In Their Own Words brings together powerful voices from across genres and experiences. In this edition, Popina Khumanda shares the raw, heartbreaking story of her escape from war-torn DRC in The Smallest Ones. Zakhe Mazibuko unpacks faith, freedom, and financial truth in Preacher, Let My People Go.
In her luminous debut novel My Other Heart, Emma Nanami Strenner weaves
a poignant story about identity, family, and the longing for belonging across
continents. Spanning Philadelphia, Tokyo, and Saigon, the novel follows three
women – Mimi, Kit, and Sabrina – whose intertwined paths explore adoption,
From 5-7 September 2025, Cape Town’s vibrant literary scene comes alive
once more as the Open Book Festival returns to the city’s heart. A celebration
of books, ideas, conversation and community, this much-loved event invites
readers, writers and thinkers to come together in a shared love of storytelling.
First launched in 2011, Open Book has grown from a 60-event, five-day festival
into a major fixture on South Africa’s cultural calendar. With over 100 events