Mission Statement
Our mission is to centre and celebrate the profound stories of Africa and the Caribbean diaspora that have shaped our shared identity, while also highlighting and empowering the voices of African and Caribbean writers in Australia who continue to enrich our collective narrative.
Vision Statement
We envision a future where all generations, particularly our youth, of African and Caribbean descent in Australia are deeply connected to the breadth of their rich heritage, confidently embracing their identities through the power of shared stories and vibrant literary expression.
We aspire to cultivate a thriving community where every voice, from every age group, is heard, celebrated, and recognized as an integral part of our ongoing narrative.
Our writer’s festival aims to provide a space for creatives of the African and Caribbean diaspora to come together and network, share ideas and grow in their craft.
About Us
Born from the grassroots passion of two women writers and devoted lovers of books, the African Caribbean Writers Festival emerged to create a vital space. This festival is a vibrant celebration, dedicated to illuminating the powerful stories that have shaped us and continue to resonate through generations.
The Team
Maggie Wairimu Hari
Founder/Director
Growing up in Kenya, Maggie’s earliest and fondest memories are of her grandmother weaving captivating stories – narratives that transported a young girl to faraway lands where animals came to life, imparting history, moral lessons, and endless entertainment. These profound experiences instilled in her a deep understanding that our individual and collective stories form the very fabric of who we are. She firmly believes that sharing these narratives, at any given moment, can be a profound source of connection and healing. Driven by this conviction, Maggie is fiercely passionate about ensuring we retain ownership of our stories, understanding that only we can truly honour and give grace to their intricate and at times complex truths.
Pardina Samson-Fessale
Co-Founder
As a third culture kid, Pardina has grown up with South African influences from her mother, St Lucian influences from her father and from a childhood in Gros-Islet, and the unique experience of being Black British in London as an adult. Growing up in the melting pot of cultures in the Caribbean and London has exposed her to stories from all walks of life that has shown her the interconnected experiences of the people of the African and Caribbean diaspora. An avid reader and a lover of the craft of storytelling, Pardina wishes to platform fellow writers of colour in Australia.
African Caribbean Writers Circle Australia 