The second annual Khayelitsha Book Festival, hosted by Uhlanga Publishers, was a success and could easily be described as the “lift off”moment to something historic.
The event was held at the Thusong Centre in Khayelitsha last weekend.
Uhlanga Publisher founder, Zimkhitha Zilo, said the idea of a book festival started during the Covid-19 lockdown and she wanted to “flood the space with books and have children excited about reading.”
Ms Zilo staged her first book festival last year and this year she included various stakeholders and writers to part-take in the “Townships re-imagined Through Literature, Art,Education and Healthy families” colloquium.
Azania and MaliViwe Phunyuka Bemphethe Chimurenga facilitated the “Township Re-imagined colloquium, while Masixole Mlandu gave an overview of what townships are and how re-imagining them can help develop them, and Ndawoyam Bikitsha of Ndawo Accessories and Sim Luvantyu Dyantyi shared invaluable insight on how we can re-imagine our townships through healthy families.
Zikhona Madubela of In2Change Learning, a soft skills training company and Zandile Tlhapi of Sentle Tech and Tele services shared how entrepreneurship can be used to re-imagine townships.
Lumkile Mzukwa of Lumkile’s Book Joint, Bhut Fura an avid reader and Liqhame Rasmeni of VuLi Media House, highlighted the role literature has played and continues to play in re-imagining townships.
Artist and activist, Thandi Gqiba with Afro jazz singer Qaqamba Ntshinka and Afro soul singer Nkululeko Imange Dyantyi and Bhele Ka Langa reminded the audience how music has and will always be instrumental in re-imagining townships.
Miss SA Teen finalist Iminathi Dondolo, Boitumelo Dlothi Tabata, an educator, and Monwabisi Lubabalo Ka-Mhaga Dyantyi of Nguzo Saba highlighted the role of literacy and education.
Nosie Dyantyi-Mwanda facilitated the Dr Lucas Yakobi book launch.
