The UK’s leading book festival celebrating British South Asian writing has announced its lineup for the 2024 edition of the festival.
Now in its eighth year, the DESIblitz Literature Festival 2024 takes place in Birmingham from 19 October to 2 November and features some of the biggest names in British South Asian writing, fiction, poetry, storytelling, music, film, TV and publishing alongside emerging writers.
Showcasing the breadth of talent and creativity in British South Asian literature today, a programme of themed author events will feature crime fiction, children’s fiction, historical fiction, poetry readings, memoir, as well as discussions about diversity in British publishing, with a variety of music performances from Bangla to Punjabi Folk.
DESIblitz founder Indi Deol set up the literature festival as a platform to showcase writing as a viable career with the British South Asian community. At the heart of the festival is the desire to showcase the talent of established British South Asian writers and demonstrate that it is possible to be a professional writer in the UK if you are from an Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Sri Lankan background. In order to make literature as accessible as possible most of the festival events are free.
The DESIblitz Literature Festival also has a focus on bringing writing, storytelling and culture from South Asia to schools across the UK with the DESIblitz Truck Art Bus. The Truck Art Bus was designed and painted by world-renowned professional truck artist Haider Ali from Pakistan and has so far visited twenty schools and will be at the festival this year with a programme of storytelling from a range of South Asian cultures.
“At the 2024 DESIblitz Literature Festival, we’re committed to inspiring and uniting through the power of storytelling,” said festival director Indi Deol. “Our festival embraces diversity in every sense, giving a platform to voices that reflect the richness of different cultures and perspectives.
“With most of our events free to the public, we continue to prioritise accessibility and inclusivity. Whether you’re discovering new talent or engaging with renowned authors, we invite you to experience thought-provoking discussions, hands-on workshops, and captivating performances. We aim to use the power of words to spark inspiration and create lasting connections and opportunities.”
Visit the website for full details on the 2024 DESIblitz Literature Festival as well as ticket details.
