South Africa's Abantu Book Festival Announces This Year's Line-up of Speakers

Abantu Book Festival, South Africa's biggest book festival for Black readers and writers, is back for this year's installment of the cultural event. They've recently announced their exciting line-up of guest speakers and South Africans are here for it. Frankly, so are we.

Despite backlash in the past, the Abantu Book Festival has remained committed to providing a space where Black people (and Black people alone) can engage with both readers and writers about important literary works.

Veteran South African author Bra Zakes Mda, media mogul and recent author of a memoir entitled Bassie: My Journey of Hope Basetsana Kumalo as well as Egyptian-American journalist Mona Eltahawy and Nigerian-American author Chris Abani are part of the official line-up for the three-day event.

Joining them, will be Professor Pumla Gqola or "Feminist Rogue" as she's known on social media. Professor Gqola has written several books including Rape: A South African Nightmare and Reflecting Rogue: Inside the Mind of a Feminist. Let's not forget Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng or "Dr T" as she's affectionately referred to, the fierce reproductive health rights activist and author ofA Guide to Sexual Health & Pleasure which has taken South Africa by storm. Travel enthusiast Lerato Mogoatlhe and Keletso Mopai,who just released her debut collection of short stories entitled If You Keep Digging, will also be hitting the stage.

The Abantu Book Festival will take place from the 5th to the 8th of December at the Eyethu Lifestyle Center in Soweto and entry is R20.

You can view the full list of speakers the festival has announced recently here.