Unveiling voices: Ananke’s Women in Literature Festival 2024

Amidst a world increasingly marked by division and polarisation, the celebration of diverse voices in literature transcends mere inclusivity; it becomes an imperative acknowledgment of the vast tapestry of human experiences and perspectives that weave our collective narrative. 

Each voice, each story, bears a unique essence, a distinct hue that enriches the broader landscape of literature. It is high time to recognise and honour these voices not as tokens of diversity, but as vital conduits of understanding, empathy, and insight. Their narratives, their truths, are essential threads in the intricate fabric of our literary heritage, deserving recognition, appreciation, and celebration.

Enter Ananke's Women in Literature Festival—a beacon of inclusivity, celebrating voices from the global south in an annual virtual event from 2021. With a mission to foster change through dialogue across linguistic, political, and socio-cultural boundaries, the festival serves as a platform for celebrating diversity and amplifying marginalised voices in literature and the arts. Ananke acknowledges the transformative power of imagination, creativity, and dialogue in shaping just and equitable societies, inviting artists, writers, poets, filmmakers, journalists, musicians, and audiences alike to participate as agents of change.

The theme for Ananke's Women in Literature Festival 2024 is Language and Erasure, probing into how language moulds perceptions and experiences while confronting oppressive exclusions and euro-centric ideologies embedded in modern communication. Inspired by Ngugi wa Thiong'o's insights on the erasure of colonised languages, participants are encouraged to share narratives, histories, and artistic expressions that grapple with the complexities of language, violence, and erasure.

Featuring a diverse lineup of 38 authors from 9 countries—including UAE, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Singapore, Malaysia, and Scotland—the festival promises three days of engaging panel discussions, interviews, poetry readings, and discussions on the theme of language and erasure. Past guests have included prominent figures such as Urvashi Butalia of Zubaan, writers like Meena Kandasamy, Anam Zakaria, K Vaishali, Kiran Manral, Arpita Das of Yoda Press, Naveen Kishore of Seagull Books, and Mehr F Husain of Zuka Books (Pakistan), along with esteemed authors such as Sana Mir, Saba Karim Khan, Sabyn Javeri, and Safinah Danish Elahi.

This year, Dr Niaz Zaman, an eminent academic, writer, and translator from Bangladesh will also be a part of the festival, among others. On her participation, she said, "I look forward to participating in Ananke Women in Literature Festival 2024, to listening to the voices of women from different backgrounds and with diverse experiences, and in sharing my experiences in our common pursuit of freedom of thought and expression."

Bangladeshi-born independent artist and writer Nupu Press will be releasing her first art book titled My Illustrated Camino Diary (2024) in April. Nupu Press will be in conversation with Nigerian-born Bangladeshi American writer and photographer, Abeer Hoque on the theme of gender, focusing on the invisible work of women, especially in South Asian contexts.

Excited about her participation, Nupu Press shared, "I am thrilled to be participating in Ananke WLF 2024. Such a LitFest is a chance to hear individual voices, celebrate nuances, interrogate norms, as well as envision and forge new paths ahead."

Scheduled for April 23, this immersive event invites attendees to join the conversation and explore what it truly means to be human amidst the diverse linguistic and cultural tapestry. 

Sabin Muzaffar, the visionary behind this literary festival, believes in the power of meaningful conversations to amplify change, fostering inclusive communities where voices are heard, lives are touched, and lived realities are recognised. Through Ananke's Women in Literature Festival, she aims to initiate positive narratives and empower change-making, creating a collective space where every stakeholder has ownership and agency to celebrate our unique differences.

About the inspiration behind the fest, she says, "Silos are created on the foundations of fear—fear of the unknown… our differences. These are created through optics and propaganda, both instigating hate and prejudice. The only way to challenge such a status quo is to create safe, inclusive spaces where the universality of all art forms—be it literature, music, film poetry, etc.—not only bring us all together, touch lives but also enable community-building. Ananke's Women in Literature Festival envisions to mobilise impact and this can only be done when one listens, hears, and has conversations with a diverse set of voices. Only then, we as a community will learn to understand how unique and beautiful our differences are and how this exceptionality can empower us all."

The festival's social media presence, spearheaded by Keemiya Creatives, is already generating immense excitement and engagement.

Namrata, the Global Festival Coordinator, highlights how this year's event has expanded its reach with the participation of renowned figures from around the globe. "It's an opportune moment for the world to recognise and honour the diverse voices emerging from the global south."

Today, literary festivals like Ananke's Women in Literature Festival serve as catalysts for change. By providing an inclusive, diverse, and accessible platform, these festivals amplify voices that might otherwise go unheard, fostering dialogue, understanding, and empathy across borders. In celebrating the rich tapestry of human experiences and perspectives, such festivals pave the way for a more just, equitable, and compassionate world, where every voice is valued, and every story is told.

The Women in Literature Foundation is a collective by Ananke—"a new media and development platform creating inclusive conversations in the digital realm", Ananke's website informs. The Women in Literature Festival is one of the organisation's flagship events.

Namrata is a writer, a digital marketing professional, and an editor at Kitaab literary magazine.