Put the inaugural Gauteng International Book Festival (GIBF) at the top of your weekend plans. The bookfest will be hosted at Ubuntu Kraal in Orlando West, Soweto, on Sunday, 11 December 2022, and starts at 9am. This is the perfect opportunity to meet local authors and get a signed copy of their books. Festival director Lorraine Sithole, a publisher and writer, is excited to host the inaugural book festival.
She is the founder of the BookWorms Book Club and has contributed to these collections: Black Tax: Burden or Ubuntu, edited by Niq Mhlongo and When Secrets Become Stories, edited by Sue Nyathi.
She is the current vice chairperson of the International Book on Books for Young People South Africa.
Sithole says the festival strives to connect book lovers and it’s the perfect family outing where African stories will come alive and the best of South Africa’s literati will spend the day sharing their latest books with readers of all ages, from near and far.
The day will begin with the planting of indigenous plants on site.
There will be more than 30 authors at the festival and the programme includes a special section for children.
Book Circle Capital will be the official bookseller, giving visitors an opportunity to purchase books as early Christmas gifts. Food and drinks will also be on sale.
Sithole says the festival aims to inspire a culture of leisure reading within communities.
The theme of the book festival is Unlimited Africa, and it highlights Africa as inspirational and limitless.
The headliners are best-sellers Dudu Busani-Dube and Fred Khumalo, with the 2022 keynote address delivered by multi-award winner, Dr Nokuthula Mazibuko-Msimang.
Sithole worked with Nyathi, Mazibuko-Msimang and Mhlongo to bring the idea to reality. She is delighted to finally bring the festival to the community.
She has always enjoyed reading and books, which motivated her to start BookWorms Book Club over a decade ago.
The book club gives back to the community through the distribution of hygiene kits to girls, the refurbishment of a mobile library in Jabulani and the renovation of a creche in Pimville.
She is a firm believer in the power of education. “When you can read and write, nobody can take it away from you.”
Sithole is excited for the book festival and hopes many people will share the inaugural experience and arrive in large numbers.
“I urge everyone to try and experience it once. It gives you a fresh perspective on reading. Dit gaan lekker wees (It will be fun),” she said with a smile.
Tickets are available on Quicket for R100 for all day access, and children aged 12 and younger accompanied by an adult enter free.
Written by Brümilda Swartbooi
09/12/2022