Name: 11th African Women Writers' Symposium
Start: 2025-11-16T10:00:00+02:00
End: 2025-11-16T17:30:00+02:00
Location: Soweto Theatre

📚✨ The 11th African Women Writers’ Symposium is here!
Join us for a day of powerful words, poetry, performance, and conversation with some of Africa’s most inspiring voices.
🗓 Sunday 16 November 2025
🕙 10 am – 5:30 pm
📍 Soweto Theatre
🎟 FREE ENTRANCE — RSVP 👉 https://bit.ly/AWWS2025_RSVP
or email [email protected]
🕙 10 to 11.30am
Workshop 1: Publishing poetry and prose
Presenters: Dr Raphael d’Abdon (Unisa), Dr Stacey Hardy (Wits University), Quaz Roodt (University of Johannesburg)
Having one’s work published is the aspiration of every writer, but where and how does the journey begin? What must one do to stand a chance to be published in magazines and journals? When is one ready to submit a manuscript to a publisher? The workshop, facilitated by three experienced South African writers / editors / teachers, explores the different phases of the process that leads to publication (reading, writing and editing practices; submission; acceptance/rejection; final revision). It focuses on poetry and prose, and is designed for all kinds of writers (beginners, amateurs, professionals).
Workshop 2: Writing Short Stories, including publishing
Presenter: Arja Salafranca
Arja Salafranca has published three collections of poetry, A Life Stripped of Illusions, which received the Sanlam Award for poetry and The Fire in which we burn. Her third poetry collection is Beyond Touch, which was the co-winner in the poetry category of the South African Literary Awards in 2016.
🕙 11.30am to 1pm.
Panel 1: Debut Publishing and the future
Panelists: Mpho Boshego, Nadia Cassim, Egna De Sousa (Angola), Romy Sommer, Zanaib Dala
Facilitator: Nondumiso Msimanga
Mpho Boshego is the debut author of Diplomatic Ties and Nadia Cassims’ recent book is entitled Not Another Samoosa Run. Romy Sommer is a writing coach and writer of romance books. Egna De Sousa is an Angolan writer, poet, diplomat and she is the co-author of several anthologies that celebrate cultural diversity and female strength. Zanaib Dala is an award winning writer.
🕙 1 to 1.45pm
Refreshments and Break
🕙 1.45 to 3.30pm
Panel 2: Borders, Land,Home and Belonging: Exploring our shared humanity
Panelists: Zulaikha Patel, Tessa Dooms, Attaqua Ethel Herandien, Zanaib Dala
Facilitator: Prof Nedine Moonsamy (University of Johannesburg)
Zulaikha Patel is a writer and journalist. Tessa Dooms is a writer, social analyst, broadcaster and currently a presenter on Power FM. Attaqua Ethel Herandien is a South African indigenous historian, social justice activist, knowledge keeper, and oral and visual storyteller and of Khoisan origin. Zanaib Dala is an award winning writer of both fiction and non fiction; she is also a psychologist and physiotherapist.
🕙 3.30 to 5pm
Panel 3: Finding the Conscience in Media
Panelists: Naledi Moleo, Mbali Dhlamini, Selaelo Makhwidiri
Facilitator: Hassen Lorgat
This panel features professional journalists, including Naledi Moleo from ENCA, Mbali Dhlamini from EWN, and Selaelo Makhwidiri from Salaam Media. The session will look at the challenges facing the media, from ownership to misinformation and various other factors.
🕙 5 to 5.30pm
Cultural Programme: Poetry and Music
Poetry: Amogelang Aysha, Emmah Mabye, Torsten Clear Rybka & Modise Sekgothe
Music by the KAMVA String Quartet
#11thAWWS #AfricanWomenWriters #AWWS2025 #SowetoTheatre