Franco-Cameroonian author Kidi Bebey tours Southern Africa

As part of Francophonie Month 2026, Franco-Cameroonian author, journalist and literary presenter Kidi Bebey undertook an extensive tour across Southern Africa, meeting 1400 pupils, students, teachers and readers in a series of discussions, workshops and literary events. The tour was organised by the Embassy of France in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi, in partnership with the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), the Alliances françaises of Southern Africa, associations of French teachers and several secondary and higher education institutions.

Over three weeks, Bebey travelled across the region, with events in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Potchefstroom, Bloemfontein, Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Makhanda, Somerset West and Cape Town, as well as Maseru in Lesotho and sessions in Eswatini and Botswana. Through lectures, engagements and public conversations, she engaged with audiences and shared insights on her literary work and professional journey as both an author and journalist.

Central to the programme were discussions around her novel Enfin chez moi!, which will feature on the French curriculum from 2026 to 2028. The tour concluded in Johannesburg with a final session at Dibukafé, hosted by IFAS, where Bebey led a question-and-answer discussion on Enfin chez moi! followed by a creative writing workshop.