4th International African Women Writers’ Symposium
“BEARING WITNESS, GIVING TESTIMONY AND TELLING THE UNTOLD STORY”
The programme of the 4th International Women Writers Symposium features a cross section of writers and artists including; Gillian Slovo [SA/UK], Aja Monet [USA], Syreeta McFadden [USA]; Christina Ali Farah [Somalia/Italy], Mamle Kabu [Ghana] and many South African writers including Prof Willie Kgositsile, Natalia Molebatsi, Vangi Gantsho and Nombusiso Gasa.
THURSDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER
Workshops at the Fringe at Joburg Theatre from 15h00 with Ubah Christina Ali Farah and Aja Monet
Refreshments and snacks will be provided
FRIDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER at the Fringe at Joburg Theatre
Workshop at the Fringe at Joburg Theatre from 12h00 with Syreeta McFadden and Aja Monet.
Workshop at the Fringe at Joburg Theatre from 15h00 with Aja Monet and Mamle Kabu.
2nd In Memoriam Lecture for Nadine Gordimer presented by Gillian Slovo from 18h00. This is followed by a cultural
Evening with performance, poetry and music. The music, curated by the Steve Dyer band, features singers Nothende, Msaki and Berita. Poets include Mak Manaka, Aja Monet, Syreeta McFadden, Christina Ali Farah and others.
SATURDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER
09h00 – 17h00
Panel discussions and workshops.
15h00 – 17h00
Special tribute to the late Phyllis Ntantala, one of South Africa’s foremost feminists.
Gillian Slovo [SA/UK]
Gillian Slovo is a novelist and playwright.
Her family memoir, Every Secret Thing, which tells the story of her activist parents Ruth First and Joe Slovo, was a worldwide best seller. Her novel Red Dust, a story set around a fictional hearing of the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission won France’s Temoin du Monde prize and was made into a film starring Hilary Swank and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Syreeta McFadden (USA)
Syreeta McFadden is a Writer, Photographer and Professor of English at the Borough of Manhattan Community College in New York City. Syreeta’s work deals largely with gender, politics, race and culture. McFadden has written extensively on Black Lives Matters.
Ubah Cristina Ali Farah (Somalia/Italy)
Ubah Cristina Ali Farah is a Somalian writer who fled when she was 18 due to civil war in her country. She’s a poet, novelist, playwright and oral performer. In 2006 she won the Lingua Madre National Literary Prize. Her novel Madre Piccola (2007) was awarded the prestigious Vittorini Prize.
Mamle Kabu (Ghana)
Mamle Kabu is the only Ghananian to be a finalist for the Caine Prize (2009) for her short story “The End of Skill”
Aja Monet (USA)
Harry Belafonte has called Aja Monet “The true definition of an artist” An internationally established poet, singer, performer, and educator. The youngest individual to win the legendary Nuyorican Poet’s Café Grand Slam. She collaborated with poet /musician Saul Williams on the book Chorus: A Literary Mixtape.
For more details see the Facebook page: African Women Writers Network or email Urbanart10@gmail.com or vincentias@joburgtheatre.org.za
There is no charge to attend but please RSVP to vincentias@joburgtheatre.org.za for access purposes .