We give you a list of events from across the African and Black Literature world you can attend in December 2020. This calendar is updated regularly. If you wish to have your event listed, you can tweet me or put it in the comments of this page. Please note that I reserve the right of posting.
Tuesday, December 1
Event: Festival International de Poésie des Sept Collines de Yaounde 2020
Event Type: Literary Festival.
Host City: Yaounde, Cameroon
Language: French
The second edition of the Festival is held from 01 to 05 December 2020 under the theme: Together for life. With intense activities and a lot of life in perspective, Africa is living beyond Covid-19!
Details: Click here.
Event: Sue Nyathi in conversation with The Cheeky Natives
Event Type: Literary Livestream
Host City: Johannesburg, South Africa
Venue: Virtual
Language: English
A conversation with The Cheeky Natives: Sue Nyathi will be chatting to Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane and Dr Alma-Nalisha Cele about her new novel, A Family Affair. The event will be streamed live on The Cheeky Natives’ Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
Details: Click here.
Event: Kwani? Open Mic
Event Venue: Kenya Cultural Centre, Nairobi
Event Host: Kwani Trust
Featured Artist: Mufasa
MC: Akinyi Oluoch
Language: English
Kwani? Open Mic is a monthly spoken word, poetry and music event that takes place in Nairobi every 1st Tuesday of the month. It runs between 7pm-9pm. It is the longest running youth, art and expression event of its kind in Nairobi, now in its 10th year.
Details: Click here.
Wednesday, December 2
Event: Nyana Kakoma, Mariela Nagle for James Murua Literary LiveStream
Event Type: Literary Livestream
Event Host: James Murua Literary
Venue: Virtual
Language: English
Nyana Kakoma and Mariela Nagle are the guests at the James Murua Literary LiveStream on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, at 18:00 GMT/ 19:00 WAT/ 20:00 CAT/ 21:00 EAT. You can join the stream, brought to you in cooperation with Frankfurter Buchmesse with financial support from the German Federal Foreign Office, on Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter.
Details: Click here.
Thursday, December 3
Event: Reading and discussion with Niq Mhlongo (South Africa)
Event Type: Book reading
Venue: Online (Zoom)
Language: German.
Niq Mhlongo will present his novel Way Back Home (Wunderhorn, 2015), in which he critically examines developments in post-apartness South Africa: Successful careers, close contacts with Politics, a life of luxury – the protagonists in Mhlongo’s novel seem to have achieved their goal after years in exile together in Tanzania and Angola, where they were united in the armed struggle against apartheid. As sworn former comrades in arms, they win big orders and jobs in the new South Africa. But excesses of power within the ANC during the liberation struggle and the search for healing with traditional methods are also discussed.
Julian Wacker conducts and translates the conversation with Mholongo. Carsten Bender reads the German text.
The event takes place i.a. in cooperation with the Volkshochschule Münster and the Eine-Welt-Forum Münster e.V. It is supported by the Cultural Office and the Integration Council of the City of Münster as well as the Peter Hammer Association for Literature and Dialogue e.V.
Due to the corona restrictions, the event will take place online (zoom). The link will be sent shortly before the event. It can be requested by email:
[email protected]
Details: Click here.
Friday, December 4
Event: Jalada: Nostalgia Issue Launch
Event Type: Book launch
Event Host: Jalada Africa
Venue: Online
Language: English
Jalada Africa is a pan-African writers’ collective that publishes anthologies. Their nine anthology the Nostalgia Issue launches online.
Details: On Poster (For Jalada, Click here)
Event: Durban Book Fair 2020
Event Type: Literary Festival
Venue: Venues in Durban, South Africa
Language: English, isiZulu
The Durban Book Fair will host a 3-day 2020 Durban Book Fair from 4 to 6 December 2020. The four day 2020 Durban Book Fair is an extension of the monthly Durban Book Fair which takes place on the first Sunday of every month
Details: Click here.
Event: Poetry In Minutes with Echezonachukwu Nduka
Event Type: Poetry Show
Venue: Online (YouTube)
Language: English
Nigerian award-winning poet and pianist, Echezonachukwu Nduka will be hosting a new poetry show tagged “Poetry In Minutes.”
Details: On poster. The show runs on the Apotheosis Art House YouTube Channel.
Saturday, December 5
Event: Kalahari Short Story 2020 winners ceremony
Event Type: Award Ceremony
Language: English, French
Venue: Online (Zoom)
The Kalahari Short Story Prize 2020 hands out the awards to Ogamba Frances, Howard M-B Maximus and Muhumuza Charles.
Event: Goethe-Institut Namibia’s Virtually Yours with Tendai Huchu
Event Type: Author chat
Event Host: Goethe-Institut Namibia
Language:English
Venue: Zoom:
Join the Virtually Yours Virtual Gathering with Tendai Huchu on Saturday 05 December 15h00 (CAT) to discuss his first novel, The Hairdresser of Harare, with hostess Zukiswa Wanner. The book that has been translated into German, French, Italian and Spanish tells the story of Vimbai as she experiences being colleague, landlady, and potential love interest to a member of one of the wealthiest families in Harare. Everything takes an unexpected turn when secrets and jealousies are exposed. Virtually Yours is open to anyone anywhere and aims to engage with avid and potential readers on the latest developments in contemporary African literature. Email your name and mobile number to [email protected] with “virtually” as the subject to receive further instructions.
Details: Click here.
Event: Poetry Over A Pandemic
Event Type: Poetry jam
Host City: Johannesburg
Poetry Over A Pandemic is the proverbial oasis in the midst of a scorching desert sun and thus will provide much needed relief and sanctuary, restoration of a sense of community and healing that only poetry accompanied by hauntingly beautiful and soothing sounds of a variety of indigenous musical instruments can provide. Poetry Over A Pandemic will be headlined by heavyweights Kgafela le Marabele and Nomashenge Dhlamini who will also be accompanied by a live band. Poetry Over A Pandemic will also feature exclusive selected readings by talented young poets Xabiso Vili and Busisiwe Mahlangu, who are but two contributors from the upcoming Yesterdays and Imagining Realities: An Anthology of South African Poetry published by Imphepho Press in collaboration with the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS).
Details: Click here.
Event: Decolonial Passage Meets Heroe Book Fair
Event Type: Literary Chat
Language: English
Venue: Online
Lorna Likiza (Heroe Book Fair) and Audrey Shipp (Decolonial Passage) will be having literary centered conversations every first Saturday of the month all the way to March 2021. This is in preparation for the upcoming Heroe Book Fair happening from March 22-26 2021 as a virtual event and also in the promotion of Audrey’s new literary journal, Decolonial Passage whose submissions open/have opened on November 1st.
Details: On Poster.
Sunday, December 6
Event: Women’s Prize Live with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: ‘Winner of Winners’
Event: Award ceremony
Event Host: Women’s Prize for Fiction (UK)
Language: English
Venue: Online
Get your front-row seat for a special virtual evening with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, voted the Women’s Prize for Fiction’s ‘Winner of Winners’ for her novel Half of a Yellow Sun in a public vote to celebrate 25 years of the Prize. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie will discuss her writing process, inspirations and career live from Lagos, Nigeria, including a behind-the-scenes film of the author in her Lagos home, and you’ll have a chance to ask your questions to Ms. Adichie live.
Details: Click here.
Event: Jimmy Spire’s Uncomfortable Laughter launches
Event Type: Book launch
Language: English
Venue: Online (Facebook)
Monday, December 7
Tuesday, December 8
Event: Laila Lalami gives the Mikhail Memorial Lecture
Event: Keynote address
Event Host: University of Toledo
Language: English
Venue: Online
The 20th Annual Maryse and Ramzy Mikhail Lecture features author Laila Lalami
Details: Click here
Wednesday, December 9
Event: Africa Literature Talk Series featuring Kinyanjui Kombani
Event Type: Book talk
Event City: Nairobi
Event Host: Columbia Global Centres, Nairobi
Language: English
Event Venue: Online (Zoom)
Columbia Global Centres Nairobi is hosting a virtual book talk series featuring African authors. This month the event features Kinyanjui Kombani and his book Of Pawns and Players with moderation by Mshai Mwangola.
Details: Click here.
Event: Bisi Adjapon, Zoë Beck for James Murua Literary LiveStream
Event Type: Literary Livestream
Event Host: James Murua Literary
Venue: Virtual
Language: English
Event: Nyana Kakoma, Mariela Nagle for James Murua Literary LiveStream
Event Type: Literary Livestream
Event Host: James Murua Literary
Venue: Virtual
Language: English
Bisi Adjapon and Zoë Beck are the guests at the James Murua Literary LiveStream on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, at 18:00 GMT/ 19:00 WAT/ 20:00 CAT/ 21:00 EAT. You can join the stream, brought to you in cooperation with Frankfurter Buchmesse with financial support from the German Federal Foreign Office, on Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter.
Details: Click here.
Event: An evening with Inua Ellams, Maia Elsner & Phoebe Stuckes with Poetry London
Event Type: Poetry
Event City: London, UK
Language: English
Venue: Online
Poetry London is proud to present three exceptional poets, in an evening of readings co-presented by Theresa Lola and Dai George. Born in Nigeria, Inua Ellams has been shaping the cultural conversation for a decade with his acclaimed books and plays. His latest poetry collection, The Actual, reflects on masculinity, racism, injustice, music, and much more, interrogating how these strands weave together in contemporary life. Inua will be reading alongside two rising stars, Maia Elsner and Phoebe Stuckes, whose work speaks to themes of insecurity, trauma, and care at the intersection of the personal and the political. It promises to be an exciting and thought-provoking night, with the opportunity to hear the poets in conversation after their readings.
Chaired by – Theresa Lola and Dai George
Details: Click here.
Thursday, December 10
Friday, December 11
Event: A Virtual Night at the Library
Event Type: Gala.
Event City: Nairobi
Event Host: Book Bunk
Language: English
Event Venue: Online
Book Bunk is hosting “A Night at The Library,” a fundraising gala that raises money to support the restoration of Nairobi’s oldest library – the McMillan Memorial Library, and two of its branches in Kaloleni and Makadara.
Details: Click here.
Event: Elizabeth Allua Vaah’s Maame (Mother) launches
Event Type: book launch
Event Host: Mawenzi House
Language: English
Event Venue: Online
The celebratory launch for MAAME by Elizabeth Allua Vaah is happening soon—on Friday, December 11 at 6 pm (EST)! Celebrate with the author as she reads from her book and answers questions! Joining Elizabeth at the virtual fireside will be Anna Aidoo, a women’s advocate at the Ghanaian-Canadian Association of Ontario and the founder of Endless Possibilities, a non-profit organization supporting women and girls. Register for the event by emailing us at [email protected]!
Details: On poster.
Saturday, December 12
Event: Prix Les Afriques presents Ayobami Adebayo
Event Type: Award ceremony
Event Hosts: La Cene Littéraire
Language: English and French
La Cene Littéraireis honored to present the Africa Prize 2020 to the Nigerian writer Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ for her novel Reste Avec Moi published by Charleston editions.
Details: Click here
Event: Adam Pages End of Year Book Party featuring Abuabakar Adam Ibrahim
Event Type: Book party
Event City: Abuja, Nigeria
Language: English
All roads lead to Zango. This Saturday, December 12 at 3 pm, Adam’s Pages, Wuse 2, will be hosting a book party for Dreams and Assorted Nightmares. If you haven’t picked up your copy yet, you can do so now and come join the conversation on Saturday. There will be readings, signings and whatnots.
Details: On poster.
Imbiza Journal for African Writing will be launched through the activation of its website and social media platforms on Saturday, 12 December 2020. The launch of this new publication will take the form of a website reveal and a call for submission of short stories.
Details: Click here.
Event: Terry-Ann Adams launches Those Who Live In Cages
Event Type: Book launch
Event City: Soweto, South Africa
Language: English
Join debut author @TerryAnnAdams1 at @ProteaBooks in Bara Mall, Soweto on Saturday, 12 December from 10am, when she will be meeting readers and signing copies of her first novel
Sunday, December 13
Monday, December 14
Event: Crater Literary Festival
Event Type: Literary Festival
Event City: Enugu, Nigeria
Language: English
Venue: Online
Crater Literary Festival is an annual gathering of writers, readers, publishers, artists, and art aficionados in Enugu and South-east Nigeria.
Details: on the poster.
Tuesday, December 15
Event: Butterfly Convos with Parrésia Iquo DianaAbasi
Event Type: Book Chat
Event City: London, UK
Venue: Virtual (online)
Language: English
Introducing Butterfly Convos with Parrésia. Meet with the Nigerian publishers authors in Butterfly Convos, find out their inspirations, and journey towards their books.
Details: On Poster.
Crater Literary Festival
Crater Literary Festival is an annual gathering of writers, readers, publishers, artists, and art aficionados in Enugu and South-east Nigeria.
Wednesday, December 16
Event: Feminism, Activism & Literature featuring Tolu Agbelusi, Jessica Horn, Stella Dadzie, Zukiswa Wanner, Lola Shoneyin and others.
Event Type: Literary Festival
Event City: London, UK
Venue: Virtual (online)
Language: English
Tottenham Literature Festival brings you four talks exploring the theme of ‘Connectedness’ from an intergenerational perspective. This talk opens with a powerful poetry performance.
In ‘Feminism, Activism & Literature’ African feminists come together to share their thoughts, joys and imaginations on activism and literature. Featuring poet and playwright Tolu Agbelusi, feminist activist and poet Jessica Horn, activist and co-founder of OWAAD Stella Dadzie, award-winning authors and publishers Zukiswa Wanner, Lola Shoneyin and others.
There will be a chance for you to ask your questions to the panel. BSL interpreted by Eze Ani and Nakisayi Musungwa.
Supported by the Arts Council England.
Details: Click here.
Crater Literary Festival
Crater Literary Festival is an annual gathering of writers, readers, publishers, artists, and art aficionados in Enugu and South-east Nigeria.
Thursday, December 17
Event: Kawe Festival 2020
Event Type: Literary festival
Event City: Ezulwini, Eswatini
Language: English
Details: Click here
Friday, December 18
Event: The Abuja Book Chat features Abubakar Adam Ibrahim
Event Type: Book chat
Event City: Abuja, Nigeria
Language: English
Details: On Poster.
Event: Angela Makholwa and Zukiswa Wanner in Eswatini
Event Type: Book launch
Event City: Ezulwini, Eswatini
Language: English
Internationally acclaimed South African writers Angela Makholwa and Zukiswa Wanner will talk with book lovers from eSwatini about their new works at the Wine Boutique in Ezulwini from 5.30 pm until 7.30 pm.
Details: Click here
Saturday, December 19
Event: Benue Book & Arts Festival 2020
Event Type: literary festival
Event City: Benue, Nigeria
Language: English
The Benue Book and Arts Festival is the first of a continuing series of engagements at the national and regional level to open conversations that will lead to changing perceptions of Nigerians and the world.
Details: On poster
Event: The Tea and Books Pop Up with Bakwa Books and Kinky Coily Collection
Event Type: Book pop up
Event City: Yaounde, Cameroon
Language: English
Details: Click here.
Sunday, December 20
Event: Books and Brunch
Event Type: book bonanza
Event City: Kampala, Uganda
Language: English
Sunday 20th Dec will be Books and Brunch. Come and meet authors, have discussions on books. Pass by our table and see if you can buy yourself any of these titles for Christmas.
Details: On poster.
Monday, December 21
Tuesday, December 22
Wednesday, December 23
Thursday, December 24
Friday, December 25
Saturday, December 26
Sunday, December 27
Monday, December 28
Tuesday, December 29
Wednesday, December 30
Thursday, December 31