We are deeply saddened by the passing of one of our great poets and storytellers, Diana Ferrus. Listen to Ferrus discuss how she came to write her iconic poem about Sarah Baartman, “I’ve come to take you home”, in this short BBC podcast: www.bbc.com/audio/play/w...

The Jakes Gerwel Foundation, PEN Afrikaans, and PEN South Africa invite writers and poets to apply for a writers’ residency that guarantees uninterrupted writing time in the creative and inspiring space of Paulet House. Click on the link for more information: jgf.org.za/event/pen-it...

Please sign this letter of solidarity, in support of Gabrielle Goliath. Her work of art, Elegy, which was meant to be submitted to the 61st Venice Biennale, was recently withdrawn by the minister of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie: forms.gle/pmzx2Fdqb3QT...

Read “The South African Pavilion is betraying its own history” - on Gayton McKenzie’s decision to withdraw South Africa’s Pavilion selection for the 61st Venice Biennale - by Christina Sharpe and Rinado Walcott here: hyperallergic.com/the-south-af...

And see this same statement - about Gayton McKenzie’s withdrawal of South Africa’s submission to the 61st Venice Biennale - in Afrikaans here: penafrikaans.org.za/gesamentlike...

See our joint statement with PEN Afrikaans condemning Gayton McKenzie’s decision to withdraw South Africa’s submission to the 61st Venice Biennale - Elegy by renowned artist Gabrielle Goliath - because of its allusions to the Gaza genocide: penafrikaans.org.za/joint-statem...

#Iran: PEN International is deeply concerned about the enforced disappearance of Iranian writers Shirin Karimi, Mahsa Assadollahnejad, Mohammad Maljoo & Parviz Sedaghat. We urge authorities to reveal their whereabouts and end the crackdown on writers. Read more ⬇️ www.fidh.org/en/region/as...

#Algeria: We condemn the 5-year prison sentence against poet #MohamedTadjadit for his poetry and peaceful activism. Tadjadit will be featured in our #DayoftheImprisonedWriter campaign launching Sat 15 Nov. Join us to help free him. Read more ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/joint-s...

CC: @penamericas.bsky.social

PEN International welcomes the release of French-Algerian novelist Boualem Sansal, granted a humanitarian pardon after a year in prison. We reaffirm our call for all writers to be free to express themselves without fear. www.france24.com/en/live-news...

From the frontlines of war to the tightening grip of authoritarianism, this panel will examine how conflict and repression collide to threaten freedom of expression worldwide. As part of the “International Imprisonment and War” conference, join us this Friday: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chinese-pr...

#Algeria: We've joined 19 organisations in calling for the release of Algerian poet and upcoming Day of the Imprisoned Writer case #MohamedTadjadit ahead of upcoming court dates. All charges must be dropped, and he must be released. Learn more ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/joint-s...

#Cuba: Writer José Gabriel Barrenechea Chávez has spent 1 year in prison for his words. Accused of “public disorder,” he faces up to 6 years. The Patmos Award 2025 honoured him and his late mother for their dedication to free expression. We call for his immediate release. @penamericas.bsky.social

#Cuba. José Gabriel Barrenechea Chávez cumplió un año en prisión el 8 de noviembre pasado. PEN Internacional reitera sus llamados a las autoridades cubanas y exige su liberación inmediata. Su detención y persecución evidencian los esfuerzos del gobierno por silenciar toda disidencia.

#Georgia: We urge the release of writers and artists detained following new restrictions on public gatherings and call upon the international community to hold the authorities accountable for their human rights violations. Read our statement ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/georgia...

"Ekinci is guilty of nothing but daring to be a writer in today’s #Türkiye.” We welcome the dismissal of the case against @yavuzekinci.bsky.social and urge the authorities to uphold the freedom to create for all. www.pen-international.org/news/trkiye-....

#DayoftheImprisonedWriter is nearly here! From 15 Nov–10 Dec, we’ll highlight four writers jailed for speaking out: Rory Branker, Yalqun Rozi, Mohamed Tadjadit and Mzia Amaglobeli. Join us to call for their release! #DayoftheImprisonedWriter #RoryBranker #YalqunRozi #MohamedTadjadit #MziaAmaglobeli

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of our great writers, Zoë Wicomb. Read a piece about her work on Africa is a Country here: africasacountry.com/2017/03/the-... (Our sincere apologies about a previous version of this post that erroneously referred to the piece as Wicomb’s)

If you would like your name to be added to our list of signatories, please email [email protected]

PEN South Africa wishes to express solidarity with, and admiration for, the courageous individuals who have joined the Global Sumud Flotilla.

24 hours left to support our campaign and help protect persecuted writers. In 2025, threats to writers are more urgent than ever. Across the globe, voices are being silenced, and your support today can offer the protection they desperately need. www.justgiving.com/campaign/sum...

#Ukraine: Citizen journalist & HRD Iryna Danylovych was abducted in Crimea in 2022 & sentenced to 7 years on fabricated charges. She’s faced torture & denied medical care, causing permanent hearing loss. PEN International calls for her immediate release. #EmptyChair #Congress25

#Mexico: At its International Congress in Krakow, PEN condemns the legal harassment of Penguin Random House in Mexico. This attack undermines books & their authors, setting a dangerous precedent for editorial freedom and free speech. Read more ⬇️ www.facebook.com/peninternati...

Please join us this Thursday at 17.00 SAST for the last event in our ‘Writing in Troubled Times’ series. We will be in conversation with Tetyana Teren about Victoria Amelina’s posthumously published work, Looking at Women Looking at War. As always, RSVP at [email protected] for the Zoom link.

Leila Aboulela, one of the contributors to the upcoming Literary Sudans instalment of our ‘Writing in Troubled Times’ series, has recently won the PEN Pinter Prize for her “writing on migration, faith and the lives of women”. Congratulations, Leila! www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...

Please join us this Thursday at 17:00 SAST for the penultimate instalment of our ‘Writing in Troubled Times’ series. This week we’ll be engaging with several contributors to Literary Sudans, an anthology edited by Bhakti Shringarpure. As always, RSVP for the Zoom link at [email protected]

The Jakes Gerwel Foundation presents the Brussels tot Karoo residency for Flemish and South African writers. The goal is to grant writers 3 weeks of uninterrupted time to work on a manuscript - in any genre. Please email [email protected] for more information, or apply at the link shown in the poster.

Please join us this coming Thursday at 17:00 SAST for our next instalment of our ‘Writing in Troubled Times’ series. Contributors to the anthology Insurgent Feminisms: Writing War - edited by Bhakti Shringarpure - will be reading their work. RSVP for the Zoom link at [email protected]

youtu.be/RXXTXQwMdew Click the link to watch the preview of The Art of Exile, which we are screening at Bertha House this coming Wednesday at 17.00. As always, please RSVP at [email protected] to secure your place. Entrance is free!

Please join us this coming Wednesday at 17.00 for a screening of The Art of Exile by Dara Kell and Veena Rao. The screening will be hosted by Bertha House. Their address is 67 Main Road, Mowbray. Entrance is free.

Please join us virtually this Thursday for a conversation with Athol Williams! RSVP at [email protected] for the Zoom link.

Please join us tomorrow at 17:00 SAST for the second instalment of our Writing in Troubled Times series! C.A. Davids will be in conversation with Nathi Ngubane about his educational colouring books, From the River to the Sea and Malcolm X in Gaza. RSVP: [email protected]

Please join us this coming Tuesday at 17:00 SAST for the second instalment of our Writing in Troubled Times series! C.A. Davids will be in conversation with Nathi Ngubane ahout his educational colouring books, From the River to the Sea and Malcolm X in Gaza. RSVP: [email protected]

Please join us tomorrow evening for a reading in solidarity with Gaza; RSVP for the Zoom link at [email protected]