Pan-African visions of black solidarity have been historically rooted in the collective memory of literature and culture. The values and practices connecting continental Africa and the wider black diaspora, surviving through shared historical upheavals, have often been espoused in literary and cultural production, mediating conversations across time, geography, class, and gender.
As the uneven distribution of the benefits and burdens of globalization continues to have a disproportionately negative effect on black communities worldwide, the need and promise of pan-diasporic cooperation become even more relevant. By promoting collective action and collaboration, black solidarity continues to hold potential for the empowerment of people of African descent and ultimately for a more equitable and inclusive global community.
The New York African Literature Festival is a significant contribution in this regard. It continues the work of bringing the collective consciousness of continental and diasporic communities into communication with each other while revisiting and reimagining what progress looks like in the dialectic spirit of Sankofa.
This black authors festival will hold space for writers, poets, thinkers, artists, and activists in the psycho-geographic site of the Harlem Renaissance and Black Arts Movement to reflect, collaborate, and expand existing networks of cultural production and distribution.
Activities at the black book festival in New York will include a dynamic mix of panel discussions, readings, workshops, community outreaches, and performances, drawing guests from across the global black diaspora and Africa. The festival’s key objectives remain to: build bridges between communities, amplify movements for justice, create new frameworks for understanding our shared challenges and aspirations, and strengthen networks of support and exchange.
The expansive universe of African thought has always allowed for multiple ideas to coexist in tender proximity to each other, even when in contradiction. The festival will actively pursue the platforming of new and diverse voices, creating an environment that increases our awareness of today’s issues and inspires collaborative action.
The inaugural edition of this New York African festival will be held from September 5-7, 2025, at select venues across New York.
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Efe Paul-Azino
Festival Director
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