In Johannesburg, storytellers, artists, and activists from across Africa gathered for the Afrotellers Conference 2025, a three-day celebration of narrative power under the theme “Our Stories. Our Voices. Our Power.”  The event created space for reflection, creativity, and dialogue on how storytelling can shape governance, integrity, and social change.

Day One opened with Professor René Smith (University of the Witwatersrand of Arts), whose welcome remarks highlighted storytelling as a form of truth-telling and transformation. She reminded participants that stories are not passive reflections of culture but active tools for change — a message that set the tone for the three days that followed.

The opening conversations featured the founder of Afrotellers, Willson Chivhanga (Chief Executive Officer, Thrive Afrika ), Dr Refiloe Lepere (Senior Lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand School of Education and co-lead of the Creative Research Lab), and Jacqueline Asiimwe (Chief Executive Officer, CivSource Africa), who reminded participants that storytelling is not only an art but also a strategy, memory, resistance, and healing. “Crisis has always been the birthplace of creativity… when the roots are deep, there is no need to fear the wind”, said Dr Lepere.

Asiimwe reflected on silence as part of Africa’s language, a space of power that connects truth, history, and hope, while Chivhanga highlighted the importance of collective imagination and community storytelling in reclaiming Africa’s narratives.

The plenary session, “Our Stories, Our Voices, Our Power,” brought together storytellers and scholars from Wits University, The Decoloniality Network, the Let’s Play Outside Project, and Accountability Lab East & Southern Africa. Beloved Chiweshe, Associate Director for Programs and Campaigns at Accountability Lab East & Southern Africa, spoke about storytelling as a foundation for governance and integrity: “Accountability is not only about systems – it begins in the stories we tell about who we are, what we value, and what we refuse to accept.”

He shared how communities in Zimbabwe, through the New Narratives for Accountability initiative, use music, film, and dialogue to build cultures of transparency and shared responsibility.

In the afternoon, the “Activism for People-Centred Governance” session hosted by Accountability Lab Zimbabwe showcased artists from Voice2Rep, Film Fellowship, and the Accountability Lab Incubator, who demonstrated how creative activism connects citizens and policymakers in meaningful, people-driven ways.

The day closed with “Stories From Kwa Gogo Ntuli,” a moving conversation between storyteller Ntandoyenkosi Maseko and Bathabile Dlamini (Media and  Communications Officer, Accountability Lab Zimbabwe). Their dialogue celebrated intergenerational storytelling and community memory as acts of resilience and care.

Day Two began with a keynote by Gift Ostallos Siziba (Former Member of Parliament, Zimbabwe, and Founder of Catalyst Centre), who explored how courage and storytelling intersect in civic life. “We tell stories not because it is fashionable, but because courage must find its voice. When one person dares to speak, others find the courage to act.” The plenary “Philanthropy and Narrative Resourcing – Who Funds Our Stories?” explored how funding can sustain or silence stories, with calls for “philanthropy that listens, learns, and tells its own story.”

Another powerful session, “Mhare: Women of Towering Strength,” hosted by Hlanganisa Community Fund and facilitated by Bongiwe Ndondo, brought together reflections on storytelling as care and healing in communities across southern Africa.

Afternoon breakaway sessions ran simultaneously across the conference venues, covering climate accountability, entrepreneurship, and science storytelling from Magamba Network’s climate documentary KickOut Total, to Emerge Livelihoods’ discussion on creative economies, and Dr Thulile Khanyile’s (Co-founder & Co-Director: Nka’Thuto EduPropeller + Lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand) “When Science Finds Its Voice,” exploring how storytelling can advance inclusion and innovation.

The day ended with reflections from Briggs Bomba (Executive Director, TrustAfrica), who reminded participants that storytelling is central to building ethical leadership and shared progress across the continent. “The stories we choose to tell, and the ones we choose to silence, determine the kind of societies we become,” he said.

Across every performance, panel, and exhibition, one message resonated: Storytelling is not just art; it is infrastructure for accountability, care, and change. By connecting creativity and governance, Afrotellers reminded participants that the stories we tell – and the ways we listen – can shape the future of integrity, justice, and collective leadership across Africa.

Naseera Noor-Mahomed