On August 8, 2025, Kinshasa will host a major literary event already stirring excitement among pan-African creative circles. The Conférence des Auteurs (LCDA), spearheaded by Marcelle Nguema and the Ozouaki association, returns for a second edition—more ambitious than ever. Far more than a literary gathering, it is a collective manifesto for cultural sovereignty through the written word.
There Are Places Where Revolutions Are Born Without Noise
Where the pen replaces the fist. Where the long-silenced voice reclaims its own legitimacy. And on August 8, Kinshasa will become one of those places. At Silikin Village, on Colonel Mondjiba Avenue, the Authors’ Conference will bring together the most powerful voices from sub-Saharan Africa and its diaspora.
This gathering is not yet another book fair. It is a collective act of speaking out. A stage where Africa does not merely respond to the world but tells its own story—with its own words, pain, dreams, and heritage.
Writer, essayist, and publisher Marcelle Nguema embodies a generation of intellectuals who combine vision with action. By launching the Ozouaki publishing house and the LCDA, she has done far more than organize an event—she has created a space for Africa to reconcile with its own narrative.
“We need to build a bridge between African imaginaries,” she says.
A simple yet powerful statement. Because this is no longer about tolerated diversity, but about a proudly asserted inner wealth. Through the LCDA, she calls for building a continent that writes for itself—without filters or permission.
In “Independent Authors,” Every Word Counts
These are authors who refuse to rely on traditional (often Parisian) validation circuits to exist. They write, self-publish, distribute, read one another, and build their own readership—without waiting for a handout.
After a first edition held in Paris at the Gabonese Embassy, the LCDA returns to the continent in a powerful symbolic move. Africa is no longer viewed from afar—it is written from within, in its own languages, cities, silences, and struggles.
The day will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 5:00 p.m., following a dynamic and organic rhythm. Author receptions, book signings, panels, and public discussions—all are designed to create a space for fruitful exchange and collective construction.
The Theme of This Edition:
Innovate; Imagine; Realize
A triptych that says it all: it is time to move from words to action—without losing imagination along the way.
At the Heart of the Day, Two Literary Prizes:
- The ELAM Prize (ages 10–18), for emerging young voices.
- The OTÉTÉN Prize (ages 18+), with the winner to be published by Ozouaki.
These are not decorative awards—they are real launchpads. Publication as a tool for emancipation.
A New Media Strategy: La Rubrique des Auteurs
In parallel, the LCDA is developing an innovative media format: La Rubrique des Auteurs, a hybrid between literary column and documentary series. Its goal: to capture the voices of African writers across the continent and create a living, accessible audiovisual archive.
Already in production for social media platforms, this project may soon find a home on networks such as RTI. A concrete way to circulate African literature—beyond paper.
Nurturing the Next Generation
Through workshops and the ELAM Prize, young teenagers will be invited to write about their world. Guided by established writers, their texts will be published and presented at the African Book Fair in Paris. A first step—perhaps also the beginning of a lifelong journey in writing.
This is the true power of the LCDA: to bring forth new vocations in a world where African children are too often told not to dream too big.
A structural event for the african literary ecosystem
With a projected budget of €32,650, the conference aims to professionalize the sector. Three partnership tiers are offered:
Bronze (€5,000)
Silver (€10,000)
Gold (€25,000)
These contributions help fund logistics, publications, recordings, and communication. Each partner gains strategic visibility: logos, booths, speaking slots, media exposure. Because to keep literature alive, we must also build a sustainable economic ecosystem.
Practical Information
Lieu : Silikin Village
Adresse : 63, avenue Colonel Mondjiba, Ngaliema, Kinshasa – RDC
Date : Vendredi 08 août 2025
Heure : 8h30 – 17h00
Réservations : laconferencedesauteurs@gmail.com
Summary
- There Are Places Where Revolutions Are Born Without Noise
- A Structural Event for the African Literary Ecosystem
- 📍 Practical Information
