Popular book fair returns featuring exciting authors after two years of disruption by the global pandemic
The book festival, which features an array of exciting authors will take place on 26 and 27 March, 2022 at Bertha House in Mowbray. Tickets are available through Webtickets.
Alistair Mackay, Faye Kabali-Kagwa (photo credit Chris de Beer Procter), Finuala Dowling (photo credit Retha Ferguson), Relebone Rirhandzu eAfrika and Toni Stuart are just a few of the participants at Open Book Festival)
By Edward Tsumele
The effects of the impact of Covid-19 on the different sectors of the economy are yet to be fully understood, but one of the sectors that was hugely negatively impacted on without doubt is the book trade. For example even though book outlets were allowed to operate at different levels of lockdowns, with strict precautions, such as sanitizing, a reduced number of people visited bookstores than is the case under normal trading. Book launches, which form a big part of the book marketing machinery were affected as gatherings were either disallowed, and If allowed, only a limited number was permissible, rendering the exercise a futile one.
Online selling of books indeed became a mitigating factor as one could still order and get their book delivered on their doorsteps. But that too had its own limitations. For example the culture of browsing through books in a bookstore is well entrenched in literary circles, as it allows one to shop at leisure, while for example enjoy a cup of coffee, especially at Exclusive Books outlets. In addition, how many times have walked into a book shop randomly, browsed through books and end up buying a book that you had not planned to do. After all only a few people would plan to visit a book shop to buy books, unless there is a specific book they are looking for, but most times end up in a book store unplanned.
Book festivals had become so much part and parcel of our literary habits to the extent that every year, we expected to attend at least one such event, where one mingles with like-minded people and share their experiences of their encounter with books. An even more exciting prospect was to interact with an author of your favourite book at a book fair.
But all of these book buying experiences and cultures were disrupted by the arrival of Covid-19 on our shores.
It is in this context that book loving people, the so called bookworms will be happy to know that one of the most popular book markets, the Open Book Fair is back and once again, can be visited in person.
The return of Open Book Festival
After an absence of two years as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic, Open Book Festival returns with an exciting two-day, in-person event!.
Participants and authors will finally have the chance to sit in the same room again at the more compact Festival, which will take place on 26 and 27 March at Bertha House in Mowbray. Tickets are available through Webtickets.
“Seating though will be strictly limited due to Covid-19 protocols and the capacity of the venue, so early booking is more important than ever.
Open Book Festival is one of the most innovative literature festivals in South Africa. It has twice been shortlisted for the London Book Fair Excellence Awards. Nearly 10 000 people attended the most recent annual event, which ran for nine years, up to 2019. During the past two years, Open Book Festival’s podcast series has kept the engaging conversations going, while highlighting some of the incredible books that have been published.
“Open Book Festival is committed to creating a space to celebrate South African writers. It strives to instill a love of reading among young attendees, with the programme designed to engage, entertain and inspire conversations among festival-goers long after the event.
Our digital engagements have provided a good platform to talk about the compelling books South African authors have continued to write, but nothing can beat the experience of an in-person event,,” says Open Book Festival Organiser Vasti Calitz.
He added: “We are delighted to be hosting our first live, post-pandemic Festival. With the devastating impact that Covid-19 has had on the creative sector, we have decided to present an all-South African line up for this event.”
“Although the March edition is a miniature version of our usual festival, audiences will be able to enjoy everything they have come to expect from the Open Book Festival experience – engaging, entertaining discussions followed by great conversations long after the session in the venue’s on-site café.”
“In other good news, look out for our events throughout the year, including another Festival in September. There’s a lot to look forward to and we expect the year to be a thrilling one.
Authors, activists, journalists, academics and poets come together to debate topics that shape and inform us. Festival-goers can look forward to discussions ranging from loss, land and city landscapes to courage, capitalism and the power of memory,” says Calitz.
Participants.
Participants at the 2022 Open Book Festival include: Sindiswa Busuku, Azille Coetzee, C. A. Davids, Finuala Dowling, Andries du Toit, Relebone Rirhandzu eAfrika, Shana Fife, vangile gantsho, Pumla Gqola, Tapiwa Guzha, Robert Hamblin, Imran Hamdulay, Ingrid Jones, Joanne Joseph, Faye Kabali-Kagwa, Sara-Jayne King, Bongani Kona, Kelly-Eve Koopman, Aoife Lennon-Ritchie, Alistair Mackay, Jessica Mbangeni, Bridget McNulty, Thenjiwe Mswane, Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, Sue Nyathi, Julie Nxadi, Edgar Pieterse, Mpho Raboeane, Katlego Ramantsima, Nancy Richards, Quaz Roodt, Keely Shinners, Kelly Smith, Toni Giselle Stuart, Sarah Summers, Jen Thorpe, Hedley Twidle and Joy Watson.
The programme line-up (excluding workshops happening in the week) is:
Saturday 26 March:
10.00 -11.30: Getting Real about Land (with PLAAS): Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, Mpho Raboeana and Andries du Toit speak to Katlego Ramantsima about the real politics of land
12.00 – 13.00: A Map of Loss: Relebone Rirhandzu eAfrika, Bongani Kona and Bridget McNulty speak to Joy Watson about how we survive
14.00 – 15.00: Present Dystopia: Kelly-Eve Koopman, Alistair Mackay and Keely Shinners speak to Edgar Pieterse about imagining a landscape of the future on that of the present 16.00 – 17.00: Unmaking Fear: Shana Fife, Pumla Gqola and Sue Nyathi speak to Sara-Jayne King about everyday acts of courage and resistance against the patriarchy.
17.00 – 19.00: Our Move Next: Speculative Fiction E- anthology launch. The launch event for this exciting open-source anthology features music, artwork and readings from selected pieces by young South African performers.
18.00 – 19.00: Politics of Memory: CA Davids, Joanne Joseph and Bongani Kona speak to Sindiswa Busuku about what we choose to remember and why
Sunday 27 March
10.00 – 11.00: The Pressure to Produce: Relebone Rirhandzu eAfrika, Tapiwa Guzha and Jen Thorpe explore the effect of capitalism on creativity and mental health in the company of Faye Kabali-Kagwa
12.00 – 13.00: Queering Family: Robert Hamblin, Thenjiwe Mswane and Keely Shinners explore what family can mean in the company of Kelly Smith
14.00 – 15.00: Playing Along: Azille Coetzee, Pumla Gqola and Joy Watson speak to Ingrid Jones about the roles women must play in order to survive
16.00 – 17.00: The Architecture of Words: C.A. Davids, Finuala Dowling and Nancy Richards speak to Aoife Lennon-Ritchie about their writing processes
17.30 – 19.00: A pandemic. pause. poetry: vangile gantsho and Toni Giselle Stuart hold a conversation about surviving the pandemic through poetry, with Jessica Mbangeni, Julie Nxadi and Quaz Roodt. What this time teaches us, what we remember and how we move forward.
.Open Book Festival will take place on 26 and 27 March at Bertha House in Mowbray, which is situated at 67, 69 Main Road, Mowbray, Cape Town,
Tickets cost R50 per session.
Event Passes are also available:
Get 5 tickets for the price of 4 for R200
You can get 10 tickets for the price of eight: R400
Bookings can be made at Webtickets