27-31 October 2025
Wits Writing Centre, Wartenweiler Library
Humanities Graduate Centre
A festival of writing, featuring panel discussions, film screenings, dance, storytelling and poetry performances, workshops on poetry, translanguaging, zine publishing, book launches and much more.
We are heading to Richmond again at the end of this month and hoping that many readers from across the country will follow. It is time for the Madibaland @ BookBedonnerd Literary Festival! Taking place between 30 October and 1 November, the festival brings together a wonderful mix of writers and readers.
Among the participants are Karavan Press authors Chantal Stewart, Kerry Hammerton and Holland House Books’ Andile Cele, whose wonderful debut novel, Braids & Migraines, we help distribute in South Africa.
For more details and the full programme, see:
We look forward to seeing you all there!
The iLembe Book Festival (IBF) is a collaborative literary event that brings together readers, writers, and creatives from the iLembe District Municipality and surrounding communities. The festival features panel discussions, a school outreach programme, poetry workshops, and a slam poetry event, all aimed at fostering a deeper appreciation for literature and the spoken word.
This year’s festival is taking place on Saturday, 25 October 2025. Karen Jennings and Andile Cele feature on the programme. For more details, see: iLembe Book Festival.
Beskrywing
Klara du Plessis (Act/Ek’t) is ’n digter wat tussen tale glip: die Afrikaans
van haar kinderdae en die Engels van haar volwasse lewe in Kanada.
Pieter Madibuseng Odendaal se huwelik met die Peruaanse digter Jorge Alejandro
Ccoyllurpuma het tot wedersydse vertalings in Spaans en Engels gelei, en
Pieter se Afrikaanse gedigte is ook nou in Engels vertaal en gebundel as a corpse is
also a garden. Die Vlaamse digter Frank Keizer lees voor uit sy werk, wat met
min moeite deur Afrikaanssprekendes verstaan kan word.
Aangebied deur Karavan Press, uhlanga, Jakes Gerwel-stigting
Datum en Tyd: 12/10/2025 | 16:00
Venue: EasyEquities Skrywerskamer
For details and tickets, please see: Woordfees
Don’t miss a great lineup, including Thobeka Yose, author of the award-winning In Silence My Heart Speaks, at this year’s Khayelitsha Book Festival taking place between 26 and 28 September 2025.
Khayelitsha Book Festival is a vibrant celebration of reading, writing, and storytelling rooted in the heart of one of South Africa’s most dynamic communities. Under the powerful theme “We Read, We Write: A Declaration…”, the festival brings together local authors, poets, educators, and young readers to affirm the importance of literacy as a tool for empowerment, identity, and change. Through book launches, panel discussions, performances, and workshops, the festival inspires a love for literature and creates space for voices from Khayelitsha and beyond to be heard, shared, and celebrated.
Venue address: Kilombo Village, 1 Joe Modise St, Mandela Park, Khayelitsha, Cape Town
Book tickets here: Quicket
Pagecast was at the 2025 Open Book Festival, speaking with authors about their writing journeys and the stories they share with readers. In this episode, Bongani Kona interviews Frankie Murrey about her latest work, A Collection of Gaps.
Taking part in the Prince Albert Leesfees this year felt like a homecoming for The Fourth Boy, Andrew Robert Wilson‘s debut novel, which is partly set in the Karoo, with several pivotal scenes of the novel taking place in Prince Albert itself.
Andrew and I were in conversation about the book early on Saturday morning and enjoyed many other events on this year’s programme. It was great to listen to Martin Steyn speak about his work again, and to meet and talk to Alex Hamilton, among other wonderful authors.
Prince Albert is a quirky place to explore. By now, I have my favourites – like the Prince Albert Art Gallery, The Lazy Lizard, the Saturday Market, the Green Prince Gin Bar and many, many more. Most recent discovery: ONS – not to be missed when you visit!
Highlight of the festival since last year is Poetry at Sunrise. Prince Albert is full of talented youngsters and to see them perform their creative work in the stunning quarry just outside of the town’s centre is a magical experience.
Thank you to Hannes Visser and all the hardworking volunteers who put this inspiring festival together! One day back home and I am already looking forward to the next Leesfees, and I sincerely hope that I will be visiting Prince Albert again even sooner. So many places still to explore and the Karoo … The space, the light, the incredible, harsh beauty of it all … I can never get enough of it!
Thank you to De Kleine Prince for hosting me for the weekend. I felt like I was living in a fairytale place.
Until next year, or sooner, dear Prince Albert!
The first weekend of September is Open Book Festival time (5-7 September 2025), and we – Karavan Press, Holland House Books and our wonderful authors – are thrilled to be part of these inspiring, thought-provoking and soul-restoring conversations.
Karavan Press author Nick Mulgrew is also in town for the festival, but will be wearing his publisher’s hat for the occasion and participating in a celebration of ten years of uHlanga Press. Congratulations, uHlanga, Nick and all your amazing poets. Every uHlanga poetry collection is a celebration of beauty and our humanity. Thank you for ten years of outstanding publishing!
It is time for the Prince Albert Leefees again (29-31 August 2025) and we are delighted that Andrew Robert Wilson features on the programme with his debut novel, The Fourth Boy, which is partly set in Prince Albert and the surroundings.
He will be in conversation with Karina M. Szczurek on Saturday, 30 August, 9:00-9:40AM.
Full festival programme:
karavanpress.com 