The 8th edition of the annual international literature festival (LitFest) will be held mostly virtually from 24 to 27 November under the theme “Healing”.
Live events of the festival including a poetry slam, theatre performances, and a music concert will be held on the closing day at Theatre in the Park in Harare.
Speeches, discussions, and workshops will be held virtually.
Professor Robert Muponde from Wits University in South Africa will give a keynote address on the opening night.
Speaking about the theme, Festival Director Chirikure Chirikure said LitFest Harare 2021 seeks to contribute to this pivotal discourse by putting healing, peacebuilding, and conflict transformation at the center of this year’s edition.
“The world is trying to heal,” he said.
“More conversations on dealing with the painful past have been opening up. Some want restitution for colonial plunder and injustice. The wrongs of historic economic and physical genocides that inflicted personal and communal wounds are being called into the light.”
The director also said the global pandemic (COVID-19) has brought into sharp focus the need for stronger institutions and common platforms for collaboration on building peace and stability in our world.
This year’s LitFest will host participants from Zimbabwe, Germany, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Zambia, Cameroon, Ghana, and Scotland.
Artists expected to perform at the concert that will run in partnership with the embassy of Germany include Tendai Mavengeni (Zimbabwe) and poet/artist, Jessie James La Fleur (Belgium/Germany).
