WOMEN'S WORDS: AFRICAN WORLDS

In the quest to renew dialogue between African women and those of African discent from other parts of the world, the Department of Arts and Culture in collaboration with the Windybrow theatre organised the Women's Words: African Worlds symposium.

On 25 and 26 August, the Windybrow theatre was abuzz with new and old voices paving a way ahead, addressing issues prominent in the world of an African woman witer, listening to one another's story (which represent the social dynamic from where they arise) as well as reaping new inspirations from one another's imaginations. South African writer Zukiswa Wanner chaired one of the panels on the programme where legendary writer Lauretta Ngcobo (SA), Lola Shoneyin (Nigeria) and Shailja Patel (USA/Kenya) among others spoke on Dreams Dialogues and Realities: Fictional Voices. Other sessions included " Writing the self and others" where acclaimed journalist Masechaba Moshoeshoe was facilitator and panelists included Botswana's Seathlolo Tumedi and Leloba Molema as well as South Africa's Liesl Jobson

As much as most of us in the writing community i heard much late about the symposium, the invitation did reach me and was honoured to share the stage with these giants on the evening of 25 August. Right there a little feather stroke me hoping that the ministry of Arts and Culture will see the need for its continued support within women writers worlds, especially Black women, as opposed to creaming our intellectual curiosities and needs in August as that is designated for "women issues" and then leaving us to the normal corners we travel in during the rest of the year.

I commended them for a lovely evening of readings and the quality of writers on the programme. The evening was laid back and reflective. I am sure we all needed that after the symposium's long listening sessions on the first day. The cultural evening included readings by some of my most favourite writers and performers. Jayne Cortez (USA) sparked the evening to a great flow. The trees, moon and stars were given new descriptions and meaning. Other readers and performers for the evening included Nosipho Kota (South Africa), Arja Salafranca (South Africa) Adaobi Nwaubani (Nigeria), Sindiswa Seakhoa (South Africa, Samira Negrouche (Algeria), Mamaati herself, as well as the evening's favourites, Lola and Shailja. The evening ended with hips moving to the groves of the pan African band.
Well done Lisa Combrink (head of Communication at the DAC). We hope this was not a once off event, that more will take place, even at the corners and fringes of our existense and that fellow writers will hear and heed the call in time.