Explore every episode of the podcast Open Book Podcast

In this event Noma Tsheleza facilitates an interactive conversation with Michelle Myeko Kekana, the author of The Fragile Mental Health of Strong Women. 

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. 

The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

In this event Wale Lawal, Athambile Masola and Moray Rhoda speak to Sue Nyamnjoh about meaning making in the age of AI. 

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. 

The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

In this event, Veruska De Vita, Traci Kwaai and Malika Ndlovu speak to Zolani Mahola about the work of reclaiming ancestral and intimate connections to our rivers and oceans. 

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. 

The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

In this event Sven Axelrad, Lebo Mazibuko and Ntombifuthi Nkabinde speak to Lufefe Boss about working through the trauma left by problematic parents.

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

In this event, Foluso Agbaje, Rémy Ngamije and Sarah Uheida speak to Erin Bates about journeying with grief.

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. 

The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

In this event, Maneo Mohale speaks to literary icon, Tsitsi Dangarembga, about bearing witness to complex states of Black girlhood in her powerful world-bending Tambudzai and Nyasha trilogy (Nervous Conditions, The Book of Not, This Mournable Body).

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.

In this event Foluso Agbaje, Pumla Dineo Gqola, Goretti Kyomuhendo and Athambile Masola speak to Mbali Sikakana about writing feminist histories, and filling in the gaps in the official archives. 

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. 

The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

In this event Siphokazi Jonas and Vusumzi Ngxande speak to Vuyo Koyana about reclaiming a spiritual inheritance and returning to the heart/core of Isintu. 

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. 

The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

In this event, Nkgopoleng Moloi, Pieter Madibuseng Odendaal and Lwando Scott speak to Rebecca Davis about the safety of queer people on our continent and in our cities. 

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. 

The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

Cape Town’s premier poetry slam proudly presents the Slam City Showcase!

A celebration of new talent, lyrical grit, and poetic brilliance in different African languages. Each month, the city’s boldest voices battle it out for the grand prize and the coveted title of Slam City Champion. From every slam, a Top 5 emerges; poets whose performances moved both judges and audiences alike. This showcase brings together those powerful voices: the ones who’ve been slamming for their lives, month after month.

The Slam City Showcase is a testament to how the intensity of slam poetry cultivates discipline, dedication, and camaraderie. Join us as we shine a spotlight on Cape Town’s community of poets who are living, writing, and igniting the mic.

Featuring: Mfundi the Poet, Gali Gali, Riyo, Rea Mmethi, Mtunzikazi Ngozana, Ntsako Layn, Vusumzi Mpofu and Inzima

Musicians: Chosi and Mishy Kope

Hosted by Thapelo Tharaga and Zizipho Bam.

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

Better Late is where the country’s most brilliant, bewildering, and occasionally unhinged creatives - Yaaseen Barnes and Callum Hitchcock - band together on the set of a Late Night TV show to get to the bottom of whatever the hell is going on at the Open Book Festival.

Joining them for conversations that matter are two very special guests, who you may recognise if you have been anywhere with internet access in the last few years — Settle down, brother! It’s not Grok — it’s Dan Corder and Céline Tshika.

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. 

The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

In this event, Kopano Maroga, Manthipe Moila and Pieter Madibuseng Odendaal speak to each other through their poetry. Please note the readings will be followed by a short Q&A session.

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

This session dives into the link between capitalism and mental health, asking what happens to our bodies, minds, and communities when the world gaslights us into distrusting our own senses. Together with artists and thinkers M Mpho Boshego, Andile Cele and Nthato Mokgata, the conversation explores resistance, self-trust as artistic discipline, and vulnerability as something far less cute—and far more urgent—than we've been sold. Following 45 minutes of dialogue, the floor opens. No Q&A. Just a room full of people making noise together. Refusing to stay silent. Naming what’s true – especially if it’s something the world considers mad.

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event, Jon Keevy and Adriana Marais speak to Wamuwi Mbao about the intersections of art and science.

The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event, Tom Eaton, Paige Nick and Zibu Sithole speak to Qarnita Loxton about balancing lighthearted writing with themes that resonate.

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust

A moment to reflect on the impact of Queer, Trans and Worker activism on RMF and FMF: Mam' Nozi, Kealeboga Mase Ramaru, Carbon Wandile Dlamini and Patricia Bevie talk to Noluthando Mqadi about the pursuit of repair, reckoning and restorative politics in the aftermath of a movement that 'shut down the rainbow nation'.

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. 

The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

A moment to reflect on the impact of Queer, Trans and Worker activism on RMF and FMF: Mam' Nozi, Kealeboga Mase Ramaru, Carbon Wandile Dlamini and Patricia Bevie talk to Noluthando Mqadi about the pursuit of repair, reckoning and restorative politics in the aftermath of a movement that 'shut down the rainbow nation'.

The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event Foluso Agbaje, Lesedi Molefi and Nathi Ngubane speak to Pumla Dineo Gqola about subverting power and fighting back.

The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event Kelly-Eve Koopman, Kopano Maroga and Maneo Mohale speak to Lwando Scott about building alternate presents and futures.

The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. 

In this event Sven Axelrad, Khaya Dlanga and Karen Vermeulen speak to Dela Gwala about the necessity of humour to process pain. 

The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.

In this event Zara Julius, Vusumzi Ngxande and Jeffrey Rakabe speak to Wanelisa Xaba about turning away from modernity and exploring the multilayeredness of African cosmologies. 

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. 

The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event, Antjie Krog, Frankie Murrey and Sarah Uheida speak to Bongani Kona about writing one's way to belonging

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event, Rebecca Gore, Adekeye Adebajo and Edgar Pieterse speak to Alexandra Dodd about colonial structures—legal, spatial, cultural—that we are born into and that we either uphold, resist, or remake. These authors explore how systems define the parameters of justice, survival, and hope—and what it might take to transform them.

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event, Alexandra Dodd, Bongani Kona and Antjie Krog discuss memoir and personal nonfiction as ways of grappling with memory, complicity, silence, and shame—both in private lives and in the shared fictions that shape them. This conversation, hosted by Hedley Twidle, explores the risks and rewards of writing into uncertainty.

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event, Pumla Dineo Gqola, Goretti Kyomuhendo and Zulaikha Patel speak to Mohale Mashigo about emotional exhaustion and crisis fatigue.

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event, Festival Director Mervyn Sloman talks to Mohale Mashigo, Lesedi Molefi and Mbali Sikakana about the ways in which Black writers are expected to perform once they have published, how many of these performances involve negotiating white spaces, what needs to change and why we have been having the same conversation for years.

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event, David Cornwell, Caryn Dolley and Nthato Mokgata speak to Edgar Pieterse about the structured violence and alienation of the urban, both past and present.

This event is brought to you by the African Literary Cities Project.

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event, Bibi Bakare-Yusuf, James Murua and Rémy Ngamije speak to Mervyn Sloman about their efforts to spotlight African writing.

This event is brought to you by the African Literary Cities Project.

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event, Popina Khumanda, Malika Ndlovu and Jeffrey Rakabe speak to Firdose Moonda about the scars of trauma and the personal revolution to get to the other side.

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event, Wale Lawal, editor at The Republic is in conversation with Will Shoki, the editor of Africa is a Country. The conversation is preceded by a preview of a video podcast.

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event, Azille Coetzee, Alistair Mackay and Kopano Maroga speak to Céline Tshika about sex and desire outside of heteronormative expectations.

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event, renowned theoretical physicist, Adriana Marais, speaks to Jacinta Delhaize and Daniel Cunnama from The Cosmic Savannah podcast about the scientific and technical possibilities of extraplanetary settlement, and where our ethical responsibilities lie.

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event, Adekeye Adebajo and Bibi Bakare-Yusuf speak to Maneo Mohale about rethinking our frameworks and identities to understand what it means to be Black and African.

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival. In this event, Siphokazi Jonas, Athambile Masola and Ryan Pedro speak to Pieter Madibuseng Odendaal about finding language to hold one's past.

This event is brought to you by the Centre for Rhetoric Studies.

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event, Antjie Krog, Lebo Mazibuko and Malika Ndlovu speak to Buhle Ngaba about independent daughters making sense of this complex relationship.

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event, Veruska de Vita, Saliem Fakir, and Alistair Mackay speak to Natalie Sifuma about the impact of the climate catastrophe and their work.

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event, Nadia Cassim, Bonnie Espie and Andrew Robert Wilson speak to Palesa Motsumi about how the truth refuses to remain hidden.

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event, Foluso Agbaje, Zara Julius and Patric Tariq Mellet speak to Aphiwe Ngalo about the uneasy present resting on layers of the past in our cities.

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event, Caryn Dolley, Rebecca Gore and Julian Jansen reflect on how their recent books expose our collapsed criminal justice system. Chaired by Dan Corder.

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust

This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2025 edition of the Open Book Festival.

In this event, Haidar Eid speaks to Usuf Chikte about his new book, a collection of essays and articles he wrote and published during the Israeli onslaught on Gaza and the “hermetic blockade” that has been in place since 2007.

The conversation was preceded by a screening of a documentary by Haidar: https://www.anemoia.net/zarnouqa.

The festival was made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.

This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024.

This event closed out the 2024 Open Book Festival with poetry and song. Featuring the aBantu Chorus and poets, Zizipho Bam, Siphokazi Jonas, Lynthia Julius and Eloghosa Osunde, this performance touches on healing, unity and the power of storytelling.

This event was made possible by the support of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, the City of Cape Town and the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this event, Lesedi Molefi, Margie Orford and Hedley Twidle speak to Festival Director, Mervyn Sloman, about crafting their work.This event was made possible by the support of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, the City of Cape Town and the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this conversation, Olivia Coetzee, Karen Jennings and Nathan Trantraal speak to Bettina Wyngaard about writing poverty. This event was made possible by the support of the Department of Sports Arts and Culture, the City of Cape Town and the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this conversation, Andries du Toit, Lesedi Molefi and Nathan Trantraal discuss the intersection of trauma, anger and fear in the context of South African masculinities. Chaired by Kopano Ratele. This event was made possible by the support of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, the City of Cape Town and the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024.

In this conversation, Damilare Kuku, Kharys Laue and Nozibele Mayaba speak to Nwabisa Mayema about women coming into their own.

This event was made possible by the support of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, the City of Cape Town and the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024.

In this conversation, Nadine Dirks and Lesedi Molefi speak to Firdose Moonda about accessing essential care.

This event was made possible by the support of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, the City of Cape Town and the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024.

In this conversation, Gaireyah Fredericks, Hamza Koudri and David Mann speak to Azille Coetzee about authenticity and representation.

This event was made possible by the support of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, the City of Cape Town and the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024.

In this conversation, Qarnita Loxton, Niq Mhlongo and Zukiswa Wanner speak to Jordan Pieters about defying expectations.

This event was made possible by the support of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, the City of Cape Town and the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024.

In this discussion, Busisekile Khumalo, Caitlin Stobie and Thobeka Yose speak to Joy Watson about surviving womanhood.

This event was made possible by the support of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, the City of Cape Town and the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. Join Maneo Mohale and Koleka Putuma for a session exploring each other's work and what poetry makes possible. This event was made possible by the support of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, the City of Cape Town and the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024.

In this conversation, Hamza Koudri, Damilare Kuku and Zibu Sithole speak to Karina Szczurek about complex sibling relationships.

This event was made possible by the support of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, the City of Cape Town and the Heinrich Böll Foundation.