At the KwaZulu-Natal Society of Arts (KZNSA Gallery) on Bulwer Road, the conversations were candid, political and focused on creative ownership as the Glenwood Book Fair took centre stage from September 24 to 27.
During the afternoon panel “The Artist’s Voice” on day two, political cartoonist Dr Nanda Soobben reflected on exile, censorship and sending his politically charged artwork back to South Africa under apartheid rule.
"Sometimes my work made people laugh and sometimes cry. A lot of people hated me ... It wasn't safe to be in the country. When I moved to New York, I would send my cartoons back home by fax to 'The Post' newspaper," Soobben recalled.
Addressing the harsh economic realities of creative production, author and filmmaker Dayakar Padaychee emphasised that intellectual property remains a creator's ultimate leverage in a sluggish funding landscape.
"We are dealing with a systemic issue. Even in film, getting funding is the most difficult thing possible, whether you are black, Indian, coloured, or white; when you're South African, the bureaucracy takes precedence," Padaychee said.
"I sat down in 2018 to write my book, and I realised IP is the only currency you have. Once somebody takes that off your hands, you have nothing. Owning your own work is the only integrity you have as an artist."
Meanwhile, Illustrator Luke Molver shared that despite the economic challenge, being a creative was in his blood.
"I've been making art for about 20 years ... I do not make money out of my comic books, but that's what I love doing. I am in the lucky position to earn enough from my day job to buy the beer and still have enough time to make comic books, weird movies and stop motion animations.
"If I wasn't doing this, it would crush my soul," said Molver.
Celebrating Durban's literary landscape
The dialogue shifted to local storytelling in the following session, “The Durban Voice”. Local novelists Sven Axelrad, Shubnum Khan, ZP Dala and Nathi Olifant gathered to dissect the unique literary character of the coastal city.
Nathi Olifant, author of "Bloodstained Chemistry", pointed to the volume of stories emerging from the region.
"Just looking at the number of writers on the shelves now from Durban is very interesting. Durban is beautiful and has numerous stories to tell. It's got rich history, tragedies, a vibrant political scene; it's a melting pot of stories."
Writer ZP Dala, author of "What about Meera", noted how significantly the infrastructure for writers has expanded over the past decade.
"Now there is a lot more places and spaces created for Durban writers to move, and for people who love writing to gather and talk about their work. That is the most encouraging thing. The scene has grown."
Festival overview: Heritage Day to the weekend
Co-organised by MyGlenwood, the Durban Book Club, Micromega Publishing , and the Glenwood Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP), the event highlights Durban's status as Africa’s first Unesco City of Literature, featuring nearly 60 writers, scholars, poets, and illustrators.
All daytime panel discussions and literary sessions were free to attend.
Friday's programme began at the Mazisi Kunene Museum on Delville Avenue with “The isiZulu Voice” examining indigenous language publishing alongside the legacy of South Africa's first poet laureate.
On Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27, the festival anchored itself at the historic Phansi Museum on Esther Roberts Road.
Attendees were invited to sessions on national identity and sociology alongside an open-air craft market and book vendor showcases.
alyssia.birjalal@nationalmg.co.za