Hosted in Windhoek, Namibia every two years, the Doek Literary Festival celebrates the works of writers, poets, and visual artists, who have contributed to Doek! Literary Magazine and seeks to showcase the best of Namibian literature alongside works from Africa, the African diaspora, and other international literary traditions.
Described as “a gathering of readers, writers, and lovers of storytellers”, the Doek Literary Festival strives to provide an opportunity for passionate readers and aspiring, emerging, and established writers, poets, visual artists, and musicians to encounter and learn from each other with literature forming the connective tissue between the various disciplines.
The inclusion of visual art exhibitions, poetry and musical performances, and activities such as creative writing workshops creates an interactive and engaging festival experience that showcases the breadth and depth of storytelling. For visiting literary artists, the Doek Literary Festival offers glimpses into Windhoek’s social, economic, political, and cultural life—in this way, the festival is a portal of encounter that places the curious traveller close to the pulse of the city’s rhythms.
Each year, the festival is anchored by a theme or focus which provides a guide for the festival’s curation, programming, aesthetic design, and experiential components. Rather than being prescriptive, each year’s theme lends itself to multiple interpretations which infuse the festival with diverse points of engagement.
The Doek Literary Festival is an integral part of Doek’s mission to nurture and grow the country’s reading and writing culture while providing a creative and immersive space for encountering the works of Namibian, African, and international literary artists.
In 2022, Doek partnered with the University of East Anglia’s International Chair of Creative Writing to plan, organise, and host the country’s inaugural edition of the festival, which focused on fiction writing in the novel and short form.
In partnership with Bank Windhoek, and co-sponsored by the Windham-Campbell Prizes, the 2024 Doek Literary Festival was a coming-of-age and significantly expanded gathering of local and international authors in Namibia’s capital city. For the first time, visual art and poetry readings were incorporated into the program to warm reception.
The 2026 festival is even more ambitious: it curates a well-rounded lineup of exciting award-winning writers in local and international literature, bold visual artists, poets producing resonant poetry, and vinyl selectors and musicians who spin and play music that moves the mind, body, and soul. For the first time, a practical calligraphy component has been added alongside a culinary concept that offers tantalising flavours and textures of home.
