CAPE TOWN, South Africa
The 9th annual Franschhoek Literary Festival, which brings together renowned writers, poets and literary minds from all over the world, kicked off on Friday in Franschhoek, South Africa.
A three-day-long literary experience, the festival offers attendees a diverse program, including small-group workshops, panel discussions, lectures, poetry readings, presentations as well as the opportunity to experience some of Franschhoek’s exclusive private properties with a dash of cuisine.
The festival, featuring 120 writers, hosts 175 events in the fields of literature, fiction, politics and history.
“The main objective of the festival is to showcase South African writers, but also we would like to bring international writers here to share their experiences and writings with the local audience,” Ann Donald, the festival’s director, told Anadolu Agency. “The politics events are always the most popular events from the beginning of the festival in 2007.”
Donald also showed an interest in inviting Turkish Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk and Elif Safak in upcoming years.
A large number of prominent and young writers and poets from far-flung areas like New York, London and Paris are expected to participate in the festival.
“I have been to three events so far (and) I liked them all,” said American poet Marla Sink Druzgal.
Wamuwi Mbao, a visitor and lecturer at the English Department in Stellenbosch University said he just came to enjoy the literary environment and Franschhoek.
“This festival is a response to the idea that reading in South Africa is dying,” he said. “People come to engage with writers (and) books. It is a very social process happening here.”
Charlotte Johnson, a literature lover who came from Johannesburg for the festival, said she enjoyed South African literature a lot and the festival gave her an opportunity to meet South African writers coming from overseas.
This year’s festival pays tribute to South African prominent novelist Andre Brink and poet and novelist Chris van Wyk who passed away last year.
The Franschhoek literary festival runs until Sunday.
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