sonwabiso Ngcowa.
- Black and White in Colour – Why Race (Still) Matters: Anthea Garman, Lewis Gordon, Xolela Mangcu, Hlonipha Mokoena and Melanie Verwoerd, chaired by Shireen Hassim. (This is an M&G Literary Festival session.)
- Publishing in Africa is a discussion that looks at the challenges and opportunities of trading books in the Global South.
- It’s Reading, But Not As You Know It: Mike Maphoto, the man behind Diary of a Zulu Girl, Rebecca Davis and Nancy Brown from World Reader explore fun and different ways of getting South Africans reading with Karabo Kgoleng-Dada.
- The Books You Read Say a Lot About Who You Are: novelists Niq Mhlongo, Finuala Dowling and Rehana Rossouw discover South Africa’s “bookself”. Chaired by Karabo Kgoleng-Dada.
- Shorts: Siphiwo Mahala talks to Ivan Vladislavic, Achmat Dangor and Masande Ntshanga about the art of the short story.
- Books, Boys and Beers: Gareth Crocker, Khaya Dlanga and Pete Goffe-Wood share their bromance with Ndumiso Ngcobo over craft beers as they discuss the meaning of life and friendship. Snacks included.
- Publishing in Indigenous Languages: Elinor Sisulu features in a discussion on children’s literature publishing in indigenous languages and how to achieve this quantum leap. Facilitated by the Puku Children’s Literature Foundation.
- Scriptwriting masterclass with screenwriting legends Fred Strydom and Harry Kalmer.
- Poetry masterclass with Finuala Dowling and Beverly Rycroft, where you’ll find there’s more to poetry than finding a word to rhyme with orange.
To find out more, visit southafricanbookfair.com
Twitter: @SAbookfair
Instagram: @SAbookfair
Facebook.com/southafricanbookfair