Twenty-one prominent writers from a dozen different countries converge upon Durban for a thought-provoking week of literary dialogue and exchange of ideas at the 14th Annual Time of the Writer festival.
Hosted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts, the festival — threaded about the theme of ‘freedom of expression” — presents a packed programme of both day and evening activities. The festival’s keynote address on the opening night of Monday March 14 is delivered by the recently retired Constitutional Court judge, esteemed writer and cultural activist Justice Albie Sachs. Other noted scribes from South Africa and around the world on the bill are Raj Patel, Sarah Nuttall, Lauren Beukes, Aziz Hassim, Njabulo Ndebele, Achille Mbembe, Petina Gappah, Ellen Banda-Aaku, Marie Darrieussecq, Ondjaki, Sahar El Mougy, Azad Essa, Caryl Phillips, Biyi Bandele, Sifiso Mzobe, Diale Tlholwe, Deon Meyer, Boubacar Boris Diop, Torsten Schulz, Chris van Wyk and Etienne van Heerden. The formal evening programmes are the main draw all the festival also boasts a range of day activities in the form of free seminars and workshops, book launches, school visits, and a prison writing programme.
Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, UKZN, March 14 — 19. R25 for the evening sessions through Computicket or The Sneddon. Tel: 031 260 2506/1816. Find the full programme of activities and paticipant biographies at www.cca.ukzn.ac.za