The festival will be based at the Khama III Memorial Museum and will begin with a book sale on July 14 from noon. Book lovers will find titles from some of their favourite local authors as well as Head's books.
Later that same day, authors will be available to sign copies of their books and to speak about writing and publishing in Botswana. A concert in the evening will kick off the event.
Other activities on the programme include the official opening of BessieFest Serowe on Sunday at Bessie Head's home, Rain Clouds, preceded by tree plantings around the village in her honour. The rest of the programme is filled with discussions of Head's writings, video shows, a birthday party, readings of her stories and personal letters from the Museum's archives. There will also be guided tours of the new Bessie Head exhibits and a guided bus tour to significant sites around the village. The majority of the events are free to the public.
A play written by University of Botswana (UB) professor David Kerr about the life of Bessie Head will be performed by the Swaneng Senior Secondary School Drama Group on July 16. Another play, Snapshots, based on Head's short stories, will be performed on Sunday at 1:30 pm by Enigma, a Gaborone based theatre group, and Bessie Head students from the UB's Department of English.
The announcement of the winners of the nationally run Bessie Head Literature Award for novel, short story and poetry, sponsored by Pentagon Publishers, will be announced on Sunday, as well.
One of the most anticipated events on the programme is the Wine and Cheese Fund-raising Evening. This will take place on the evening of the 15th at the Museum. Personal friends and colleagues of Head's will tell stories about their time with her, stories likely never told before in such a gathering. The intimate event is one not to be missed by Bessie Head fans!
High Court Judge Unity Dow is the author of Far and Beyond (Longman Botswana 2000/ Spinifex 2001), The Screaming of the Innocents (Spinifex 2002, Double Storey 2003), Juggling Truths (Spinifex 2003), and The Heavens May Fall (Double Storey 2006).
Details about the event or for copies of the programme go to www.bessiehead.org or contact Khama III Memorial Museum in Serowe.
