It’s a jubilant opening for the festival as four outstanding poets make magic with words in Afrikaans, English and Sesotho – the three languages of the Clarens Arts Festival.
Join us to hear HELENA HETTEMA (Journeyman: ‘n Digter ontbloot), PROFESSOR RETHABILE POSSA (Kodiyamalla), SIPHOKAZI JONAS (Weeping Becomes A River) and ZAMA MADINANA (’94), with local star and Clarens personality LOMILE MOKOENA conducting.

It’s a free event, all welcome!

Age Restrictions: none

Ticket Note: Food and beverages will be available at the venue at your own expense.

There will be an opportunity to meet the authors after the event and purchase their books.

In Binnerym van bloed: ‘n Outobiografiese roman keer die ikoniese digter en skrywer, ANTJIE KROG terug na die Vrystaat se vlaktes waar sy grootgeword het. In die verhaal oor die verhouding tussen ‘n ma en haar dogter, weef sy woorde, dagboeke, briewe en foto’s saam om veral die aftakeling van oudword te illustreer. Skrywer en joernalis, RUDA LANDMAN gesels met Antjie oor hierdie prosawerk vol humor, deernis en haar skrywersma, Dot Serfontein.

Ouderdomsbeperking: Geen

Kaartjienota: Drankies sal op eie koste beskikbaar wees.

Daar sal ‘n geleentheid wees om die skrywers ná die praatjie te ontmoet en hul boeke te koop.

In Heks neem DIBI BREYTENBACH haar toevlug tot sprokies en mites om haarself teen ‘n oorlog én geweld tussen haar eie vier mure te beskerm. MARIETA CARRICK se Bloed van ‘n vlinder is ‘n sielkundige riller – met ‘n magiese ondertoon – wat in hospitaalgange afspeel. LEON VAN NIEROP, skrywer van Die volmaakte moord, hoor by dié twee krimi-skrywers hoe hulle vreemde, bloedstollende gebeure beplan.

Kuier vroegoggend oor ‘n koppie koffie saam met Dibi, Leon en Marieta by O’s Coffee in die Lonely Rooster-sentrum (oorkant die Protea hotel). Die eerste 30 gaste wat hul toegangskaartjies toon se koffie is boonop gratis! O’s Coffee is van 7:00 – 17:00 oop. Die boekgesprek begin stiptelik 8:00.

Ouderdomsbeperking: Geen

Kaartjienota: Kos en drankies sal op eie koste beskikbaar wees.

Daar sal ‘n geleentheid wees om die skrywers ná die praatjie te ontmoet en hul boeke te koop.

The award-winning economist, business and political specialist, DAWIE ROODT gazes into the crystal ball to predict the country’s economic well being. Straight talking and clear thinking, he is a hugely popular figure on the South African stage, making complex ideas accessible and sharing a greater understanding of how global affairs affect us.

Age Restrictions: None

Ticket Note: Food and beverages will be available at the venue at your own expense.

JUSTICE EDWIN CAMERON and SOHELA SURAJPAL, authors of Inside Prison Walls – Unlocking A Safer South Africa, sit down with KYLE COWAN (Mafia Land: Inside South Africa’s Darkest Cartels) to discuss how crime and corruption has infested the country and what steps can be taken to stop it in its tracks and create a safer South Africa. Prominent editor, author and commentator FERIAL HAFFAJEE (Days of Zondo: The fight for freedom from corruption ) will steer the conversation.

Age Restrictions: None

Ticket Note: Food and beverages will be available at the venue at your own expense.

There will be an opportunity to meet the authors after the event and purchase their books.

Performed by Kim Cloete, Tobie Cronje, Ruda Landman, Andre Odendaal, Fiona Ramsay and Murray Todd

Six of South Africa’s most beloved performers team up to bring to life Dylan Thomas’ enchanting tale of a night and a day in the life of a small Welsh town. Come and spend an hour in the company of Blind Captain Cat, his long-dead love Rosie Probert, Lily Smalls the treasure, twice-widowed Mrs Ogmore-Pritchard, Dai Bread the baker and his two wives, Willy-Nilly Postman telling everyone’s secrets, Nogood Boyo up to no good, and all their friends and neighbours.

Age Restrictions:  None

Ticket Note: Food and beverages will be available at the venue at your own expense.

There will be an opportunity to meet the performers after the event and purchase Dylan Thomas’ book.

Een van Afrikaans se geliefdste en gewildste skrywers, DANA SNYMAN gesels oor sy drie jongste boeke: Wie de hel is Johnny Joubert?, Seun en Die binneland in. JACO STRYDOM, teoloog en skrywer van niefiksie soos Eendag is te ver en die roman Daka, volg die goue draad in Dana se stories.

Ouderdomsbeperking: Geen

Kaartjienota: Kos en drankies sal op eie koste beskikbaar wees.

Daar sal ‘n geleentheid wees om die skrywers ná die praatjie te ontmoet en hul boeke te koop.

Authors YEWANDE OMOTOSO (An Unusual Grief) and LINDIWE HANI (Being Chris Hani’s Daughter) revisit the influence of their powerful and much-loved fathers, and discuss the enduring presence of fathers in women’s lives. Their publisher MELINDA FERGUSON (Lessons From my Father) will guide the discussion

Age Restrictions: None

Ticket Note: Food and beverages will be available at the venue at your own expense.

There will be an opportunity to meet the authors after the event and purchase their books.

The world is changing at a bewildering speed, and chief amongst our anxieties is Artificial Intelligence and what it means for us. Trend forecasters BRONWYN WILLIAMS (Survive the AI Apocalypse) and DION CHANG (The Future – More Than 80 Key Trends for South Africa) outline the impact of AI on our world and how to turn it into an asset. Chaired by UFS Humanities PROFESSOR JARED McDONALD.

Age Restrictions: None

Ticket Note: Beverages will be available at the venue at your own expense.

There will be an opportunity to meet the authors after the event and purchase their books.

In what promises to be a lively and insightful event, book journalist MICHELE MAGWOOD delves into the libraries of eminent authors JUSTICE EDWIN CAMERON, SIPHOZAKI JONAS, DAWIE ROODT and PROFESSOR RETHABILE POSSA to uncover the books that most influenced them growing up. 

Age Restrictions: None

Ticket Note: Food and beverages will be available at the venue at your own expense.

There will be an opportunity to meet the authors after the event and purchase their books.

Two beautiful new books explore the history and architecture of the sandstone houses of the Free State, and a dazzling new garden in the Midlands. Authors JACQUELINE KALLEY and PROFESSOR KATHY MUNRO will unveil the history  behind Sandstone Houses of the Eastern Free State, while MICHELE MAGWOOD will present her book Brahman Hills – The Making of a World Class Garden. 

Age Restrictions: None

Ticket Note: Ticket price includes a complimentary cup of coffee or tea

There will be an opportunity to meet the authors after the event and purchase their books.

Trend forecaster DION CHANG has seen the massive spike in pet ownership since the Covid lockdown, and in his new book A Pawfect Life he takes a hilarious deep dive into the lengths we’re going to to pamper our four-pawed masters. 

Bring your dog along on a lead for a boisterous exchange with DION and Goldendoodle dad MANIE VAN SCHALKWYK.

Your pet runs your life. You just haven’t admitted it yet.

Age Restrictions: None

Ticket Note: Dogs on a leash welcome! Poop bags mandatory. 

Beverages will be available at the venue at your own expense. 

There will be an opportunity to meet the authors after the event and purchase their books.