Invitation to the Alan Paton Literary Festival
The Alan Paton Centre (APC), in collaboration with Darryl David, is pleased to host the Alan Paton Literary Festival on 23 and 24 May 2025. The event will be held at Leeu du Toit Chambers, located on the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Pietermaritzburg campus.
The festival will feature a rich programme, including keynote addresses, book readings, and discussions with distinguished authors. Highlights include:
- A presentation by Mr George Hughes, representing the Natal Parks Board
- Participation by acclaimed authors such as Uma Dhupelia-Mesthrie, author of Gandhi’s African Legacy, who will deliver the keynote address
- Live virtual appearances by Morgainne Sue du Plessis, Professor Saleem Badat, and Richard Zenith
Additionally, the festival includes a Short Story Competition open to learners from schools in the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands regions. This year’s theme is “Ah, but your land is beautiful”, and we encourage all eligible pupils to participate.
Entry to the festival is free, but RSVP is essential. Kindly confirm your attendance by emailing either:
- Sherian Latif at latifs@ukzn.ac.za or
- Lorraine Mafokwane at mafokwaneL@ukzn.ac.za
We look forward to celebrating literature, history, and storytelling with you.
