Koleka Putuma

Koleka Putuma is a cultural worker based in Cape Town, South Africa. Her inquiries are conveyed through performance, publications, and installations. Her practice is concerned with exploring the voice and body as channels for images, language and dreams, weaving citation, religion, memory, and cultural and historical identities to make sense of the world.

Koleka’s storytelling has shaped South African literature and theatre. She has published three poetry collections and several plays. In June 2024, Bonnier Books UK published her latest poetry collection for young adults, ‘We Have Everything We Need To Start Again’ and her first children’s book, ‘Everybody Has A Fear’ was published by Big Picture Press in September 2025.

She is the founder and director of Manyano Media, a creative company that amplifies stories by black queer artists.