Open Book Podcast

Jaksot

• 
  Feminist Book Club | Elevating Female Voices in Literature | OpenBookFestival 2025 23.01.2026 57min

  In this episode Noma Tsheleza facilitates an interactive conversation with Michelle Myeko Kekana, the author of The Fragile Mental Health of Strong Women. Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.
• 
  The Loss Rate | Finding Meaning in the Age of AI | OpenBookFestival 2025 21.01.2026 1t 9min

  In this episode Wale Lawal, Athambile Masola and Moray Rhoda speak to Sue Nyamnjoh about meaning making in the age of AI. Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.
• 
  What the Water Gave Me | The Intimate Connection to Our Waters | OpenBookFestival 2025 19.01.2026 59min

  In this episode Veruska De Vita, Traci Kwaai and Malika Ndlovu speak to Zolani Mahola about the work of reclaiming ancestral and intimate connections to our rivers and oceans. Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.
• 
  Recovering From Childhood | Reprocessing Trauma Post Problematic Parenting | OpenBookFestival 2025 16.01.2026 1t 3min

  In this episode Sven Axelrad, Lebo Mazibuko and Ntombifuthi Nkabinde speak to Lufefe Boss about working through the trauma left by problematic parents. Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.
• 
  Journeying With Grief | Facing Death | OpenBookFestival 2025 14.01.2026 58min

  In this episode Foluso Agbaje, Rémy Ngamije and Sarah Uheida speak to Erin Bates about journeying with grief.Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.
• 
  Exploring the Complexities of Black Girlhood | Up Close with Maneo | OpenBookFestival 2025 14.01.2026 58min

  In this episode Maneo Mohale speaks to literary icon, Tsitsi Dangarembga, about bearing witness to complex states of Black girlhood in her powerful world-bending Tambudzai and Nyasha trilogy (Nervous Conditions, The Book of Not, This Mournable Body). Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.
• 
  Feminist Imaginary | Bringing Back Erased Feminist Histories | OpenBookFestival 2025 12.12.2025 1t 27min

  In this episode Foluso Agbaje, Pumla Dineo Gqola, Goretti Kyomuhendo and Athambile Masola speak to Mbali Sikakana about writing feminist histories, and filling in the gaps in the official archives.Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible. This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.
• 
  Spirituality in the Now | Finding Your Spiritual Home | OpenBookFestival 2025 10.12.2025 1t 19min

  In this episode Siphokazi Jonas and Vusumzi Ngxande speak to Vuyo Koyana about reclaiming a spiritual inheritance and returning to the heart/core of Isintu. Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.
• 
  Queer Anxiety | Is the LGBTQ+ Community Safe in Africa? | OpenBookFestival 2025 08.12.2025 58min

  In this episode, Nkgopoleng Moloi, Pieter Madibuseng Odendaal and Lwando Scott speak to Rebecca Davis about the safety of queer people on our continent and in our cities. Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.
• 
  Bold Voices Battle It Out | Slam City Showcase | Open Book Festival 2025 05.12.2025 1t 31min

  In this episode Cape Town’s premier poetry slam proudly presents the Slam City Showcase!A celebration of new talent, lyrical grit, and poetic brilliance in different African languages. Each month, the city’s boldest voices battle it out for the grand prize and the coveted title of Slam City Champion. From every slam, a Top 5 emerges; poets whose performances moved both judges and audiences alike. This showcase brings together those powerful voices: the ones who’ve been slamming for their lives, month after month.The Slam City Showcase is a testament to how the intensity of slam poetry cultivates discipline, dedication, and camaraderie. Join us as we shine a spotlight on Cape Town’s community of poets who are living, writing, and igniting the mic. Featuring: Mfundi the Poet, Gali Gali, Riyo, Rea Mmethi, Mtunzikazi Ngozana, Ntsako Layn, Vusumzi Mpofu and InzimaMusicians: Chosi and Mishy KopeHosted by Thapelo Tharaga and Zizipho Bam.Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.
• 
  What Goes on at the Open Book Literary Festival? | Better Late | OpenBookFestival2025 03.12.2025 58min

  Better Late is where the country’s most brilliant, bewildering, and occasionally unhinged creatives - Yaaseen Barnes and Callum Hitchcock - band together on the set of a Late Night TV show to get to the bottom of whatever the hell is going on at the Open Book Festival.Joining them for conversations that matter are two very special guests, who you may recognise if you have been anywhere with internet access in the last few years — Settle down, brother! It’s not Grok — it’s Dan Corder and Céline Tshika.Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.
• 
  The Poetics of I | Poetry Is Language & Language Is Poetry | Open Book Festival 2025 01.12.2025 1t 6min

  In this episode Kopano Maroga, Manthipe Moila and Pieter Madibuseng Odendaal speak to each other through their poetry.Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.
• 
  Has Capitalism Affected Our Mental Health? | Make Noise & Hold All Applause | OpenBookFestival 2025 28.11.2025 1t 29min

  This episode dives into the link between capitalism and mental health, asking what happens to our bodies, minds, and communities when the world gaslights us into distrusting our own senses. Together with artists and thinkers Mpho Boshego, Andile Cele and Nthato Mokgata, the conversation explores resistance, self-trust as artistic discipline, and vulnerability as something far less cute—and far more urgent—than we've been sold.Following 45 minutes of dialogue, the floor opens. No Q&A. Just a room full of people making noise together. Refusing to stay silent. Naming what’s true especially if it’s something the world considers mad.Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.
• 
  Is Science a Form of Art? | Speculative Fiction and Science | OpenBookFestival 2025 26.11.2025 1t 3min

  In this episode, Jon Keevy and Adriana Marais speak to Wamuwi Mbao about the intersections of art and science. Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.
• 
  Why So Serious? | Laughing through Tough Times | OpenBookFestival 2025 24.11.2025 56min

  In this episode, Tom Eaton, Paige Nick and Zibu Sithole speak to Qarnita Loxton about balancing lighthearted writing with themes that resonate.Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.
• 
  Rainbow Nation Shut Down | RMF 10 Years Later | OpenBookFestival 2025 21.11.2025 1t 32min

  In this episode we take a moment to reflect on the impact of Queer, Trans and Worker activism on RMF and FMF.Mam' Nozi, Kealeboga Mase Ramaru, Carbon Wandile Dlamini and Patricia Bevie talk to Noluthando Mqadi about the pursuit of repair, reckoning and restorative politics in the aftermath of a movement that 'shut down the rainbow nation'.Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.
• 
  Stories of Rebellion | What it Means to Fight Back | OpenBookFestival 2025 19.11.2025 1t 7min

  In this episode Foluso Agbaje, Lesedi Molefi and Nathi Ngubane speak to Pumla Dineo Gqola about subverting power and fighting back. Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible. This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.
• 
  Exploring the Queer Imaginary | Changes for the Better for Queer Communities | OpenBookFestival 2025 18.11.2025 1t

  In this event Kelly-Eve Koopman, Kopano Maroga and Maneo Mohale speak to Lwando Scott about building alternate presents and futures.Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.
• 
  Finding Lightness | How Humour Processes Pain | OpenBookFestival 2025 17.11.2025 1t 6min

  In this episode, Sven Axelrad, Khaya Dlanga and Karen Vermeulen speak to Dela Gwala about the necessity of humour to process pain. Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.
• 
  Examining the Past, Present and Future of Africa | African Cosmologies | OpenBookFest 2025 12.11.2025 1t 5min

  In this episode Zara Julius, Vusumzi Ngxande and Jeffrey Rakabe speak to Wanelisa Xaba about turning away from modernity and exploring the multilayeredness of African cosmologies. Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.