WordFest was established in 1999 by the late poet Professor Chris Mann (10 March 2021) in collaboration with the Institute for the Study of the Englishes of Africa (ISEA) at Rhodes University. Conceived as South Africa’s only national multilingual festival of languages and literatures with a developmental emphasis, the festival has grown into a cornerstone of the National Arts Festival. Today, it is directly administered by ISEA under the leadership of Professor Mbelani.

The founding vision of WordFest was to create a multilingual literary platform that nurtures a culture of reading, writing, and storytelling in South Africa. Its mission remains focused on promoting innovation, inclusivity, and excellence in the word-arts, while foregrounding voices in marginalised languages and literatures.

WordFest provides a vibrant space for writers, publishers, readers, and cultural practitioners—ranging from emerging voices to established authors, including Nobel laureates. The programme typically features more than a hundred activities each year, including:

• 20–30 book launches

• Lectures and seminars

• Performances and exhibitions

• Workshops and Open Mic sessions

• WordStock, a daily literary newspaper

• A restaurant and retail book outlet (Exclusive Books)

• Junior and high school developmental projects

• Eastern Cape WordFest outreach initiatives

Now in its third decade, WordFest intends to grow in scope and impact, celebrating South Africa’s literary diversity while cultivating the next generation of writers and readers.

Last Modified: Mon, 15 Sep 2025 13:22:48 SAST