Books, Identity, and Bold Voices: Africa Day Celebrated with Passion at Joburg Libraries

The final chapter of Johannesburg Libraries’ Africa Day celebrations unfolded on 29 May 2025 at the Paterson Park Library in Norwood. What started as a cultural series for Africa Month came to a vibrant and thoughtful close, bringing together voices committed to honoring African identity and heritage in powerful, personal ways.

This wasn’t just a typical community event. It was a gathering where storytelling met activism, and where literature carried the weight of reclaiming history.

Ideas That Moved the Room

The speakers for the day didn’t shy away from the tough questions. They dug deep into what it means to be African in a post-colonial world, and why it’s crucial to retell Africa’s story from the inside out.

Dr Johannes Masenya unpacked the need to re-Africanise public librarianship, a call to make libraries not just repositories of knowledge, but places that truly reflect African experiences and values. Naledi Setzin’s session, “New Voices, Bold Ink”, highlighted fresh, fearless African authors rewriting narratives that were once told for them.

Meanwhile, Dr Siphiwo Mahala reminded the audience that “Ink is Resistance”, using literature as a form of protest and truth-telling. From there, Dr Thabo Tšhehloane explored how township stories have moved from the margins to the mainstream in “From Township to Text”. Every word was a call to reclaim what was once distorted or hidden.

Digital Ubuntu and Legal Ink

Technology was also on the table. Dr Mashilo Modiba’s discussion on “Digital Ubuntu” looked at how African values of community and care are evolving in the digital era. Corrence Mkhosi-Ncube breathed new life into indigenous languages with a moving talk on reviving Ndebele literature.

Adding a legal and political lens, Prince Bongani Mazwi Mkwananzi dove into the power of Pan-Africanism in the digital age, while Advocate BH Ndlovu wrapped it all up with “The Legal Ink of Liberation”, linking the justice system to African liberation through written law.

Tying It Back to the Bigger Picture

This wasn’t just an isolated event. As Nobuntu Mpendulo, Director of Library and Information Services, pointed out, the celebration ties into South Africa’s role in the G20 Workstream 7, which aims to boost cultural and heritage tourism. Johannesburg Libraries aren’t just promoting books—they’re actively helping reshape how the world experiences African culture.

Where Stories Become Bridges

Events like this one remind us that libraries are more than quiet places with books. They’re spaces where ideas flourish, identities are affirmed, and communities come together to dream bigger. By celebrating Africa’s stories—on paper, in performance, and online—Johannesburg Libraries are helping shape a future that respects the past and empowers the next generation.

Get Involved, Stay Connected

You don’t need to be a scholar to engage with Africa’s stories. Read an African author. Share a story from your community. Visit your local library and ask about their next event. The future of African storytelling depends on all of us.

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Sourced:City Of Joburg

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