Open Book Festival Live Recordings

Mohale Mashigo talks to Pumla Gqola and Siphokazi Jonas in the Lockdown Edition of Conversations with Mohale, an event that has occurred annually at the live Open Book Festival.

Keep an eye out for part two of Conversations with Mohale, where Mohale speaks to Shana Fife, which will be released on 15 November.

Curated by Frankie Murrey and Vasti Calitz. Edited by Andri Burnett. Hosted and produced by Vasti Calitz.

This podcast series is made possible by the generous support of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, as well as the Heinrich Boell Foundation. 

The Open Book Podcast series returns on 8 November with another 8 part podcast series featuring authors of some of the most exciting recently published South African literature.

Curated by Frankie Murrey and Vasti Calitz. Hosted by Vasti Calitz. Produced by Andri Burnett. 

Koketso Sachane chairs a conversation about navigating masculinity in South Africa with Prof Malose Langa (Becoming Men) and Melusi Tshabalala (Magenge, We Need to Talk).

This podcast is brought to you by our sponsor, the Heinrich Boell Foundation.

Get in touch via our website, or email Vasti.

Produced by Andri Burnett. Hosted by Vasti Calitz.

Jennifer Malec is in conversation with Lauren Beukes (Afterland) and David Mitchell (Utopia Avenue) about writing novels that are an adventure to read, as well as about the adventure of writing itself.

This podcast is brought to you by our sponsor, the Heinrich Boell Foundation.  Our producer is Andri Burnett.

You can find this episode on all major podcasting apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Pocket Casts.

In this episode, Chase Rhys talks to Terry-Ann Adams (Those Who Live in Cages) and Lynthia Julius (Uit die Kroes) about what it’s like to write about one’s home, and the complexities and joys that come from making one’s community and lived experience visible through art.

We’d love to hear from you – get in touch via our website, or email Vasti.

This podcast is brought to you by our sponsor, the Heinrich Boell Foundation.

Produced by Andri Burnett. Hosted by Vasti Calitz.

In this episode, Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane is in discussion with Brandon Taylor (Real Life) and Paul Mendez (Rainbow Milk) about their gorgeous debut novels, both of which centre young, black queer men who find themselves in alienating environments.

This podcast is brought to you by our sponsor, the Heinrich Boell Foundation.

For more information on the podcast series, check out our website, openbookfestival.co.za, or email Vasti.

Our producer is Andri Burnett. Hosted by Vasti Calitz.

Kelly Smith talks to Mia Arderne and Phumlani Pikoli, who have both written dynamic, playful novels that engage with contemporary South Africa in distinctive ways.

Sara-Jayne King speaks to Brit Bennett about her recent novel, The Vanishing Half,  a story about twins whose very different choices offer a lens through which to explore different racial realities in America.

This podcast is brought to you by our sponsor, the Heinrich Boell Foundation.

For more information on the podcast series, check out our website, openbookfestival.co.za, or email Vasti.

Our producer is Andri Burnett. Hosted by Vasti Calitz.

Efemia Chela talks to Petina Gappah, Helen Moffett, and Zoë Wicomb about engaging with historical narratives from new perspectives, and striking a balance between fidelity and irreverence in retelling stories.

This podcast is brought to you by our sponsor, the Heinrich Boell Foundation.

For more information on the podcast series, check out our website: openbookfestival.co.za, or email Vasti.

Our producer is Andri Burnett. Hosted by Vasti Calitz.

In the first episode of the Open Book Podcast Series, Nigerian author Helon Habila is in conversation with Bongani Kona about his new book, Travellers.  This novel tracks the experience of African migrants in Europe, based  on interviews Helon had done himself. This is a conversation about  travelling – Helon’s life as a traveller, as well as the travels of displaced people across the European continent.

For more information on the podcast series, check out our website: openbookfestival.co.za, or email Vasti.

Produced by Andri Burnett.  Hosted by Vasti Calitz.