A literary festival in Simonʼs Town from Friday 14 to Sunday 16 March
The run-away success of Simon’s Town’s two previous literary festivals has inspired a knockout line-up for 2025. The town is set to host some of South Africa’s most celebrated writers on 14, 15 and 16 March.
The festival’s 24 diverse events range from readings, panel discussions and a poetry soirée with more than 30 South African and international writers, and winners of all major literary prizes in South Africa.
> Download this year’s programme
> Books on the Bay 2025 authors
Among the highlights are Africa’s most acclaimed and trusted political cartoonists, our own Zapiro, and East African Gado who have both earned the ire of their governments; John van de Ruit who brings us the last and final in the Spud series, with Spud now twenty-eight and reflecting on spectacular non-achievement; an honorary appearance of Njabulo Ndebele; Joline Young at the Mosque on the history of dispossession and slavery in Simon’s Town; two doyennes of the literary world, Charlotte Bauer and Michele Magwood on aging, inspired by Charlotte’s riotous book; award-winning novelist Yewande Omotoso; a look at white supremacy by Gavin Evans and Anton Harber; UK-based architectural historian John Stewart on his new biography of Herbert Baker; Jonathan Jansen, renowned educationalist and contrarian; Jeremy Vearey, former counter-intelligence officer, thorn in the flesh of many a gangster and corrupt politician, now novelist; Adam Welz on how vulnerable life is under the impact of climate change; Andrew Brown, winner of the 2024 Sunday Times Fiction Award, and much more.
The festival is set to be another triumph thanks to the tremendous enthusiasm and participation of Simon’s Town residents and businesses. Restaurants and coffee shops are dusting off their menus. An addition last year was the use of the town’s local tuk tuk service. Due to its success the tuk tuks will again carry festival goers between locations, free of charge.
- Books on the Bay is sponsored by Jonathan Ball Publishers, the University of the Western Cape, the Simon’s Town Civic Association, Simonstown.com and Mooiplaas Wine Estate and Private Nature Reserve.
- For more information go to www.booksonthebay.co.za or contact Books on the Bay at info@booksonthebay.co.za.