KWELI INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL
The 2022 Kweli International Literary Festival will be our first-ever HYBRID festival, held July 23rd through September 1st! The multi-week festival will feature virtual readings and conversations with debut and award-winning BIPOC writers, master classes, multi-session workshops, craft talks, and much more, as well as the year’s best opportunity to connect with agents, editors, and fellow creatives of color. We have an incredible lineup this year--see below.
The festival opens on SATURDAY, JULY 23, with a limited-capacity, in-person event at Barnard. For full accessibility, registrants can also attend the Opening Day virtually.
The festival closes on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, with a limited-capacity, in-person event at MoCADA. For full accessibility, registrants can also attend the Closing Day virtually.
The in-person event will feature live music and choreographed dance. See our updated artist list below!
See our full program and class schedule: Kweli International Literary Festival Master Classes and Workshops
See our FREE reading series (open to the public): Kweli International Literary Festival Reading and Conversations Series
Apply for a scholarship to attend the festival (deadline to apply is July 13, 9PM EST): Kweli International Literary Festival Scholarship Application
PDF version of the PROGRAM BOOK.
Frequently Asked Questions
Vaccinations and masks are mandatory for the in-person Festival Opening Day AND the in-person Festival Closing Day.
The Barnard Center for Research on Women (BCRW) is co-sponsoring our event.
2022 Festival Teaching Artists
Short Fiction
![Daphne Palasi Andreades](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654280737654-USBHR1NYMLKB1F90YRJ8/Daphne+Palasi+Andreades.jpg)
![Nicole Dennis-Benn](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1655244894500-J3WE522IOBF9DXG55GUU/Image+6-14-22+at+6.11+PM.jpeg)
![Oscar Hokeah](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1656379900325-XZE2LDSZWLI2HQBOEWV2/Image+6-27-22+at+9.30+PM.jpeg)
![Honorée Fanonne Jeffers](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1655476340256-2XF851TSHYNEWYTD5YUQ/Image+6-15-22+at+4.44+PM.jpeg)
![Tyehimba Jess](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1655921722971-3722HYKMXBCJ90MRDYE5/Image+6-22-22+at+2.10+PM.jpeg)
![Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1655158064019-NSA4VMT1R7DDKZNNFR2X/5.+Dahlma+Llanos-Figueroa+photo+by+Matvey+Zabbi_5983+-+Laura+Pegram.jpg)
![Maaza Mengiste](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654706311531-XFN1B96RFXKLQZVLL7M1/Maaza-Mengiste.jpg)
![Cleyvis Natera](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1655158723012-ANL8OERAJDF797OHSWOH/Cleyvis+Natera.jpeg)
![Marytza K. Rubio](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1655248252984-4TIF397RIGD8XXOSXFTB/Image+6-14-22+at+7.09+PM.jpeg)
![Mecca Jamilah Sullivan](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654638665497-SG4QXWQK78D7JTQ9O7YR/MeccaJSullivan-9-Photo%2Bby%2BLakesha%2BMiner%2B-%2BMecca%2BJamilah.jpg)
![Morgan Talty](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654651317845-9JCUOFRGTH9YXPG18VSL/Morgan%2BTalty%2BAuthor%2BPhoto.jpg)
![Christine Kandic Torres](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654279863256-4YZLYHLIO91EQ5A0Q2OQ/Christine+Kandic+Torres_Author+Photo+-+Christine+Kandic+Torres.jpg)
![LaToya Watkins](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654192045982-VZ9MBL7DJAUXIF2654B2/headshot+LaToya+Watkins.jpg)
![David Heska Wanbli Weiden](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1656707287811-SPN86C7ITHQJQMNILLIR/Weiden+head+shot+2020-credit+Aslan+Chalom+-+David+Heska+Wanbli+Weiden.jpg)
Novel
![Daphne Palasi Andreades](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654280851082-SALWPDLFMN04XYF3XIRN/Daphne+Palasi+Andreades.jpg)
![Nicole Dennis-Benn](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1655245930500-22XQ5QOR2C7IOT3Q3UUS/Image+6-14-22+at+6.11+PM.jpeg)
![Jaquira Díaz](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1655161640002-FRDIFZZGXI9YYBW5F6SQ/Image+6-11-22+at+7.10+AM.jpg)
![Safia Elhillo](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1655159716533-M2PLXL6SQQHWDAC9UPQG/Safia+Elhillo.jpeg)
![Nikky Finney](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654296999539-KK5Y1JJFJHIFQWH96DZJ/Nikky%2BFinney%2BFull.jpg)
![Oscar Hokeah](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1656380247400-VCKA71FDSTW37XKX1RQP/Image+6-27-22+at+9.30+PM.jpeg)
![Honorée Fanonne Jeffers](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1655465465110-GKIT0RHZDR1RAG41SE0H/Image+6-15-22+at+4.44+PM.jpeg)
![Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1655158064019-NSA4VMT1R7DDKZNNFR2X/5.+Dahlma+Llanos-Figueroa+photo+by+Matvey+Zabbi_5983+-+Laura+Pegram.jpg)
![Megha Majumdar](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654297954779-QZK4D8II4DGQY0YRP3Z8/Megha%2BMajumdar%2Bauthor%2Bphoto%2B-%2Bcredit%2BMichal%2BLabik.png)
![Maaza Mengiste](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654706311531-XFN1B96RFXKLQZVLL7M1/Maaza-Mengiste.jpg)
![Cleyvis Natera](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1655158723012-ANL8OERAJDF797OHSWOH/Cleyvis+Natera.jpeg)
![Mecca Jamilah Sullivan](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654638865100-ZKJT0VK3SVV4SL35RH81/MeccaJSullivan-9-Photo%2Bby%2BLakesha%2BMiner%2B-%2BMecca%2BJamilah.jpg)
![Tanaïs](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654280182528-0W2K262OX5BLHR6MORAP/3BC6108F-722E-4FA9-B5E5-995B4F00FE3A+-+Tana%C3%AFs+Tana%C3%AFs.jpeg)
![Christine Kandic Torres](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654280398921-B1H35GCN9D8XV7C7UQXQ/Christine+Kandic+Torres_Author+Photo+-+Christine+Kandic+Torres.jpg)
![LaToya Watkins](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654192045982-VZ9MBL7DJAUXIF2654B2/headshot+LaToya+Watkins.jpg)
![David Heska Wanbli Weiden](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1656707287811-SPN86C7ITHQJQMNILLIR/Weiden+head+shot+2020-credit+Aslan+Chalom+-+David+Heska+Wanbli+Weiden.jpg)
Nonfiction
![Hannah Bae](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654615453970-IB9K4MWHPLDR43PYWWA2/BAE%2C+HANNAH_photo+-+Hannah+Bae.jpeg)
![Remica Bingham-Risher](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1655251552931-EH884D0ALX5JO8J6SEZY/Image+6-14-22+at+8.01+PM.jpeg)
![Rio Cortez](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1657100328146-9Q7ORF1MLNSMRF76VAW6/Image+7-6-22+at+5.37+AM.jpeg)
![Jaquira Díaz](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1655161804692-YC0E3VR09YN08BFV8NOX/Image+6-11-22+at+7.10+AM.jpg)
![Kelly Lytle Hernández](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654788375112-0JQZGXWE20VZNKB4MYJQ/Image+6-9-22+at+11.11+AM.jpg)
![Honorée Fanonne Jeffers](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1655480393029-60ZMX0YDFRDV3GC3NHFA/Image+6-15-22+at+4.44+PM.jpeg)
![Maaza Mengiste](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654706311531-XFN1B96RFXKLQZVLL7M1/Maaza-Mengiste.jpg)
![Nadia Owusu](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654615136553-0V1EBRJQB5628LY6V0IG/Whiting032119Owusu32BeowulfSheehan+-+Nadia+Owusu.jpg)
![Tanaïs](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654280182528-0W2K262OX5BLHR6MORAP/3BC6108F-722E-4FA9-B5E5-995B4F00FE3A+-+Tana%C3%AFs+Tana%C3%AFs.jpeg)
Poetry
![Kemi Alabi](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654794889920-59RV8725ML2VL5XX93V5/Image+6-9-22+at+1.13+PM.jpg)
![Kenzie Allen](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1657561900709-77Q0ROAOBUIMGFR5OC9I/KAphoto1-300dpi+-+McKenzie+Allen.png)
![Remica Bingham-Risher](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654650829870-M77WLIMDL6IFF056OEZJ/Remica+Bingham-Risher.jpg)
![Rio Cortez](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1657100328146-9Q7ORF1MLNSMRF76VAW6/Image+7-6-22+at+5.37+AM.jpeg)
![Safia Elhillo](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1655159716533-M2PLXL6SQQHWDAC9UPQG/Safia+Elhillo.jpeg)
![Nikky Finney](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1654297442776-QAV6BCFUDGB74AD6CMTR/Nikky%2BFinney%2BFull.jpg)
![Santee Frazier](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1656524326162-J8GM6ROVNBLZY0J6IYZ1/santee-frazier.jpg)
![Omotara James](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1655835451175-11JCZJZR6X5C1J68KE9R/Omotara+James.jpg)
![Honorée Fanonne Jeffers](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1655480545502-AU904S488SEDRBAUNP38/Image+6-15-22+at+4.44+PM.jpeg)
![Tyehimba Jess](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1655921527939-6VO4FE0MO5PZXGYK37M3/Image+6-22-22+at+2.10+PM.jpeg)
Agents, Editors & Marketing Professionals
![Kukuwa Ashun](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1658070090585-K9LE8W1XNAH1C8XINZSW/Image+7-17-22+at+10.58+AM.jpg)
![Caroline Bleeke](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1655925244831-0YP34YTAFPU5FVF9FP51/Bleeke_headshot+-+Caroline+Bleeke.jpg)
![Renée Jarvis](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1624379687095-I5GWU2AL7R30M04MCXIT/Screen+Shot+2021-06-22+at+12.07.22+PM.png)
![Iwalani Kim](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1623942093413-LJ7W8MUBCG9VRXHKQB2Y/Iwalani+Kim+Headshot.jpg)
![Roma Panganiban](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1657101146425-JI3SEPXERFM8HOQV4N9F/Image+7-6-22+at+5.47+AM.jpg)
![Marie Pantojan](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1656887721408-L1T8PHYB0FBMDIMX19QO/Image+6-17-22+at+12.16+PM.jpg)
Dance & Music
![Djassi DaCosta Johnson](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1661266003501-3UDDEMV8W7WT07JC8DKC/Djassi+Bare2+-+Version+2+-+Bella+Vera.jpg)
![Shayna Dulberger](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1661266421728-I6M56MV7QT5R46VABFAF/Shayna_Dulberger_by_Peter_Gannushkin-01+2+-+Shayna+Dulberger.jpeg)
![Rocka Jamez](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1661266855306-WQSQ9TMW8XA0YDKB64U4/Rocka+Headshot+1+-+Rocka+Jamez.jpg)
![Makeda-Lily Love-Roney](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/530921f1e4b09a0716b825ef/1661266571202-YH3S9BBYSOTNRX509F8L/427ECA19-89E1-4219-A4BD-E421888A356A+-+Makeda-Lily+Love-Roney.jpeg)
See highlights from past festivals below!
Click here for the 2021 Kweli International Literary Festival.
Click here for the 2020 Kweli International Literary Festival.
Click here for the 2019 Kweli International Literary Festival.