The South African Book Fair 2020 programme has been announced and the tickets for this fully virtual event are now available to purchase.
An entry ticket for only R50 gives you access to the full three-day event taking place between 11-13 September and featuring an engaging, stimulating and entertaining programme and the Fairâs signature industry marketplace. Tickets will be available via the South African Book Fair website www.southafricanbookfair.co.za
The virtual South African Book Fair is presented by the South African Book Development Council (SABDC), with the support of the Fibre Processing and Manufacturing (FP&M) Seta.
The organisers of the South African Book Fair have taken care to curate a virtual event that has something for everyone.The event offers a way of supporting, connecting, growing and showcasing the South African publishing industry during the enormous challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the Fairâs highlights is the The Magic Tent, which hosts the Childrenâs Programme offering a range of activities for children and teens. From toddlers to grandparents, all are welcome to visit the Magic Tent and to revel in the affirmative power of books and reading â for the first time or the thousandth time.
Book and word devotees will not want to miss the Keorapetse Kgositsile Poetry CafĂ© which takes place over two brilliant hours on Friday September 11th (19h00 â 21h00) – nor the Battle of the Book Clubs Quiz, which has been created especially for this yearâs Fair. This unique battle will start during August, with the semi-final and finals taking place during the Fair.
Author-led panel discussions offer a feast for the mind and soul of those interested in feminism, race & identity, crime, relationships and erotica, food & food security, travel, economics, science fiction and more. With topics ranging from white privilege to masculinity, misogyny and African psychology, Black Lives Matter, intergenerational dialogue, the role of literary journals in Africa and so many others, this yearâs programme is provocative, topical and unmissable for people across the globe – especially those with an interest in African narratives and the world we now all inhabit.
âHistoric circumstances gave us an opportunity to reimagine this yearâs SA Book Fair,â comments Elitha van der Sandt, CEO of the South African Book Development Council (SABDC).
âWe worked at curating an accessible and engaging programme that, even in these virtual times, continue to establish the unique role of books,authors and publishers in addressing the most relevant issues of the moment – in both the public and personal arenas.â
The Fair opens on Friday September 11th with the semi-finals of the Battle of the Book Clubs (18h00 to 19h00) followed by the Keorapetse Kgositsile Poetry CafĂ© (19h00 – 21h00).
The sessions will run from 10am to 21h00 on Saturday September 12th and from 09h00 to 19h00 on Sunday September 11th, with between one and three to choose from each hour. The panel discussions open with the topical âStaying Sane: The Lockdown Chroniclesâ and âDown to Earth: From garden to tableâ on Saturday morning at 10h00 and close with the thought-provoking discussion focused on African Novels titled âPolitics and Home: Taking ownership of our narrativesâ which takes place on Sunday from 17h00 to 18h00.
