A Gathering of Stories book to be launched
By CityLife Arts Writer
The event will feature a series of captivating readings and performances from some of the country’s most talented and thought-provoking voices.
“Lit.Culture Books and The Writers Lab are proud to present the highly anticipated book launch of A Gathering of Stories, a bold and compelling collection that delves into the complexities of history, trauma, and personal truth.
Featured Readings & Performances:
• Defiance by Eddie Thaba
• Djeli by Katlego Chale
• Postcards: Bodily Preserves by Refiloe Lepere
• The Chanting Youth by Ronald Manganye
• Uncharted by Mxolisi Masilela
“A Gathering of Stories” is not just a book; it is a mosaic of interconnected narratives, each a piece of history, trauma, and revelation. In this collection, the writers explore the intricacies of past and present, truth and deceit, weaving together a patchwork of memories, reflections, and consequences. The pages are alive with stories of resilience, defiance, and the search for understanding in an ever-evolving world.
The writers featured in A Gathering of Stories invite readers to engage with their work as a map, a blueprint, and a recipe for navigating the complexities of identity, struggle, and hope. Each story serves as both a feast for the imagination and a bitter remedy for the soul, a mixture of pain and wisdom that challenges the reader to confront their own reflections.
About the Stories:
• Defiance – A poignant reflection on the murky waters of the past, exploring the
harsh realities of dreams lost and hopes shattered.
• Djeli – A complex interplay of perspectives that examines memory, purpose, and the contradictions of life.
• Postcards: Bodily Preserves – An intimate exploration of truth and bodily experience, capturing the rawness of human existence.
• The Chanting Youth – A critique of falsehoods and the fight between the past and the future, revealing how justice and fortune intertwine.
• Uncharted – A gripping narrative that unearths buried secrets and confronts the dark forces of memory and passion.
About The Writers Lab & Lit.Culture Books:
The Writers Lab is a creative collective dedicated to nurturing and showcasing the voices of emerging and established African writers. Lit.Culture Books, known for its commitment to promoting literary excellence, partners with The Writers Lab to bring fresh, bold, and innovative stories to readers. Together, they are shaping the future of African storytelling.
Join us for an evening of powerful readings, deep conversation, and an opportunity to immerse yourself in A Gathering of Stories, a collection that promises to inspire, provoke, and resonate long after the final page is turned.
For Media Inquiries:
Lit.Culture Books & The Writers Lab –
NEW ANTHOLOGY ALERT������
A Gathering of Stories
We wanted to build a world
For characters that had been walking with us for a while
The ones who refused to go after they arrived
Whispering, lingering, chanting, manifesting
Soon, they wanted to be let out as
They insisted on occupying space beyond memory and imagination
And countless silenced drafts
Each started laying down foundations for
A path that emerged as five walkways
to alternative realities
Five multiverses, cascading into one
A Gathering
Of stories that have been dying to be (re)told
And now, they are ready for you in book-form:
In this volume:
Defiance by Eddie Thaba
Djeli by Katlego Chale
Postcards: Bodily Preserves by Refiloe Lepere
The Chanting Youth by Ronald Manganye
Uncharted by Mxolisi Masilela
Cover art by KhehlaChepapeMakgato
These stories have lived with us, and now they are calling to you.
Price: R300
Preorder via dm or email us at thewriterslabpta@gmail.com
Event Details:
Date: March 12, 2025
Time: 18:00
Location: Lit.Culture @ Breezeblock, 29 Chiswick Street, Brixton, Johannesburg
