ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION

How much are tickets for the 2024 Doek Literary Festival and where can I purchase them?

Thanks to Bank Windhoek and the supporting festival partners, admission to all events at the  2024 Doek Literary Festival is free. Due to the calibre of literary artists that will be in attendance at this year’s festival, it is foreseeable that certain events will be full. While the festival organisers strive to ensure that there is adequate seating, it is essential to arrive early at the festival venues to secure one’s seating.

Bookings, however, are essential for creative writing workshops since space is limited in each class venue.

I would like to attend a creative writing workshop. How can I secure my spot in a particular session?

Bookings can be made by completing the booking form. Only one booking per person, per class is permitted. Spaces in each workshop are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis until spaces are no longer available.

Will the Doek Literary Festival be live-streamed?

At the moment there are no plans to livestream the events. However, select conversations, poetry and musical performances, and segments from creative writing workshops will be recorded and made available in the festival’s video archives for posterity.

I am a Namibian writer, poet, or visual artist. How can I be included in the lineup of the Doek Literary Festival?

The Doek Literary Festival’s lineup is curated from Doek! Literary Magazine’s contributors and the winners, shortlistees, and longlistees of the 2021 and 2023 Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards. As such, prospective Namibian literary artists are encouraged to follow the appropriate channels in order to be considered for future festivals.

Does the Doek Literary Festival have exhibitor opportunities?

No.

Will there be an opportunity to engage the attending literary artists?
Yes. Each conversation will be followed by brief Q&A sessions. Questions should be brief and focus on the discussion or topic at hand. It is generally recommended to avoid overly academic or long-winded questions which cannot be adequately answered in a short space of time.

Is the festival an inclusive space?

Yes. The Doek Literary Festival is open to all readers, writers, and lovers of stories regardless of class, race, sex, or gender.

Is there parking available?

Depending on the day and time, parking is always available in Windhoek’s CBD. It is recommended to park in the following places for security purposes and to be as close to the festival venue as possible:

• At the Hilton Garden Inn parking lot (this is paid parking);
• In front of Zoo Park and Car List Mall in Independence Avenue (parking is free after 17h00);
• At the Kristus Kirche or adjacent to the Sanlam Building in Fidel Castro Street (parking is free after 17h00); and,
• Across the VVIP Branch of the Namibian Police Force in Luderitz Street (parking is free after 17h00).

BOOKS

Will the literary works of the attending writers be available for sale at the Doek Literary Festival?

Yes. Thanks to the Book Den, the official book partner, selected works from the festival writers and poets will be on sale at the festival.

A signing desk will also be available at the end of each conversation where readers can have copies of their books signed.

ACCESS

Is there wheelchair access at Doek Literary Festival?

Yes. The Goethe-Institut is wheelchair-friendly.

Is the Doek Literary Festival child-friendly?

Yes. While there are no conversations or activities specifically for children, the festival is child-friendly.

TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION

I plan on travelling to the 2024 Doek Literary Festival from outside Namibia. Are there any travel restrictions for non-Namibians?

In general, Namibia has few travel restrictions for visitors. As a general rule, SADC citizens do not require visas in order to enter Namibia—this makes it relatively easy for citizens of Namibia’s neighbouring countries to take part in this year’s literary festival.

However, all visa requirements should be checked and confirmed by each prospective traveller before coming to Namibia.

Before or after the 2024 Doek Literary Festival I would like to travel around Namibia. What are my options?

Gondwana Collection Namibia, the official accommodation partner of the Doek Literary Festival, operates some of the country’s most popular lodges and hotels. They provide unique travel experiences around the country.

Furthermore, Namibia is a tourist-friendly destination with numerous tour operators being able to provide travellers with various travel experiences. There is an abundance of hotels, lodges, guest houses, and AirBnB options that cater for individual preferences and price options.

It should be noted that August lies in Namibia’s peak tourist season so early bookings for travel and accommodation arrangements are essential to avoid disappointments.

Are there any Covid-19 travel restrictions currently in place in Windhoek?

There are no Covid-19 travel restrictions in Namibia. While masking, sanitising, and social distancing are no longer required by law, it is recommended to continue practising these health measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

MEDIA

How can I interview one of the literary personalities attending the Doek Literary Festival?

There will be a special media day allocated for interested media parties to interview the writers, poets, and visual artists who will be in attendance at the 2024 Doek Literary Festival. Due to the focused nature of the festival, as well as the tight programming, select media engagements have already been arranged with the festival’s writers, poets, and visual artists—thus, in some instances, media appearances might not be possible.