Sharjah Festival Of African Literature Opens Tomorrow Under The African Way Theme

The Sharjah Festival of African Literature opens on 14th January at Sharjah University City under the theme "The African Way". The second edition gathers writers from Africa and the UAE, aiming to highlight African literature, trace its changing forms and trends, and deepen cultural and knowledge links between Africa and the Arab world.

The programme runs until 18th January and is organised by the Sharjah Book Authority. Across five days, audiences can attend 20 panel and discussion sessions, five poetry evenings, 20 workshops for children and 10 live cookery demonstrations, shaping the festival as a family-friendly space for cultural discovery and shared learning.

The daily schedule features a recurring Poetry Readings event that presents poets from East and Southern Africa alongside Emirati poets. Artistic and musical performances accompany these readings, building an immersive atmosphere. Live cookery sessions connect food with storytelling, memory and heritage, as visitors watch dishes prepared, hear their background, understand key ingredients and taste distinctive flavours.

Children and young adults occupy a central place in the festival’s design. Workshops held every day blend storytelling, visual arts, language and performance. These interactive sessions aim to stimulate creativity, support self-expression and introduce younger generations to African culture, using hands-on activities to make literary traditions, history and values accessible and engaging.

Emirati participants include Dr Sultan Al Amimi, Ameera Bukdra, Fahad Al Memari, Ali Al Shaali, Shaikha Al Mutairi, Dr Afra Atiq, Maitha Al Khayat, Nadia Al Najjar and Nasser Al Dhahri. These writers join African guests in joint sessions, panel discussions and cultural exchanges that compare literary experiences and open conversations on identity, language and shared histories.

SFAL 2026 also hosts a wide group of African literary figures. The guest list includes Lemn Sissay, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Nahida Ismail, Richard Mabala, Scholastique Mukasonga, Sefi Atta, Sifiso Gloria Ndlovu, Kola Tubosun, Dilman Dila, Beatrice Lamwaka and Goretti Kyomuhendo. Their participation covers fiction, poetry, children’s writing, research, translation and film, reflecting diverse perspectives on African literature and storytelling.

Sharjah Festival of African Literature and African literature regional focus

This edition pays particular attention to literary scenes in Zanzibar, Ethiopia and South Africa. Sessions look at the development of their publishing sectors, multilingual writing and cultural diversity. Through talks, book signings and interactive events, visitors explore written and oral forms of African literature, while discussing themes such as memory, identity, history and belonging.

The Sharjah Book Authority extends the festival beyond University City through a university and school outreach programme across the UAE. Visiting writers meet students in lectures, workshops and open conversations. These activities support academic debate, encourage new research, and offer guidance for emerging authors, critics and translators who are interested in African literature and cross-cultural dialogue.

On-site, the Sharjah Festival of African Literature includes spaces for publishers, bookstands for browsing and sales, an art exhibition and a cultural market. The market displays handmade products, jewellery, textiles and cultural gifts. Dedicated areas highlight craft exchange, setting Emirati traditions such as palm frond weaving, talli embroidery and safifa alongside African crafts in a shared artistic context.

The festival builds on its first edition, which welcomed more than 10,000 visitors and featured writers such as Wole Soyinka and Abdulrazak Gurnah. Through this year’s extended programme, the Sharjah Book Authority continues its vision of positioning Sharjah as a global centre for dialogue, using heritage, culture, literature and knowledge to link African and Arab communities.

With inputs from WAM