Sharjah Festival Of African Literature 2026 Concludes With 11,108 Visitors

The Sharjah Festival of African Literature 2026 closed after five days of activity at University City Hall Square, drawing 11,108 visitors and strengthening African–Arab cultural links. Under the theme "The African Way", the second edition highlighted literature, heritage and food, featured 29 writers from Africa and the UAE, and honoured Zimbabwean novelist and filmmaker Tsitsi Dangarembga.

Attendance rose from more than 10,000 visitors in the previous year, indicating growing public interest in African writing and dialogue with Arab cultures. SFAL 2026 ran from 14 to 18 January and showcased traditions from across the continent, with particular attention to creative voices and experiences from Zanzibar, Ethiopia and South Africa across discussions, performances and culinary events.

The programme gathered 20 African writers alongside 9 Emirati authors, who examined both classical and contemporary African narratives in panel sessions and public conversations. Their discussions highlighted shared histories, changing readership patterns and opportunities for collaboration. Events were designed to encourage contact between visitors and authors through book signings, informal exchanges and interactive sessions aimed at readers of different ages.

Across the site, a diverse schedule operated each day, linking arts, knowledge and family activities. There were poetry evenings, 20 workshops for children, 10 live cooking demonstrations, art exhibitions and regular musical and artistic performances. Food stands presented African cuisines, while bookstalls offered titles by festival guests and other writers, giving audiences access to a broad range of works in one place.

Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of Sharjah Book Authority, said the interest in the festival reflects a wider regional enthusiasm for cultural meetings between African and Arab communities. "SFAL has created a beloved space for members of the public, writers, intellectuals, artists and creative communities to experience and share the rich traditions of Africa. Culture defines us, inspires us and encourages us to learn from each other," he added.

Al Ameri described the event as part of Sharjah’s long-term cultural strategy, focused on knowledge and dialogue. "The festival forms a cornerstone of the integrated development model of Sharjah, led by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to promote knowledge and dialogue through literary arts, books and cultural events."

Looking ahead, Al Ameri said the organisers plan to expand SFAL in the coming years. "Under the directives of H.H. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA, we remain committed to widening the scope and scale of the festival in future editions, in line with Sharjah’s global leadership in advancing the exchange of knowledge, creativity and culture between people from around the world."

Sharjah Festival of African Literature SFAL 2026 sessions and discussions

Critical conversations shaped the closing day’s agenda. A panel titled "Shared African–Arab Cultural Influence" brought together Dr. Abdulaziz Almusallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, Zanzibari writer Ally Baharoon, and Zimbabwean novelist Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu, winner of the Best International Fiction category at the 2025 Sharjah International Book Fair Awards, to examine connections between storytelling traditions and collective memory.

Another highlight was an in-conversation event built around Lemn Sissay’s memoir My Name is Why, moderated by Layla Mohammed. The discussion followed Sissay’s path from the UK care system to international literary recognition and considered how personal narratives in literature can support individuals confronting social challenges and questions of identity, belonging and resilience in different societies.

Future directions for writing from the continent were discussed in a session titled "Stories of What Lies Ahead in African Literature", led by Ugandan writer and filmmaker Dilman Dila and moderated by Layla Mohammed. Dila said African writing styles today mix myth and futurism to cater to modern themes such as urbanisation and technology, reflecting how authors respond to rapid change in cities.

Poetry also played a central role in the final programme. A reading session titled "Breath, Rhythm, Belonging" featured MoAfrika wa Mokgathi, Afra Atiq, Bewketu Seyoum and Lebogang Mashile. Through their performances, the poets examined home, distance and memory, offering personal perspectives that linked individual experiences to wider African and diasporic communities attending the festival in Sharjah.

Sharjah Festival of African Literature SFAL 2026 awards and figures

During SFAL 2026, organisers presented the Sharjah Lifetime Achievement in Literature Award to Tsitsi Dangarembga, recognising long-standing contributions to African and global literature. At the festival, she praised SFAL as a vital platform for fostering dialogue and cultural interactions. The award underlined the festival’s interest in both established voices and emerging authors from different African regions.

The second edition’s combination of literary debate, performances and community events strengthened Sharjah’s role as a meeting point for African and Arab cultures. The increased visitor numbers, broad geographic representation and detailed programme suggest that SFAL 2026 achieved its aim of deepening mutual understanding, while also setting a basis for further cooperative projects in future editions.

With inputs from WAM