Cape Flats Book Festival celebrates stories and community

Marsha Bothma and Alicia English|Published 4 weeks ago

A featured author at the Cape Flats Book Festival was Vennessa Scholtz from Parow, who has published books such as Kita’s Dance with the Dust and Ellie and the Good Hair Fairy. Pictured is Ms Scholtz reading one of her books to attendees at the festival.

The Cape Flats Book Festival, hosted by literacy organisation Read to Rise, was filled with people from near and far who gathered to celebrate literature, culture, and storytelling.

The fourth annual festival, held on Saturday February 1 and Sunday February 2, took place at West End Primary School in Lentegeur.

The festival attracted a diverse audience, including visitors from Cape Town, Durban, and even Germany.

West End Primary School principal Clive Arries emphasised the importance of storytelling in the community.

From left are Cape JKA Karate team, Alaine Fielies, Yandisa Mrwebi and Amy-Lee Siljeur, and at the back are Sensei Viane Nrahirasa and Sensei Elijah Wessels.

“The Cape Flats has always been a place where narratives come alive – in our homes, on our streets, and in the voices of our people who have countless stories to tell,” he said.

Author and Plainsman reporter, Alicia English at the Cape Flats Book Festival on Saturday February 1.

He highlighted the festival's impact on young minds: “We have met authors who grew up on these very streets, poets who capture our daily experiences in verse, and new voices emerging from our community.

“Our message to our pupils and the children of South Africa is that your stories matter. Your experiences, your dreams, and your voices are the future chapters of our collective story. Let the Cape Flats Book Festival inspire you to read, write, and share your own narratives.”

Festival-goers were able to discover and engage with authors and their books as well as engage in insightful discussions.

Among the attendees was Nusaybah Kasu, who attended the festival for the first time with her sister. “I visited the Plainsman table and gathered some books. I am a reader, and I love an environment like this,” she said, expressing her excitement about the literary atmosphere.

At the festival on Saturday February 1 were sisters, Mumtaaz Kasu and Nusaybah Kasu, who visited the Plainsman stand.

One of the featured authors at the event was Vennessa Scholtz from Parow, who has published books such as Kita’s Dance with the Dust and Ellie and the Good Hair Fairy. Her book Kita and the Dusty Red Road won the Golden Baobab Picture Book Prize in 2016, an award and NPO recognising African literature and promoting reading on the continent.

Ms Scholtz said there is significance in reading for children. “Reading is extremely important. Your child will not only learn more about the world but also about different characters, people, and places. As children grow older, if parents cultivate a love for reading, they will continue to learn and grow. Books take them on adventures too,” she shared.

MEC for Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ricardo Mackenzie and Ward 75 councillor Joan Woodman, at the festival on Saturday February 1.

Tafelsig author, Darren Francis, 43, used the platform to inspire others. Passionate about Mitchell’s Plain, he spoke at one of the festival’s sessions, sharing his journey as an author and motivational speaker.

“This was a great opportunity to share what it takes to be successful regardless of your economic situation. Where you come from does not define you. Growing up, people labeled us as failures; they couldn’t see our potential. Our parents had to work to survive,” he said.

“My book, Failing to My Success, is cathartic. It shares intimate details of my childhood, my healing process, and my journey. I am also sharing it for people like me who can relate.”

The Cape Flats Book Festival allows for storytelling, empowerment, and community building, said Wendy Abrahams, director and founder of Advance Edukos Foundation NPO, one of the vendors at the festival.

At the festival was the Advance Edukos Foundation NPO, from left back are, Tracey Spannenberg, Wendy Abrahams and in front are Angela Julie, Carol Grant and Zia Abrahams.

Ms Abrahams, who also assists children, young people and the broader community with programmes in psychosocial support and art sessions, to name a few, said within a few minutes she got to connect with people who will be able to support the work they do.

“This festival is needed in bringing people together and also sharing the stories within this community and beyond,” she said.

Little Carter Daniels from Lentegeur and his dad Dominic Daniels, who volunteers for Read to Rise, stopped by at the Plainsman stand at this weekend’s Cape Flats Book Festival, held at West End Primary School.

Speaking to the Plainsman at the end of the festival on Sunday, Roscoe Williams, Read to Rise programme director, said the annual event was a roaring success. “It has been really amazing, the turnout was great. People really enjoyed the event and it was a great success.

“We hope that we’ve inspired many kids at the festival, with the hope that kids who are part of our Read to Rise programme, will next year or the following year, be on our [book festival] programme with their own books.

“We hope this festival will not only inspire children but also adults to become authors or illustrators and hopefully they can also be part of the festival,” he said.

Mr Williams thanked the participants in this year’s festival and said the organisation is already fielding calls from hopeful authors and poets who would like to take part in next year’s event.

• The Plainsman had 50 people who entered its lucky draw at the book festival to win four book hampers. The Plainsman book hamper winners are: Mary Davidson, Chantino Johnson, Zayd Julius and Seonaid Kabiah.

Literacy organisation Read to Rise staff rallied together to host the Cape Flats Book Festival this past weekend. They are seen here with programme director Roscoe Williams (fourth, from left) and co-founder Taryn Lock (far right).

From left: Nicholas Silangu moderated a session on South African stories with authors Bernadette Kiewiet (Life’s Soiled Red Earth) and Jeremy Vearey (Crimson Sands) on Sunday February 2.