African Women Writers’ Symposium returns to Soweto Theatre with global literary voices
From the archives: The late Nawal El Saadawi, with Lisa Combrink and Roshnie Moonsammy during an earlier edition of the African Women Writers’ Symposium, a platform that continues to celebrate women’s voices in literature and the arts.
Image: Supplied
The 11th African Women Writers’ Symposium (AWWS) will return to the Soweto Theatre on October 19 and November 16, 2025, under the theme “Challenging Narratives, Inspiring Hope.”
Funded by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and produced by Afro Arts SA, the annual event brings together African women intellectuals, writers, and creatives to explore the role of storytelling in confronting patriarchy, racism, and inequality.
Despite limited representation in mainstream media, organisers say African women writers continue to “punch higher and refuse to be defined by the ignorance of patriarchy, sexism, and racism.” The two-day programme will feature lectures, panel discussions, workshops, poetry, dance, and music, aiming to inspire hope and reflection in challenging times.
The symposium will open on October 19 with the Nadine Gordimer In Memoriam Lecture, delivered by multi-award-winning author Alexandra Fuller, who was raised in Zimbabwe. Fuller, best known for her bestselling memoir Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, will speak on the theme “No Voice, No Choice.” The conversation and Q&A will be facilitated by Nomboniso Gasa, and will be available both in-person and online.
Fuller, who co-produced the 2025 film adaptation of her memoir alongside Trevor Noah and Anele Mdoda, was a finalist for this year’s Pulitzer Prize for her latest work, Fi.
Preceding the lecture, attendees can take part in several workshops, including “Writing from Self” presented by Calvin Ratladi, the Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner for Theatre and director of Breakfast with Mugabe. The day will also feature poetry sessions hosted by ZAPP with poets Vuyokazi Ngemntu, Olive Olusegun, and Dr Raphael d'Abdon, followed by performances from guitarist Louis Mhlanga and trombonist and vocalist Siya Makuzeni.
The second leg of the symposium on November 16 will feature a range of local and international literary discussions, as well as masterclasses on poetry and publishing.
Highlights include a debut authors’ panel featuring Mpho Boshego, Nadia Cassim, Romy Sommer, and Egna de Sousa from Angola, facilitated by Nondumiso Msimanga. Another session, titled “Borders, Land, Home and Belonging,” will feature Zulaikha Patel, Tessa Dooms, and Attaqua Ethel Herandien.
A key attraction will be the panel “Finding the Conscience in Media,” where journalists Naledi Moleo (eNCA), Lebo Moshomane (EWN), and Saelo Makhwidiri (Salaam Media) will explore the challenges facing media integrity, from ownership to misinformation.
Over the years, the AWWS has hosted some of the continent’s most celebrated women writers, among them the late Nawal El Saadawi, Nadine Gordimer and Miriam Tlali, as well as Tsitsi Dangarembga, Zukiswa Wanner, Lola Shoneyin and Mona Eltahawy.
All programme events are free and open to the public, but attendees must RSVP to afroartsurban@gmail.com to attend in person. The Alexandra Fuller lecture will also be streamed live on Discovr.tv, sowetotheatre.com, and the African Women Writers Network Facebook page.