The 12th edition of the LitFest Harare International Literature Festival will run from 26 to 29 November 2025, bringing together more than 80 writers, poets, artists, scholars and cultural practitioners.
Delegates from over eight countries — including Botswana, Lesotho, Sweden, Malawi, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Zimbabwe — are set to participate, reinforcing the festival’s role as a key platform for artistic dialogue and cross-cultural exchange.
This year’s theme, “Lebeleka Takawilila – The Languages and Legacies of Art,” is derived from a Kalanga expression meaning “Speak, we are listening.” The theme invites participants to reflect on how art communicates across generations and cultures.
Speaking to Zim Now, Festival Director Chirikure Chirikure said the theme captures the essence of creative continuity and cultural memory.
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“‘Lebeleka Takawilila’ is a call to listen to the voices of our ancestors, to the rhythms of our present, and to the echoes that will carry our stories into the future,” he said.
He added, “This year’s festival is not only a celebration of literature but a tribute to the many languages through which art speaks and the legacies it leaves behind.”
Events will be held across major cultural venues in the capital, with Alliance Française and Theatre in the Park serving as the main hubs.
The programme includes an opening reception, a theatrical production of the O-Level set book Tambaoga Mwanangu, panel discussions, workshops, a silent reading hour and book swap, a visual poetry exhibition, a poetry slam and a closing concert hosted in partnership with SoFar Sounds Harare.
Chirikure said the closing concert, themed around African unity, will take place at a venue to be announced during the festival.
LitFest Harare 2025 continues to attract growing attention locally and internationally as preparations intensify for what is expected to be a major showcase of artistic heritage and creative expression.
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