The highly anticipated Funda Mpondo Literary Festival returns for its 4th edition from September 3–4, 2025, with a powerful theme: “Bridging Generations Through Tales of the Past, Present, and Future.” Hosted at the Lusikisiki Health Resource Centre, the festival aims to connect diverse age groups and celebrate oral traditions through the transformative power of storytelling.
Organised by KwaziThina Publishers, the event will feature renowned South African storyteller, author, and poet Dr. Gcina Mhlophe, who will lead the emotionally charged “My Grandmother’s Story (Ilivo/Ibali LikaMakhulu) Session.” Stories from this session will be compiled into an anthology, supported by the National Heritage Council (NHC), to preserve cultural narratives for future generations.
Opening with a performance of the National Anthem by Jamakazi Bazana, the festival will spotlight voices from across South Africa and the continent — including creatives from Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and the United States.
Festival Curator Nomawele Njongo, a 2024 National Voice of Heritage Award winner and Brand South Africa Play Your Part Ambassador, emphasized the event’s role in safeguarding heritage:
“We’re creating spaces for connection and safeguarding our collective heritage. Partnering with the NHC allows us to preserve invaluable oral traditions while empowering youth.”
Highlights include:
- A dedicated Play Your Part Corner session on active citizenship and nation-building
- A Reading of Ilivo lesiMpondo by traditional leaders
- Book readings and discussions by authors such as Tobe Thabede, Mogau Lestwola, Nozibele Maqutywa, and Nomonde Makheswa Makaula
Local exhibitors like Eastern Cape Women Writers Association, KTP Books, and Magwa Tea SA will also be featured.
Supported by partners including Walter Sisulu University, the Department of Education, and Brand South Africa, the festival reinforces pillars of Social Cohesion, Heritage Preservation, and Youth Empowerment, while bridging the generational divide through literature and cultural expression.
