Now in its ninth year, the annual WOW Festival returns to the
Southbank Centre on 8 – 9 March, coinciding with International Women’s
Day. The festival has boasted impressive line-ups of influential female
speakers in past years, with Malala Yousafzai, Lupita Nyong’o and Annie
Lennox among those who have been involved.
The 2019 line-up is no exception, with activist Angela Davis;
journalist, activist and author Naomi Klein; Women’s Equality Party
co-founder Catherine Mayer; and comedian Jo Brand among those giving talks. Here are some highlights of the WOW Festival 2019.
WOW presents: What Now?
Friday 8 March Royal Festival Hall | 14:00 – 17:00
Jude Kelly is being joined by speakers, performers, activists and thinkers to discuss the current state of the nation for women and girls. From the toughest realities many women face every day, to the greatest triumphs, Kelly and her guests host an afternoon of stories and performances that might even change your world view.
Angela Davis in conversation
Friday 8 March Royal Festival Hall | 20:00 – 21:30
From the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s through to the present day, activist, writer and scholar Angela Davis has been a living witness to the historical struggles of the contemporary era. Through decades of activism and scholarship, Davis has been deeply involved in movements for social justice around the world. Davis is discussing her experiences in conversation Kelly at WOW this International Women’s Day.
Jo Brand’s Born Lippy: How To Do Female
Friday 8 March Purcell Room | 20:00 – 21:30
Comedian and writer Jo Brand is renowned for her sharp wit, self-deprecation and feminist values. When Brand calmly explained the effects of sexism on women to a dismissive all-male panel on Have I Got News For You last year, it turned into a viral phenomenon. In Born Lippy, Brand continues to challenge stereotypes, unpack what it means to be female and speak out on everything from family and love, to the female body and heckling as a life-skill.
WOW presents: What Next?
Saturday 9 March Royal Festival Hall | 14:00 – 17:00
In an age of hyper connectivity, extreme ideas and political turmoil, what’s in store for the future of gender equality? Led by Kelly, this event explores the current state of the nation for women and girls, then asks what the future looks like. Over the course of the afternoon, guests will hear from the women helping us imagine an equal world – from those on the front lines of global movements to young women changing our world with talks, poetry and performance. Get inspired to change the world and shape the future by the courage, initiative and intelligence of some of the most inspirational women of our time.
New Daughters of Africa
Saturday 9 March Purcell Room | 18:00 – 19:30
Twenty-five years ago, Margaret Busby’s anthology Daughters of Africa, was published to international acclaim. This year, Busby is launching her new global anthology of writing by women of African descent, New Daughters of Africa, at WOW. The anthology builds on this rich tradition for a new generation of women writers and the landscape of African women’s writing today. Featuring the writing of over 200 contributors, New Daughters of Africa celebrates their global sweep, diversity and achievements.
Naomi Klein in conversation
Saturday 9 March Royal Festival Hall | 20:00 – 21:30
Journalist, activist and author Naomi Klein is in conversation with Kelly, taking a close look at the political and media landscape at this critical time for women, human rights, economic justice and climate change. Klein is the author of international bestselling books including No Is Not Enough: Resisting Trump’s Shock Politics; This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs The Climate; and The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism.
Catherine Mayer: FFS
Saturday 9 March Purcell Room | 20:30 – 22:10
In what is branded as a ‘funny, freewheeling show’ Author and Women’s Equality Party co-founder Catherine Mayer dissects soundbite culture in a messy world. Mayer draws on her front-line experiences of journalism and politics to explain how debates became so polarised, to the detriment of all of us.
Tickets to Women of the World Festival 2019 are now available to book via the Southbank Centre website. Click here for the full line-up of events
| What | Women of the World, Southbank Centre |
| Where | Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX | MAP |
| Nearest tube | Embankment (underground) |
| When |
08 Mar 19 – 09 Mar 19, Times vary for specific events |
| Price | £- |
| Website | Click here to book via the Southbank Centre website |
