African Literature
latest news & developments
Sol Tshekisho Plaatje: His name is everywhere . . . his legacy must be too
Marking 150 years since the birth of Solomon Tshekisho Plaatje, Chancellor Thebe Ikalafeng reflects on how this pioneer of African dignity should be central to our education and…
A Motswana writer, author who argued with colonial power through letters
Beyond his celebrated books, Solomon T. Plaatje used letters, journalism, and Setswana orthography as weapons of resistance against colonial authority, shaping modern African…
Kani and Mda take centre stage at Iphulo Drama Festival
John Kani and Zakes Mda are leading masterclasses at the Iphulo Drama Festival, inspiring theatre, writing and directing talent across the Eastern Cape
When ethics drives you mad: Dr. Onke Mazibuko explores the psychology of whistleblowing in canary
In his second novel, Canary, Dr Onke Mazibuko writes about whistleblowing, corporate bullying and mental health
Abdulrazak Gurnah’s Theft: A story of servitude, survival and the search for home
Nobel Prize winner Abdulrazak Gurnah returns with Theft, a moving portrait of loss, longing, and the elusive idea of home.
Exploring the fabric of family and identity in Lebo Mazibuko’s Fabrics of Love
Lebo Mazibuko’s second novel, Fabrics of Love, looks at themes of family trauma, black womanhood, absent fathers and heritage
Siphokazi Jonas on storytelling, survival and the future of African literature
Poet and storyteller Siphokazi Jonas explores identity, lineage and resilience in her debut collection, blending folklore and feminism for a new generation
Francis Nyamnjoh’s novel a new grace for the old order
Echoes of Grace is a coming-of-age tale where faith, ancestry, and mentorship shape a young girl’s path to purpose
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o as town crier of Africa
The Kenyan writer challenged Western influence on African culture and history, highlighting heritage and resilience
Writing against the grain: Adekeye Adebajo’s Africa
Informed, provocative, and hopeful — Adebajo’s work resists reduction, embracing Africa’s plurality and persistent spirit
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, literary icon and cultural revolutionary, dies at 87
His pen exposed injustice, honoured heritage and helped free the African imagination from colonial constraint
African gothic reclaimed with a story of seers
Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu’s novel is a profound exploration of power, memory and the cost of knowledge
Durban International Book Fair is a cerebral feast for literary enthusiasts
The festival runs until Sunday, and brings together over 250 authors, poets and creatives from South Africa and the globe
Ramaphosa leads tributes for James Matthews
President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to Cape Town poet and author James Matthews as an impassioned but elegant chronicler of the struggle against apartheid. Matthews,…
Wole Soyinka: The artist captured in a moment long gone
Kola Tubosun has made a documentary about Nigerian creative Wole Soyinka who has just turned 90