Founded to ensure African women's stories are written, published and preserved for generations to come.
Women Authors Forum Africa was founded on a single belief: every African woman carries a story worth telling โ and a story worth keeping.
We walk alongside women at every stage of their writing journey โ from the first sentence to the published book. Through recognition, documentation and exhibition, we ensure women's contributions to history are never overlooked, never undervalued, and never forgotten.
Our work spans creative writing workshops, one-on-one mentorship, professional publishing support and the landmark Queens of Excellence programme โ which documents and exhibits the stories of outstanding women in museums, libraries and national archives.
Workshops, mentorship and community support for aspiring authors at every experience level.
Guiding women through the full publishing process from rough manuscript to finished book.
Archiving women's stories in museums, libraries, schools and digital collections.
The Queens of Excellence programme formally honours women across 9 categories.
Indlovukazi Mapule is the visionary force behind the KZN Women Authors Forum. A published author, community builder and cultural activist, she founded KWAF with a singular mission โ to ensure that every African woman who has a story to tell has the support, the platform and the community to tell it. Under her leadership, KWAF has grown from a small gathering of women writers in KwaZulu-Natal into a national movement with branches in KZN, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape.
Her books โ Leaving The Shadows Behind and Iqiniso Lami โ are raw, courageous accounts of marriage, truth, healing and identity. She also compiled Queens of Excellence, the official documentation of outstanding South African women. Her books have inspired hundreds of women to begin their own writing journeys.
Founded in honour of Mama Sisulu's legacy. The first cohort of women writers gathered to share and document their stories.
A year-long programme honouring Charlotte Maxeke's centenary through writing projects, oral history recordings and exhibitions.
Launched the landmark programme to document, recognise and exhibit the stories of outstanding African women.
The first Queens of Excellence Awards Gala held in Durban. Six women honoured. Six books launched.
Three provincial branches โ KWAF (KZN), ECWAF (Eastern Cape) and WeCWAF (Western Cape) โ growing the platform across South Africa.
KWAF's outreach programme takes books, workshops and inspiration to communities that are often overlooked โ including care facilities, rehabilitation centres and rural schools across KwaZulu-Natal.
Every woman, regardless of her circumstances, deserves to know that her story matters.
See Our EventsJoin us as a writer, supporter or Queens of Excellence nominee.