Sharjah Festival Of African Literature 2026 Inaugurated By Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi

The second edition of the Sharjah Festival of African Literature opened at Sharjah University City under the theme ‘The African Way’, bringing together leading African and Emirati voices. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, inaugurated the five-day event, which runs from January 14-18 and highlights Africa’s literary and cultural landscapes.

During the opening, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi presented the Sharjah Lifetime Achievement in Literature Award to Zimbabwean novelist and filmmaker Tsitsi Dangarembga. The honour recognised Dangarembga’s long literary journey and influential role in African and world literature. The ceremony gathered officials, writers and cultural figures from the UAE, Africa and beyond.

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Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority, SFAL 2026 hosts 20 African writers and 9 Emirati authors in an extensive programme. Events examine contemporary African literature, new narrative forms and sector trends, while also building cultural and intellectual exchange between Africa and the Arab world, which remains a central focus for Sharjah’s cultural agenda.

The festival’s schedule combines panel discussions, poetry, workshops and performances, designed to appeal to different audiences, including families and young readers. Particular attention is given to literary experiences from Zanzibar, Ethiopia and South Africa, reflecting their publishing growth, multilingual environments and the variety of storytelling traditions that shape African literature today.

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In his opening remarks, Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority, linked SFAL to a long-standing cultural vision led by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Al Ameri referred to extensive writings on Africa and on the centuries-old Arab presence across the continent.

Al Ameri explained that the second edition of the festival signals a new phase for UAE–Africa relations built on knowledge and literature. Al Ameri said, "Sharjah has long been connected to Africa through books, markets, expeditions and language. Today, under the leadership and guidance of Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, this connection is renewed through literature and thought. The festival is a living expression of the depth of UAE-Africa ties, and offers an opportunity to rediscover them in a future-driven contemporary way."

The opening ceremony featured a performance by the Dhow Countries Music Academy, which combined song, rhythm and movement to mirror African cultural memory. The performance conveyed themes of hope, love and solidarity rooted in communal practices from South Africa’s Limpopo province, reinforcing the festival’s emphasis on culture as a carrier of shared memory.

Mariam Mwinyi, First Lady of Zanzibar and Founder and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Zanzibar Maisha Bora Foundation, attended the inauguration and highlighted literature’s connection to everyday life. Mariam Mwinyi said, "Africa’s stories are not only written in books; they are woven into our landscapes, our crafts, our songs, and our ways of life. Literature, like heritage, carries memory, identity, and possibilities for the future."

South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, joined the ceremony and thanked the UAE government and people for their welcome and hospitality. McKenzie passed on the greetings of Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, to Sharjah and to the festival’s audience, underscoring South Africa’s interest in cultural collaboration.

McKenzie described SFAL as a platform that celebrates African literature, culture and imagination while creating room for dialogue and cooperation. He stressed that nurturing new writers, expanding reading habits and widening access to books, education and creativity are essential for building resilient and aware societies. McKenzie urged continued engagement, saying, "Let us leave this gathering more committed to dialogue, creativity, solidarity, and to strengthening ties between literary communities in the UAE, South Africa, and the world."

Following the formal opening, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi toured the festival spaces, where Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi met participating authors, publishers and guests. The tour included handicraft pavilions, children’s activity areas and creative workshops, reflecting the festival’s aim to link literature with crafts, education and intergenerational exchange across communities.

Tsitsi Dangarembga, the recipient of SFAL’s Sharjah Lifetime Achievement in Literature Award, is widely regarded as a major contemporary literary voice. Dangarembga’s celebrated trilogy, Nervous Conditions, is recognised for its powerful analysis of colonialism, identity and education in Africa. The novel received the Commonwealth Writers Prize, Africa Region, and appears in the BBC’s list of 100 Novels that Shaped Our World.

Dangarembga’s later novel, This Mournable Body, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, strengthening her position within global fiction. In addition to novels, Dangarembga works as a filmmaker and cultural activist, expanding discussions about African societies and thought. These combined efforts have reinforced her influence on African literature and on critical debates about representation and history.

Across its five days, the Sharjah Festival of African Literature presents literature, performance, gastronomy and craft as connected fields. By hosting writers from across Africa alongside Emirati authors, and by featuring contributions from Zanzibar, Ethiopia and South Africa, the festival supports deeper cultural understanding between the UAE and African countries while documenting the diversity of African literary production.

With inputs from WAM