Literary buzz at CaLibro Africa Festival
Città di Castello, a quiet Umbrian town, turns into a hub for African letters from 4-6 October 2025. The CaLibro Africa Festival invites star authors Hemley Boum, Noo Saro-Wiwa and Elgas for readings, workshops and free debates that mingle seasoned writers with first-time readers (CaLibro programme).
- Literary buzz at CaLibro Africa Festival
- Dream City turns Tunis into an open-air gallery
- Nollywood romance A Lagos Love Story streams globally
- Semi-Soeter adds South-African sparkle
- Otobong Nkanga weaves memory in Paris
- Tayc’s R&B night in Casablanca
- Nantes Festival spotlights African books
- Why these events matter to Congo readers
Organisers promise a relaxed, walk-in atmosphere: events unfold in theatres, libraries and medieval squares, encouraging visitors to flit between a poetry slam and a children’s storytelling corner without buying a ticket. A tribute to Senegalese novelist Abasse Ndione will underline the festival’s inter-generational spirit.
Book lovers flying from Brazzaville can reach the venue by train from Rome or Florence. All sessions remain free until seats fill, so early arrival is advised for popular meetings.
Dream City turns Tunis into an open-air gallery
Only a short hop across the Mediterranean, Tunis medina hosts the 10th Dream City from 3-19 October. Thirty-two heritage sites—cafés, palaces, even disused barracks—become stages for in-situ installations, concerts and night-time “Dream Leyli” walks (L’Art Rue).
Founders Selma and Sofiane Ouissi ask artists to “seed the city” with works that question memory, environment and daily life. Visitors wander narrow alleys where video loops meet oud riffs, while mediation sessions train locals to guide tourists through the maze. Entry remains largely free, reinforcing the festival’s inclusive DNA.
Nollywood romance A Lagos Love Story streams globally
Released on Netflix in April, Naz Onuzo’s film still tops West-African charts. The plot follows events planner Promise Quest, played by Jemima Osunde, who teams with Afrobeats star King Kator to save her family home. Lagos traffic, rooftop parties and street markets colour every frame (Netflix synopsis).
Critics applaud the soundtrack and the frank look at debt, ambition and sisterhood. Congolese viewers can stream the 2-hour feature with French subtitles; a decent mobile connection delivers HD quality without chewing excessive data, according to regional speed tests.
Semi-Soeter adds South-African sparkle
Available since 20 June, Semi-Soeter continues the Afrikaans hit Semi-Soet. Married couple Jaci and JP fake perfect parenthood to land a marketing deal, only to confront a real pregnancy and vineyard shenanigans in Stellenbosch (local press). Director Joshua Rous balances slapstick with scenic wine-route vistas.
At 93 minutes, the comedy is ideal for an evening stream. English-Afrikaans dialogue comes with French captions, making the film accessible to Central African families keen on lighthearted stories.
Otobong Nkanga weaves memory in Paris
From 10 October to 22 February, the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris stages I Dreamt of You in Colours, the first French monograph of Nigerian artist Otobong Nkanga. Giant tapestries, stones and suspended metals evoke mining scars and ecological repair (museum release).
Visitors stroll through soundscapes and videos that show Nkanga gathering minerals and braiding fibres. The exhibition highlights resource extraction but also collective healing—topics resonating with Congo-Brazzaville’s own mining history.
Tayc’s R&B night in Casablanca
Franco-Cameroonian crooner Tayc lands at Morocco Mall on 10 October for the Africa Music Festival. Hits like Le Temps and Dodo will ignite a 20 000-seat open-air arena. Organisers hint at surprise duets and interactive choreography (festival briefing).
Tickets start at 300 MAD; several Congolese travel agencies already bundle low-cost flights with concert passes. The mall’s tram stop and vast parking ease post-show traffic.
Nantes Festival spotlights African books
Back in France, Nantes hosts its 10th African Literatures Festival from 10-12 October. Panels at the Maison des Confluences dissect themes of exile, ecology and women’s voices, while youth ateliers hand children blank notebooks to start their own sagas (festival committee).
Free or symbolic-price entry encourages walk-ins. Publishers plan pop-up stalls, giving Congolese expatriates a chance to grab hard-to-find titles without shipping fees.
Why these events matter to Congo readers
Together, the seven dates map a continent brimming with talent and opportunity. From literature that questions colonial memory to R&B that fills arenas, African creators are shaping global culture—not as curiosities but as central voices.
Streaming, low-cost airlines and visa-free corridors mean Brazzaville residents can experience many of these happenings firsthand or online. Mark the calendar: October belongs to Africa’s storytellers.
