THE JOHANNESBURG FESTIVAL OF WOMEN WRITERS

Johannesburg Festival of Women Writers returns with a celebration of intergenerational knowledge and story. The fourth Johannesburg Festival of Women Writers (JFWW) will take place at the Joburg Theatre on 7–8 March 2026, bringing together writers, thinkers and readers for a free, public celebration of women’s intellectual and creative work.
 
This year’s theme, Inyathi Ibuzwa Kwabaphambili, a proverb meaning wisdom is sought from those who came before, is also the title of an anthology edited by Dr Siphokazi Magadla, Dr Athambile Masola and Dr Babalwa Magoqwana. The collection explores the lives, work and legacies of women cultural custodians from the nineteenth to the twenty-first century, including figures such as Sarah Baartman, Phyllis Ntantala, Miriam Makeba, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and Thandiswa Mazwai.

Rooted in this theme, the 2026 festival centres intergenerational dialogue and the role of women’s writing in shaping social and intellectual life.

The keynote speaker this year is acclaimed Zimbabwean author Petina Gappah, whose works include An Elegy for Easterly (2009), The Book of Memory (2015), Rotten Row (2016), and Out of Darkness, Shining Light (2019). Renowned for her incisive storytelling and advocacy for social justice, Gappah was named African Literary Person of the Year by Brittle Paper in 2016.

Festival highlights
• Book launch of Inyathi Ibuzwa Kwabaphambili
• A dedicated Children’s Literature Programme
• Panel discussions and public conversations
• Writing workshops and masterclasses

Panel discussions and welcoming from 08:30 on 8 March:

08:30-09:00hrs - Welcome Note by Dr Barbara Masekela, Festival Director

09:15-10:00hrs - Panel Discussion: Pushing frontiers in writing: Are we conforming or evolving?
Participants: Petina Gappah, Mpho Boshego, Dr Zaheera Asvat
Moderator: Lorraine Sithole

10:15-11:15hrs - Panel Discussion: Popular Fiction: Is it worth the hype?
Participants: Karabo Kgoleng, Lulama Mabuza, Nokukhanya Ntsaluba, Vuvu Vena
Moderator: Lebohang Masango – Msiza

Workshops from 11:30 on 8 March will explore a range of contemporary literary concerns, including writing in times of crisis (Momo Matsunyane), poetry and voice (Makhosazana Xaba), queer literature (Sthandiwe Langa), diaspora narratives (Lisa Anne Julienne) and the implications of artificial intelligence for writers (Prof. Nedine Monsammy).