UKZN to host 21st Time of the Writer International Festival

The Centre for Creative Arts (CCA) within the College of Humanities will host the 21st Time of the Writer International Festival from 12 to 17 March 2018 at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre. Announcing this year's line-up, the Acting-Director of the CCA, Chipo Zhou said: "We are very excited to be hosting Time of the Writer yet again and celebrating the diverse voices that make up our African literary continent.

"The CCA is grateful for the support from our various stakeholders, without which this festival would not be possible. In an ever-changing global village, the backing of the literary giants in attendance this year, is most humbling, 21 years on. We look forward to an intellectually engaging event that will entertain and challenge our creativity."

Sixteen writers will convene under this year's theme of "Changing the Narrative'' and will engage with this notion as it relates to their work and the direction in which literature is moving towards.

Explaining the choice of theme, Zhou said: "A new generation of scholars is on the rise, demanding recognition of the African intellect and its contribution to literature, an 'African Renaissance'. We cannot rewrite history, but we can question and maybe alter it. And most definitely, we will write the future.

"In the words of Kakwe Kasoma, it is time to correct this colonial hangover. As we celebrate Mandela's centenary year, it is our hope that we can reflect fairly on this history and begin a new chapter as we own our stories and change the narrative."

The festival will consist of a day programme that is hosted in four community libraries (Austerville, Westville, Chesterville Extension and Tongaat), art centres and schools around eThekwini where workshops and panel discussions will take place.

In the evening panel discussions will be hosted at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre. This year's Festival also offers a special focus on children's literature, which will see a storytelling session on Saturday 17 March and panel discussions facilitated by renowned storyteller Dr Gcina Mhlophe.

Tickets for the evening program are available from Computicket, however the day programme is free of charge.

The 16 writers who will participate in the Time of the Writer 2018 are:

* Award-winning creative author, Ayobami Adebayo, from Nigeria.* Experimental Author, Jennipher M Zulu, from Zambia.* Dynamic author Kafula Mwila, from Zambia.* Poet, performance master and author of 12 books, Lesego Rampolokeng, from Johannesburg, South Africa.* Gritty and intense author, Luka Mwango, from Zambia.* Author, award-winning filmmaker, recording artist, and distinguished professor, MK Asante, from the USA.* Best-selling author, Refiloe Moahloli, from Mthatha, South Africa.* Outspoken political commentator, scholar and musician, Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh, from Johannesburg, South Africa.* isiZulu, short story and children's Author, Themba Qwabe from Durban, South Africa.* Unathi Slasha imagines and subverts Nguni folklore from Port Elizabeth, South Africa.* Award-winning novelist and short story writer, Yewande Omotoso, born in Barbados, raised in Nigeria and based Cape Town, South Africa.* Novelist, journalist, poet and academic, Alain Mabanckou, born in Congo, based in France.* Professor of political economy, Patrick Bond, from Johannesburg, South Africa, born in Belfast, Northern Ireland.* Author, politician, diplomat, poet, academic, journalist, and cultural activist Lindiwe Mabuza from Newcastle, South Africa.* Author of the University of Johannesburg, Debut Fiction, Prizewinning novel The Yearning, Mohale Mashigo, from Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa.* Grizelda Grootboom, based in Cape Town, South Africa.