18 Sep 2018

The Gaborone Book Festival billed for September 21-22 at Maitisong in Maruapula Secondary School gives authors platform to promote their literary work.

“Gaborone Book Festival overall mission is to encourage and inspire people to read in this city and beyond,” said co-founder of the festival, Kenanao Phele in an interview.

Guests will include writers Lola Shoneyin, Zukiswa Wanner, Esinako Ndabeni, Margaret Raymond, Victor Kgomoeswana, Niq Mhlongo and Sabata Mokae.

Tickets are sold at P60 for the opening night and P200 for the second day and they are available online at Webtickets, Spar, PicknPay and Maitisong.

“Three of our four platforms are free and not charged for. We would like these platforms to remain free of charge. As such, the funds made from ticket sales are for the sustainability and running the Trust’s affairs,” said Phele.

The other platforms, which would  be used to drive their objectives are the school outreach programme, monthly book review sessions and the quarterly book nights.

“To date, we have staged two book nights, three book club meetings and have interacted with over 700 students in government primary schools. After the book festival, these platforms will continue until the end of the year,” said Phele.

She added that book festivals by nature brought together those who had love for books under one roof to share their love and passion.

Phele said their book nights had been well received by the community in Gaborone so far.

They also had positive feedback from the authors that they have featured on their platforms, adding that they used social media to reach as many people as possible.

She said they also had print media partners in Botswana Gazette and Business Weekly and lately they had also been having activities in malls.

The book festival is a family event, therfore parents can bring their children along.

“We have a teen zone which already has 90 students from primary schools and a kiddies zone that will be manned the whole day,” she said. ENDS