The fourth Cape Flats Book Festival returns to West End Primary School in Lentegeur, Mitchell’s Plain, on Saturday and Sunday February 1 and 2.

The free festival is organised annually by Read to Rise, a non-profit organisation that promotes youth literacy in poor communities.

The festival is sponsored by the National Arts Council, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, the President’s Employment Stimulus, the Western Cape government and West End Primary School. Premier Alan Winde will speak at the opening ceremony.

“The Cape Flats Book Festival is rewriting the narrative of the Cape Flats by bringing stories, ideas and dreams to life. We are recasting literary festivals as events relevant and accessible to everyone. We are building bridges between communities. Our mission is to explicitly bring South Africa’s authors and publishers to the Cape Flats and to showcase the Cape Flats’ authors. These two worlds, so often structurally divided, are brought together at the festival,” said Athol Williams, co-founder of Read to Rise.

The festival will feature more than 70 authors and poets in 52 sessions for children and adults, including poetry and writing workshops, a puppet show, a play, give-aways, books, food and exhibitors, says Taryn Lock, co-founder of Read to Rise.

The line-up of authors includes Professor Jonathan Jansen, Patric Tariq Mellet, Barbara Boswell, Tracy Going, Alistair Izobell, Yusuf Daniels, Jeremy Vearey, Tietie and Nanna, Gaireyah Fredericks and Karin Kotje.

Poets Koleka Patuma, Siphokazi Jonas, Toni Stuart, Michael Weeder, Heidi van Rooyen, Kirsten Deane, Lynn Hill, Ceronne Roberts, Poets vannie Kaap and the Cape Cultural Collective will also feature at the event.

Sessions run from 9.30am to 4pm on Saturday and 10am to 2.30pm on Sunday.

“There will be great workshops for aspiring and upcoming writers and poets including a ‘writing flash fiction’ workshop, a ‘three steps to shift from storyteller to story seller’ workshop, an ‘Afrikaans poetry’ workshop, a ‘performance poetry’ workshop and a ‘marketing for authors’ workshop.

“For children, there will be a puppet show and storytelling sessions where children can come meet several authors, including Lerato Trok, Lisa Tredoux, Hani du Toit, Riaan Manser, Alicia English, Alan Durant, Kyle Jantjies, Kim R2, Vennessa Scholtz, Refilwe Nsibande and Zandile Ndhlovu,” Ms Lock said.

There would also be sessions for young adults, featuring Mia Arderne Ayesha Bawa, and Clive Smith (Siyagruva Series), she added.

Those who attend more than three sessions and get their programme punched can receive a goodie bag with a book from the Read to Rise stand, while stocks last.

Several authors will join the festival organisers on a roadshow to 10 Cape Flats schools to promote the festival in the week running up to event.

For more information, visit www.capeflatsbookfestival.co.za or email info@readtorise.co.za.

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