Badilisha Poetry X-Change 2008, in collaboration with Winternachten, took place between 29 January - 02 February as a celebration of the word - written, spoken, sung and even explored on screen.  This Festival brought together 14 inspired solo performances and four collaborative productions by local and international wordsmiths.

The diverse line up of poets and performing artists engaged audiences in various outdoor venues on the Spier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch just outside Cape Town. Featured South African poets, storytellers and performers included Gcina Mhlophe, Ernestine Deane, Jacques Coetzee, Gert Vlok Nel, Khadija Heeger, Odidi Mfenyana, Napo Masheane, Shelley Barry, Andrea Dondolo and Shabbir Banoobhai.

International poets were Omekongo wa Dibinga, of Congolese descent and resident in the USA, Ruben van Gogh, Changa Hickinson, Antoine De Kom, Violetta Simatupang representing voices from Indonesia, Trinidad, The Dutch Antilles, Surinam and Holland, under the Winternachten banner. Winternachten is a writers' and poets’ network in The Netherlands and historically related countries that annually hosts a festival in The Hague, with writers, music and film from these countries.