 South African cultural){kind=link}
South Africa: Deputy Minister Nocawe Mafu is currently leading a delegation made up of a group of twenty-two (22) South African cultural practitioners, among which are authors, poets, scholars, and journalists; as well government officials from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), the National Library of South Africa (NLSA) in the Gothenburg Book Fair in Sweden from 22 – 25 September 2022.
The Gothenburg Book Fair is an annual literary event held in the City of Gothenburg, Sweden, in the last week of September. It is one of the largest literary festivals, which attracts more than 85 000 during four days of the event in Scandinavia and is the second largest book fair in Europe after the Frankfurt Book Fair.
As South Africa was invited as a guest of honour and the focus country, Deputy Minister Nocawe Mafu, the Sweden Ambassador to South Africa HE Mr Håkan Juholt, and the Director of the festival, Frida Edman, officially opened South Africa’s participation at the South African stand yesterday (22 September 2022) in the morning.
Later in the afternoon, Deputy Minister unveiled a book compiled by the late Ambassador Lindiwe Mabuza titled “So Far So Close”. The book was supported by the Department through the Books and Publishing Directorate.
During the days, there will be seminars which are regarded as the pillars of the fair. The scholars, authors, and poets will participate in high-profile discussions and readings.
On (23 September 2023), Deputy Minister Nocawe Mafu, Sindiwe Magona, writer and the National Poet Laureate Professor Mongane Wally Serote will lead a discussion on Sweden and South Africa: Solidarity and Exchange.