The inaugural Lenasia Writers’ Book Fair is set to take place on Saturday, 5 July, at the Trade Route Mall in Lenasia. This event, a collaboration between Lenz70 and Our Reading Tree, will provide a platform for both emerging and established local authors to engage with the public, promote their work, and share their creative processes.
The fair will run alongside a photographic exhibition that documents the people and places of Lenasia through the years. The exhibition features the work of veteran photo-journalists Fakir Hassen and Gopal Naransamy, and includes a selection of photographs from the archives of the late ANC stalwart, Ahmed Kathrada. It will be on display for one month at the ground floor store opposite Wimpy.
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A Platform for Local Voices
The idea for the book fair was sparked by a conversation between veteran cricket commentator Aslam Khota and Ismail Vadi of Lenz70. Khota suggested a writers’ fair to complement efforts to document Lenasia’s sporting history.
“I just needed to mention that to Ismail and he latched on to it immediately,” Khota explained, in an interview with Salaamedia. “Before I knew it he was mentioning a good dozen other wonderful talents from Lenasia and outside of Lenz that have also written, and the list is almost endless.”
Lenz70 has since identified 36 authors from the area whose published works will be featured, including posthumous acknowledgements for those who have passed on. The event will also feature a writers’ panel from 2pm to 4pm, where authors will discuss the themes in their books, share writing techniques, and explore the development of a mentorship programme for aspiring young writers.
The fair also connects to the deep-rooted history of community journalism in the area. Veteran journalist Fakir Hassen credits his start to the Lenasia Times. Hassen recalls how the newspaper became a vital source of community information, fostering a sense of social cohesion.
“I must be eternally grateful to Waheed Camroodeen and the Lenasia Times, because that’s where my entire grounding started in community journalism,” Hassen stated, reflecting on how the experience helped him understand the diverse cultures within the community.
To commemorate 70 years of Lenasia’s existence, Our Reading Tree will be giving a free book to each of the first seventy visitors to the photographic exhibition, further encouraging a culture of reading within the community. The Lenasia event promises to be a significant cultural gathering, celebrating the literary and historical richness of the area.
