Open Book Podcast

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A limited series presents a taste of the incredible conversations characteristic of the Open Book Festival.

Open Book


    • Feb 14, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 1m AVG DURATION
    • 133 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Open Book Podcast

    OBF2024: Gathering Our Voices

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025 63:14


    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.

    OBF2024: Director's Cut | Talking Process

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 68:41


    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.

    OBF2024: Life is Cheap

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2025 59:42


    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.

    OBF2024: Trigger Warning

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 60:43


    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.

    OBF2024: Journeys to Self

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 54:48


    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.

    OBF2024: Visibility and Chronic Conditions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 63:43


    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.

    OBF2024: Portrait of Community

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2025 59:11


    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.

    OBF2024: Bad Women

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 64:28


    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.

    OBF2024: Everyday Violence

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 63:32


    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.

    OBF2024: Up Close with Maneo

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 63:44


    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.

    OBF2024: Writing Sisters

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2025 55:05


    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.

    OBF2024: Understanding Exile

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 57:25


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this event, Oyama Mabandla, Uhuru Phalafala and Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo speak to Ncedisa Nkonyeni about disrupted lives. 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.

    OBF2024: Chosen Family

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2025 62:08


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this conversation, Sven Axelrad, Gothataone Moeng and Buntu Siwisa speak to Anna Stroud about building the world of friendship. 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.

    OBF2024: Queer Freedom

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 62:05


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this discussion, Siya Khumalo and Eloghosa Osunde speak to Kelly-Eve Koopman about fluid characters and homophobic spaces. 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.

    OBF2024: Navigating Religious Trauma

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2025 67:25


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this discussion, Siphokazi Jonas, Pontsho Pilane and Thobeka Yose speak to Maneo Mohale about inherited belief structures. 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.

    OBF2024: Living Dystopian Realities

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 60:17


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this discussion, Nick Clelland, Olivia Coetzee and Tanya Meeson speak to Keely Shinners about creating fictional worlds which reflect our reality. 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.

    OBF2024: Patriarchy and Desire

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2024 63:35


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this event, Busisekile Khumalo, Hamza Koudri and Zukiswa Wanner speak to Wanelisa Xaba about sex and power. 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.

    OBF2024: The Dispossessed

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024 60:23


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this event, Haidar Eid, Uhuru Phalafala and Lebogang Seale speak to Aphiwe Ngalo about land, forced removal, and the settler colonial story. 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.

    OBF2024: The Archive of Everyday

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2024 58:21


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this discussion, Shubnum Khan, Nathan Trantraal and Ivan Vladislavić talk about living histories with Nkgopoleng Moloi. 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.

    OBF2024: Trust Issues

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 59:42


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this discussion, Oyama Mabandla, Alan Storey and Joy Watson speak to Rebecca Davis about how to engage with institutions which have disappointed in our democratic era. 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.

    OBF2024: Cities of Trauma

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 64:37


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this discussion, Karen Jennings, Alistair Mackay and Niq Mhlongo speak to Athambile Masola about the intersection of urban spaces and characters' lived experiences. Presented by African Literary Cities. 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.

    OBF: Reading the Streets

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2024 63:11


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this conversation, Ohene Yaw Ampofo-Anti, Gothataone Moeng and Ivan Vladislavić speak to Amrita Pande about vulnerability, safety and meaning in the city. Presented by African Literary Cities. 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

    OBF2024: Uncontrollable Bodies

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2024 61:38


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this conversation, Busisekile Khumalo, Siya Khumalo and Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu speak to Amogelang Maledu about subversive characters. 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.

    OBF2024: Listening Party | Koleka Putuma

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 66:43


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. A sonic conversation with Koleka Putuma and Dani Kyengo O'Neill. 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.

    OBF2024: Family and Forgiveness

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2024 57:29


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this discussion, Michèle Betty and Damilare Kuku speak to Sue Nyamnjoh about paths to acceptance. 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.

    OBF2024: The Absent and the Present

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 64:38


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this discussion, Charmaine Africa, Alistair Mackay and Thobeka Yose speak to Lester Kiewit about writing fathers. 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.

    OBF2024: Class Acts

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 61:54


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this discussion, Nicky Greenwall, Alistair Mackay and Zibu Sithole discuss writing privilege in their entertaining novels in the company of CA Davids. 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.

    OBF2024: Colonialism and Fracture

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 63:15


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this discussion, Siphokazi Jonas, Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu and Lebogang Seale speak to Mapule Mohulatsi about rebuilding the past to make sense of the present. 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.

    OBF2024: Love and Other Toxins

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 60:02


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this discussion, Sven Axelrad, Shubnum Khan and Alex Latimer speak to Dela Gwala about the many faces of love. 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.

    OBF2024: Queerness and the Divine

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2024 88:55


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this event, Ohene Yaw Ampofo-Anti, Siya Khumalo, Maneo Mohale and Eloghosa Osunde speak to Lwando Scott about acts of reimagination. 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.

    OBF2024: The Personal as Political

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 62:56


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this discussion, Barbara Boswell, Margie Orford and Buntu Siwisa chat to Andrew Brown about their latest books. 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

    OBF2024: Poetry as Medicine

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 61:20


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this discussion, Michèle Betty and Shari Daya speak to Bibi Burger about the possibilities of writing as a bridge to healing. 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.

    OBF2024: Feminist Imaginings | Creative Practice

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 62:18


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. Barbara Boswell, Pumla Dineo Gqola and Gothataone Moeng speak to Mbali Sikakana. This event is in collaboration with the NRF SARChI Chair in African Feminist Imagination at Nelson Mandela University. The festival was made possible by the support of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, the City of Cape Town and the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

    OBF2024: Stories to Save Lives

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2024 69:39


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. In this discussion, Siphokazi Jonas, Lesedi Molefi and Margie Orford speak to Buhle Ngaba about writing mental health.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.

    OBF2024: Conversations with Mohale | Celebrating Unruly Women

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 89:21


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. Pumla Dineo Gqola, Damilare Kuku and Zukiswa Wanner celebrate unruly women with Mohale Mashigo. This event was made possible by the support of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, the Heinrich Böll Foundation. and the City of Cape Town.

    OBF2024: Finding Ways to Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 67:16


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2024. Megan Choritz, Haidar Eid and Nathi Ngubane discuss softening the hard lines in conversations about Gaza. Chaired by Pippa Green. This event was made possible by the support of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, the Heinrich Böll Foundation and the City of Cape Town.

    OBF2023: Black and Female

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2023 58:59


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2023. In this event, Lebohang Masango, Thandiwe Ntshinga and Sue Nyamnjoh talk to Dela Gwala about navigating postcolonial reality. 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.

    OBF2023: Heritage Politics

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2023 71:25


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2023. In this event, Tessa Dooms, Nadia Kamies and Patric Tariq Mellet speak to Lester Kiewit about grappling with the past to imagine a future. 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.

    OBF2023: Coming of Age

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2023 58:51


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2023. In this event, Marina Auer, Diane Awerbuck and Moshitadi Lehlomela speak to Sara-Jayne Makwala King about the vulnerabilities of young women. 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.

    OBF2023: Queerness and Cape Town

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2023 59:23


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2023. In this event, Zoey Black, Maneo Mohale and Manila von Teez explore Cape Town's "queer capital" claims in the company of Lwando Scott. 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.

    OBF2023: Reimagining Rituals

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2023 72:17


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2023. Hugo ka Canham, Maneo Mohale and Jarred Thompson speak to Pumla Dineo Gqola about finding new ways to live. 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.

    OBF2023: The Performance of Normal

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2023 58:02


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2023. In this event, Sarah Isaacs, Wisani Mushwana and Gail Schimmel speak to Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni about the pervasive impacts of shame. 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.

    OBF2023: Enduring Connections

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2023 67:07


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2023. In this event, Sven Axelrad, Sam Beckbessinger and Busisekile Khumalo speak to Daniella Djan about complex friendships. 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.

    OBF2023: Motivations for Writing

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2023 59:57


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2023. Athambile Masola, Nombeko Nontshokweni and Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, speak to Pumelela Nqelenga about writing to fill in gaps, unsilence and heal. 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.

    OBF2023: Acts of War

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2023 69:17


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2023. In this event, Andrew Brown, Craig Higginson and Farai Mudzingwa speak to Ziyanda Stuurman about the impact on the people who have to fight. 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.

    OBF2023: Nobuntu

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2023 46:39


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2023. This is Q&A session with Nombeko and Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni that followed the screening of Nobuntu, the personal journey of a daughter who helps her mother fulfill a life-long dream to publish a treasured 40-year-old manuscript.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. .

    OBF2023: Based on Truth

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2023 62:16


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2023. In this event, Craig Higginson, Wanjiru Koinange and David Ralph Viviers speak to Christy Weyer about blending research and fiction and blurring boundaries between past and present. 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.

    OBF2023: Cape Town City Stories | African Cities as Text

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2023 65:01


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2023. In this event, Caryn Dolley, Patric Tariq Mellet and Chase Rhys speak to Barbara Boswell about writing the memories and (sub)cultures of Cape Town. Brought to you by the African Literary Cities Project. 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.

    OBF2023: Constructed Identities

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023 57:00


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2023. In this event, Lynsey Ebony Chutel, Thandiwe Ntshinga and Pieter Odendaal speak to Nadia Sanger about the roots of racial identity in South Africa. 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.

    OBF2023: Fracture

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023 59:52


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2023. In this event, Sarah Lubala, Maneo Mohale and Uhuru Phalafala talk to Nondwe Mpuma about finding words to speak about the shatterings of life. 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.

    OBF2023: Compelled to Speak

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023 59:46


    This is a live recording of an event that took place at Open Book Festival in September 2023. Festival Coordinator, Frankie Murrey, is forced on stage by Mervyn Sloman to talk about her exquisite collection of short stories. 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.

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