Afro-Nordic Literary Festival

A weekend celebration of Afrodiasporic voices in literature, bringing together poets, authors and researchers from across the Nordic countries for readings, dialogues and exchanges with the Helsinki public.  

Over two days, Oodi becomes a gathering place for writers who share an African heritage and a Nordic context, and who use literature to examine what it means to live between cultures, languages and histories. The programme moves across keynote readings, cross-Nordic dialogues, spoken word performances, critical conversations and children's story times — held together by a single conviction that Afrodiasporic literary voices in the Nordic region are not a niche but a centre. 

Participants include Minna Salami, Makda Mbaie, POC-lukupiiri, Kayo Mpoyi, Khaya Ronkainen, Guro Jabulisile Sibeko, Camara Lundestad Joof, Mai Takawira, Nina Cramer and Sami Said. 

Date: 7 November 2026
Time: 14:00-16:30

Helsinki Central Library Oodi
Saarikoski Rug, 3rd Floor 
Töölönlahdenkatu 4
00100 Helsinki


Date: 8 November 2026
Time: 13:30-18:00

Helsinki Central Library Oodi
Maijansali, 1st Floor 
Töölönlahdenkatu 4
00100 Helsinki