Last week, Professor Djamila Ribeiro completed another chapter of her 2025 international tour. From June 12 to 19, she was in South Africa for an agenda that combined contemporary art, literature, and cultural diplomacy. The trip marked her return to the country six years after her first visit, in 2019, when she was invited by the local Ministry of Tourism to celebrate the centenary of Nelson Mandela. \u201cThose were unforgettable days, full of exchanges and affection,\u201d she recalled on her Instagram profile.<\/p>\n
Now, in 2025, she returned for two central reasons. The first was the launch of Where We Stand<\/em>, the English edition of her bestselling book Lugar de Fala<\/em>, published by Yale University Press. The event took place on June 18 at Wits University in Johannesburg \u2014 a century-old institution with a central role in the fight against apartheid. \u201cI learned that I was probably the first Brazilian in history to officially launch a book in South Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n With the support of the Brazilian Embassy and the university\u2019s Department of Anthropology, the launch included the presence of the Mexican ambassador and representatives from the diplomatic missions of Angola, Jamaica, Colombia, and Uruguay. Djamila shared the table with photographer Let\u00edcia Fran\u00e7a and artists from Bahia supported by public cultural policies from the state government.<\/p>\n In South Africa, the book will be distributed by Jonathan Ball Publishers, the country’s largest publishing house, which also organized the press schedule. Djamila was interviewed by journalist Jennifer Platt of the Sunday Times<\/em>, and featured on the literary podcast Cheeky Natives<\/em>, hosted by Dr. Alma and Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane. \u201cI am deeply grateful to Shakti India and the Jonathan Ball team for the respectful and warm way they received the book.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t\t