Part 2 of the 11th African Women Writers Symposium (AWWS) takes place on Sunday 16th November at the Soweto Theatre. The Symposium is funded by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and is held in partnership with the Soweto Theatre. This event is free and open to all. Part 1 of our Symposium – held last month – was a resounding success and well received by the public and the media.
The African Women Writers Symposium returns with a vibrant programme of writing and publishing workshops, alongside compelling panel discussions where emerging and established authors tackle today’s most pressing literary, social, and cultural issues.
Back by popular acclaim, award-winning poet and writer (of many works as listed below) Arja Salafranca will facilitate a workshop on short story writing. Her advice to any would-be writer is simple: “Read, of course, read as much and as widely as you can.”
How does a writer go from manuscript to published work? Dr. Stacy Hardy — acclaimed poet, Wits University lecturer, and editor at the Pan-African platform Chimurenga — will lead a special workshop to answer this very question. Along with co-facilitators Dr Raphael d’Abdon and Quaz Roodt, she brings a wealth of insight from her global scholarly work to guide writers on the practical steps toward publication.
This symposium will tackle the critical role of journalists in our challenging era. We will hear from leading voices like Naledi Moleo (ENCA), Mbali Dhlamini (EWN), and Selaelo Makhwidiri (Salaamedia), as they dissect the pressing issues in media today — from censorship and bias to disinformation and beyond.
There will be panels on debut writing with South African writers Nadia Cassim (Not Another Samoosa Run), Mpho Boshego (Diplomatic Ties) as well award-winning writer Zainab Dala, Romy Sommer, a romance novelist and writing coach, and Angolan writer Egna de Sousa.
As in previous editions, AWWS seeks to engage with the world we inhabit, not just the word. In an era of division, what do borders and belonging truly mean? We entrust this hefty but stimulating brain-teaser to a dynamic panel: young writer and activist Zulaikha Patel, political commentator Tessa Dooms (Power FM), author Zainab Dala, and South African indigenous historian Attaqua Ethel Herandien. Together, they will explore our shared humanity in the face of discrimination and xenophobia, both within South Africa and beyond its borders.
The programme will also feature performance poets and music. For more details on the programme, see below:
Entrance: FREE but booking is essential. RSVP 👉 bit.ly/AWWS2025_RSVP or email afroartsurban@gmail.com
Social Media:
Afro Arts SA – https://afroarts.co.za/
African Women Writers Network – https://www.facebook.com/africanwomenwritersnetwork
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