Bula Buka Publishers, together with iZwily (formerly VentureBooks OS) and founder Tiisetso Maloma, were honoured to be invited to participate in the Second Sharjah Festival of African Literature and Culture (SFAL), held from 14–18 January 2026 at Sharjah University City in the United Arab Emirates.

Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) under the theme “The African Way”, the festival brought together leading African and Emirati writers, publishers, and cultural innovators to celebrate storytelling and strengthen creative ties between Africa and the Arab world.

A Proud South African and Pan-African Presence

We were honoured to share this stage with esteemed poet Lebo Mahshile, renowned chef and actress Lucia Mthiyane, compelling poet MoAfrica Wa Mokgathi, legendary fashion designer Tasleem Bulbulia, Idols Top 3 finalist and singer Micayla Lee, renowned chef Zola Nene, art curator Lukretia Booysen, the dynamic XO Empire Dance Crew, and internationally celebratedglass portrait artist Sandile Kgaphola of SK Originals, whose work has featured icons such as Speed and Siya Kolisi—all shining representatives of African excellence and creativity.

The festival also featured global literary and musical figures such as Lemn Sissay, AyalnehMulatu, and Ethiopian singer Betty G, further elevating its international scope.

Cultural Exchange at the Heart of SFAL

SFAL 2026 offered a rich programme of panel discussions, poetry readings, children’s workshops, culinary demonstrations, and live performances. It highlighted publishing and literary traditions from Zanzibar, Ethiopia, and South Africa, positioning Sharjah as a vital cultural bridge between Africa and the Middle East.

The opening ceremony was attended by Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority; Her Excellency Mariam H. Mwinyi, First Lady of Zanzibar; and South African Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, who joined in honouring African creatives and cultural leaders.

Zimbabwean writer and filmmaker Tsitsi Dangarembga received the Sharjah Lifetime Achievement in Literature Award, recognising her remarkable contribution to African and global literature.

Building the Future: iZwily (formerly VentureBooks) with AI

Tiisetso Maloma, an author and publishing innovator, shared that he witnessed first-hand a growing appetite for African literature in the UAE from both citizens and the African diaspora. This reinforces the urgency of making African stories more accessible to global audiences.

He is currently building iZwily (formerly VentureBooks), Africa’s first IP and storytelling ERP operating system, designed to connect authors, publishers, distributors, and retailers on a single digital backbone.

iZwily (formerly VentureBooks) is being developed with AI at its core, using artificial intelligence to support discovery, rights management, market matching, workflow automation, metadata intelligence, and global distribution. The system is still in its building stage, with the ambitious goal of unlocking thousands of under-published African books and bringing them into mainstream global markets.