The University of the Free State (UFS) has appointed acclaimed poet and author Tlotlisang David Mhlambiso as Artist-in-Residence at the
International Institute of the Arts (IIA), where he will spend two months developing new work that explores African storytelling, multilingual literary practice, and cultural memory.
Hosted on the Bloemfontein Campus from 1 June to 31 July 2026, the residency forms part of a collaboration between the International Institute of the Arts and the Initiative for Creative African Narratives (iCAN) in the Centre for Teaching and Learning.
During the residency, Mhlambiso will work under the mentorship of Dr Peet van Aardt, Coordinator of iCAN, on a new bilingual poetry manuscript in isiXhosa and English. The project will explore how multilingual literary expression can deepen contemporary African narratives while creating spaces for reflection, identity, and cultural continuity.
Mhlambiso is the author of four books, including the poetry collections Ukuphuma Kwelanga (2020), Phind’ ubhale (2024), and Zizinto Zobomi (2024), as well as the short story collection A Journey Worth the Ride (2023). His work has appeared in local and international anthologies and literary journals, earning recognition for its contribution to language preservation and contemporary African literature.
Prof Vasu Reddy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, whose portfolio includes the IIA, says, “A flourishing society is one that values creativity, language diversity, and the stories that connect communities across generations. Artists and poets therefore remain central to social imagination and transformation. This residency affirms the importance of African-centred creative scholarship in advancing flourishing lives and inclusive knowledge systems. At the UFS, we see creative practice as essential to building responsible societal futures. We are richer for having Tlotlisang David Mhlambiso in our midst.”
According to Prof Alexander Johnson, Director of the International Institute of the Arts, the residency reflects the university’s commitment to supporting creative scholarship that speaks to both local realities and global conversations.
“This residency creates space for African languages and literary traditions to be developed, celebrated, and shared in ways that are both academically meaningful and socially relevant,” says Prof Johnson.
“At the University of the Free State, we see multilingual artistic practice as part of a broader commitment to building responsible societal futures through dialogue, creativity, and inclusive knowledge production.”
The residency will also include a creative writing workshop for aspiring poets and UFS students in June 2026. The workshop will focus on poetry writing, multilingual literary practice, performance poetry, and African narrative traditions.
Creating space for multilingual storytelling and student creativity
For students interested in literature, performance, and storytelling, the programme offers an opportunity to engage directly with an established African writer whose work bridges languages, communities, and lived experiences.
Prof Johnson says initiatives such as the residency help create opportunities for emerging writers to see their own languages and stories as valuable forms of knowledge and creative expression.
“Creative spaces such as these matter because they allow students and young writers to experiment, reflect, and contribute their own voices to the cultural and intellectual life of society,” he says.
The residency will conclude with a public poetry reading in July 2026, where Mhlambiso will present selections from the developing manuscript in both isiXhosa and English. The completed manuscript is expected to be published through iCAN’s publishing networks in December 2026.
Mhlambiso’s recent accolades include the Best Author – Language Development and Promotion Award (2025/26), the South African Heroes Awards Honorary Language Preservation Award (2025), and recognition as one of the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans in 2025.
“At a time of global uncertainty, the arts continue to remind us of our shared humanity. Through poetry, performance, and storytelling, artists challenge us to reflect on identity, justice, belonging, and hope. Universities are critical spaces where science, innovation, and the humanities work together. Poets and artists contribute profoundly to public life by nurturing imagination, critical reflection, and social solidarity,” observed Prof Reddy.