Johann Gautschi, assisted by his wife, Jenny, commissioned their daughter, Michelle – a Voice and English Pronunciation Coach – together with her husband, Mark MacDonald – a Graphic Designer – to create this uniquely South African product.
It is an essential communication tool and a visually exciting celebration of South Africa’s languages and cultures, created with passion! The product enables its readers to communicate, on a basic level, in all of our official languages. It also serves as a souvenir of South Africa’s rich diversity of languages, cultures and magnificent natural beauty.
The translations, pronunciation guides and pseudo-phonetics have been done by top academics in the African Languages Departments of distinguished South African Universities. The introductions on the history of language in South Africa and its diverse cultures have been written by leaders in the fields of Linguistics and Social Anthropology.
Speaking to someone in his / her mother tongue fosters a mutual respect and lays the foundation for a welcome reception, which makes the experience of being South African or of visiting our beautiful country all the more pleasurable.
Folio Books’ poetry series launched with a bang last month and continues with wicked women’s words from BOOK SA regulars, Helen Moffett and Liesl Jobson. You’re invited to come and share a glass of wine while listening to poems that will delight, shock, comfort and amuse.
Helen Moffett is a freelance writer, editor, academic and poet, who’s lectured as far afield as Trinidad and Alaska. Her academic writings include a great deal of gloomy but necessary work on sexual violence in the post-apartheid context. She writes about cricket because it reminds her why she likes men (and because she loves the game with a passion). She has also published a university textbook on poetry, an anthology of South African landscape writing and several short stories. Her debut collection of poems, Strange Fruit</a , was recently published by Modjaji Books.
Liesl Jobson is a musician, photographer and writer, and the author of 100 Papers, a collection of prose poems and flash fiction (Botsotso, 2008) and an anthology of poetry, View from an Escalator (Botsotso, 2008). She is the winner of the POWA women’s writing poetry competition and the Ernst van Heerden Creative Writing Award.
Thursday night saw the launch of Idasa’s 2010 Democracy Index, Testing Democracy alongside the opening of Lobby Books, a joint indie bookshop venture that is less about competition, as we previously reported, than it is about collaboration. Lobby Books is a partnership between Mervyn Sloman, of The Book Lounge, and Henrietta Dax, of Clarke’s Books.
After the event was opened by Idasa executive director Paul Graham, UCT associate professor of law Richard Calland spoke about the importance of a bookstore at Idasa, and the creative use of the space overseen by Architect Justin Cooke.
Continuing along the theme of development, guest speaker Njabulo Ndebele outlined the context in which the Democracy Index series, established in a distinctly different political era, now finds itself. He spoke particularly of the need for a reshuffling of our nation’s priorities; a shift to putting the people of South Africa ahead of political parties.
Judith February and Neeta Misra-Dextra, the book’s editors, highlighted the findings that Ndebele described as an “attempt at a qualitative assessment of democracy and equality” with a focus on the inter-relatedness of democracy and development. Testing Democracy is the third iteration of the Idasa’s Democracy Index. May the works continue to help actuate our democratic society, still-latent for many.
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Book details
Idasa’s Democracy Index 2010: Testing Democracy: Which way is South Africa going? edited by Judith February and Neeta Misra-Dexter EAN: 9781920409159 Find this book with BOOK Finder!
Without further ado, here it is – feast your eyes!
One Nation Many Voices South Africa Market Focus at the 2010 London Book Fair: Programme
25 March 7.00pm
Newcastle University, Percy Building Readings from Sindiwe Magona and Kachi A. Ozumba
15 – 17 April
International PEN, Free the Word Festival
17 – 19 April
Pinter Studio, London Performance of Nadia Davids’ ‘At Her Feet’
17 April 2.30 – 4pm
The British Library ‘South Africa: Country of Contrasts’
BBC news presenter George Alagiah chairs a discussion with South African writers Thando Mqgolozana and Niq Mhlongo, Jonny Steinberg, Marlene van Niekerk.
19 – 21 April
Seminars at The London Book Fair, Earls Court (click here)
19 April 6.30pm – 8.00pm
The British Library ‘The Legacy of Struggle ‘
Sixteen after the abolition of Apartheid, we ask four distinguished South African authors how politics has affected their writing, and what they think is the legacy of apartheid for literature in South Africa today. Panellists: Ivan Vladislavic, Chris van Wyk, Zakes Mda and Njabulo Ndebele.
19 April 6.00pm – 8.00pm
Foyles Bookshop, Charing Cross ‘Negotiating the past’
Antjie Krog, Achmat Dangor, Mandla Langa and Zoe Wicomb discuss the importance of remembering or forgetting in relation to a troubled history. Chaired by Claire Fox.
19 April 7.30pm – 9.00pm
The Southbank Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hall
An evening of comedy, performance, poetry and spoken word from South Africa with Keorapetse Kgositsile, Pieter Dirk Uys, Malika Ndlovu, Ndumiso Ngcobo, Sihle Khumalo, Nadia Davids and Isobel Dixon.
21 April 6.30 – 8.00pm
SOAS ‘The power of Spoken Word’
Join Lesego Rampolokeng, Masaja Msiza and Malika Ndlovu for an evening discussion on the power of poetry and spoken word in Apartheid and contemporary South Africa where we will explore the power of the genre and its use as both an instrument for activism and social engagement. In partnership with the Royal African Society.
21 April 6.30 – 8.00pm
The British Library ‘South Africa: A United Country?’
How does a country forge a national or common story – and is it necessary to do so? A discussion with Etienne van Heerden, Damon Galgut, Zoe Wicomb, Kopano Matlwa. Chaired by Sue MacGregor.
21 April 6.30 – 8.00pm
Foyles Charing Cross Andre Brink in conversation with Isobel Dixon
21 April 7.45 – 9.00pm
Southbank Centre, Purcell Room
Goal! Match! Victory! Freedom! What the 2010 World Cup means to the home team
In South Africa, football – as everywhere – is not just about winning or losing: it’s about masculinity, femininity, sexuality, power, inequality and blessed release. In a curtainraiser to the 2010 World Cup kickoff in Johannesburg, eight of South Africa’s most exciting young authors get off the bench and chuck the ball around. Imran Coovadia, Siphiwo Mahala, Angela Makholwa, Thando Mqgolozana, Pumla Gqola, Zukiswa Wanner and Kevin Bloom are refereed by Mark Gevisser.
22 April 6.30pm – 8pm
Foyles Charing Cross Bookshop Barnie with Kevin Bloom
22 April 6.30pm – 8pm
The Drum, Birmingham ‘Personal or Political?‘
Achmat Dangor and Gillian Slovo join Zimbabwean writer Brian Chikwava to discuss the importance of personal resonance vs. political relevance in their writing. Hosted by Leeto Thale.
22 April 5.15pm – 7pm
Leeds University, South African Literature and Theatre: a conversation with Zakes Mda. Chaired by Sam Durrant and Jane Platsow.
22 April 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Newcastle University In Conversation with Andre Brink
23 April 6.00pm – 9.00pm
Learning through Literature: A South African Story
A celebration of 25 years since the publication of Journey to Jo’burg by Beverley Naidoo with a discussion on the wider theme of children’s writing in South Africa chaired by former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen with South African authors Beverley Naidoo, Gillian Slovo, Njabulo Ndebele, Chris van Wyk and Retsepile Makamane.
Alert! Small and independent African publishers are encouraged to register for the second annual Jozi Book Fair, to be held from 7 to 9 August this year.
Here’s the press release from co-organising institution Khanya College:
Press release
JOZI BOOK FAIR REGISTRATION OPENS 1st of MARCH 2010
With a bigger and more accessible venue, the second Jozi Book Fair will be taking place from 7 – 9 August in Museum Africa in Newtown. Small and independent publishers, NGOs and community organisations from South and Southern Africa are invited to exhibit at the Jozi Book Fair 2010. Registrations open on the 1st March and closes on the 19th of June 2010.
What is the Jozi Book Fair?
Jozi Book Fair was established by Khanya College as a response to a decline in progressive writing and publishing in South Africa in the past 20 years. Jozi Book Fair is committed to developing a robust and sustainable culture of reading in South Africa and engages with various reading circles, libraries, readers, writers and publishers in an effort to help develop and grow literacy and a culture of reading and more importantly, writing in South Africa.
Why Jozi Book Fair?
The culture of reading in South Africa is in crisis. Homes and schools are mostly deserts of reading matter. Public libraries are thin on the ground and poorly supported. Books and paper are expensive and beyond the reach of the majority of South Africans. Few communities have bookshops. Few teachers understand their roles as instructors, practitioners and promoters of reading. Even South Africans with advantaged backgrounds tend to aliteracy (they can read, but don’t). Social contexts are often hostile to reading.
It is within this social context that small publishers and writers must struggle to operate, forcing them to not only be producers of books, but also to take on the role of literacy developers and activists in South Africa if they wish to have any kind of market for their publications.
What about the first Jozi Book Fair in 2009?
On the 8th of August 2009 Jozi Book Fair debuted at Museum Africa in Newtown. With over 45 publishers exhibiting and 63 authors and speakers taking part in various round-table discussions and events, the Fair set itself up as a vital and necessary intervention for small and alternative publishers in South Africa.
Commercial publishers can’t always justify the publication of books that would probably only have limited markets, especially in a country like South Africa where the book-buying market is very small. A project such as the Jozi Book Fair makes possible the promotion of more marginal works, as well as the strategic networking between writers and publishers and distributors. Jozi Book Fair has opened up entry points into publishing, and has created new opportunities for new and marginal voices. Even writers and small publishers who have not worked through the Book Fair, have been encouraged by it through various events and seminars that have been hosted by the Jozi Book Fair team since August.
For more information visit: www.jozibookfair.org.za Or contact Thobile Disemelo on 084 377 3013 / 011 336 9190 E-mail: jozibbokfair@khanyacollege.org.za
“Dames en Here, vergun my om u voor te stel aan Breyten Breyntenbach, die maer man met die groen trui”.
Die teaterstuk Verse in my vingers, begin met hierdie bekende woorde uit Breytenbach se gedig “Bedreiging van die siekes”. In dié produksie, wat tydens die Woordfees opgevoer is, is voorlesings uit Breytenbach se werke en toonsettings van sy gedigte gebruik om hierdie groot digter se lewensverhaal te vertel.
Breytenbach word vanjaar 70. Ander groot skrywers wat vanjaar die mylpaal van 70 of 75 jaar haal, is by die Woordfees gehuldig. Breytenbach was ongelukkig nie by die fees aanwesig nie, maar Verse in my vingers het wel in sy afwesigheid sy 70 lewensjare gevier.
Musiek is deur Laurinda Hofmeyr verskaf en Johann Nel, Waldemar Schultz, Eugenie Wiggens en Hugo Theart het gedigte en ander skryfwerk van Breytenbach voorgelees. Gedigte, prosa en musiek het in die produksie soomloos in mekaar gevloei.
Daar is begin met gedigte en prosa oor Breytenbach se herkoms en familie. Hofmeyr het ‘n toonsetting van “Ek sal sterf en na my vader gaan” gesing. Daarna is Breytenbach se liefdesgedigte voorgedra en “Ek wag in my hart” is onder andere gesing.
Breytenbach se ontnugtering toe sy vrou gedurende apartheid toegang tot die land geweier is, is in sy eie woorde oorgedra. Die gehoor is bewusgemaak van Breytenbach se ambivalente gevoelens van liefde én haat teenoor Suid-Afrika.
Breytenbach se gedigte uit sy periode in die tronk is met gevoel voorgedra en so ook sy gedigte oor die dood.
Die applous aan die einde van die produksie was nie net vir die akteurs se gevoelvolle voordrag nie, maar ook vir dié meesterdigter: die maer man met die groen trui.
Die volgorde waarin Hennie Aucamp se kortverhale in sy bundels verskyn, dra betekenis.
“Dit is soos ‘n goed-gekonstrueerde konsert,” het Aucamp gister in gesprek met Daniel Hugo by die Woordfees gesê. “Daar is ‘n rede waarom dit so is en ek wil hê jy moet dit in daardie volgorde lees.”
In sy nuutste bundel, Die huis van die digter, eindig die verhaal “Die stolp” byvoorbeeld met die geboorte van ‘n tweeling. Dit word die skakel na die volgende verhaal, “In rooi grond, tussen kanniedood en vuurklip”, waarin daar ook ‘n tweeling verskyn.
In die titelverhaal skryf ‘n digter pornografiese briewe aan sy geliefde. “Ek maak hier ‘n kunsteoretiese stelling,” het Aucamp verduidelik. “’n Kunstenaar werk met ruwe materiaal en dit moet deur baie filters gaan voordat dit kuns word.”
‘n Verwysing na okselhare in laasgenoemde verhaal is weer die skakel na “Kouekoors” wat met homoseksuele liefde te make het. In hierdie verhaal word daar ook klem op okselhare gelê.
Wanneer dit kom by die uitbeelding van die erotiese en ook die homoërotiese gaan Aucamp maar “doldapper” voort. “Ek glo aan eerlike mededeling. Ek skep nie doelbewus verhale om te skok nie.”
Soms voel Aucamp dat dele van ‘n verhaal aan hom “gegee” word. Die verhaal “Droë meer” is egter die eerste verhaal wat volgens Aucamp in geheel aan hom gegee is. Dit het ná die literator Elize Botha se dood gebeur. Aucamp was emosioneel en het gevoel dat ‘n era verby is. “Droë meer” is selfs vir Aucamp ‘n vreemde verhaal en hy “durf dit nie probeer verklaar nie”.
Dié meesterskrywer hou hom tans besig met die skryf van kinderverse. Hy skryf nie uit die hoogte af na kinders nie. “Ek skryf vir die kind in myself,” het hy gesê.
As a Zimbabwean author, Shimmer Chinodya is often asked about politics, but he prefers to focus on the personal.
“In this part of the world, politics are imposed on you,” Chinodya said at the weekend in discussion with Annie Gagiano at the Woordfees in Stellenbosch. His novels and short stories are not overtly political, but he writes about ordinary people trying to survive, against a political backdrop.
Gagiano pointed out that Chinodya’s novels are very concerned with the intimate details of people’s lives – and often stray into autobiographical territory. “Writers should write about what they know,” Chinodya said. He writes about his own views on life and relationships.
“All my books are painful portraits,” he said. To Chinodya writing is a way to revisit memories of suffering and to create something positive out of pain. He has an “old-fashioned” belief in honest descriptions of scenes and situations.
This is not to say that the author isn’t still commenting on society, however. “A good writer must change you and get you thinking about things,” he said.
“I want shock you, drag you by the neck, say look at this… look at this. That is my plan.”
And what about the politics of writing in English as apposed to his home language, Shona?
Chinodya believes writing in a foreign language is a form of repossession. “English imposed itself on me, now all I can do is to impose my thought process, values and beliefs on English.”
Chinodya draws from two linguistic cultures and comes up with a hybrid. He definitely makes this personal, political language his own.
Alert! BOOK SA’s busy week will culminate in a frenzied bout of liveblogging on Thursday, Friday and Saturday – and all in the name of keeping you as up to date on matters SA and Africa Lit as possible, gentle reader.
First up, BOOK SA is the official media partner for the announcement of the 2010 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize – Africa region winners, which will take place on Thursday morning. We’ll liveblog the affair direct from the Johannesburg presser, using the hashtag #cwp10africa. Tune in from about 10:45 am – and click here to see who’s shortlisted.
The same day, in the afternoon, we’ll be coming to you live from the launch of the new Exclusive Books web portal, which will take over from www.exclusivebooks.com at a catchy new URL to be named very, very soon. Speakers at the launch will include Pippa Tshabalala, presenter of MNet’s The Verge, Terry Morris of Pan Macmillan, Yoel Kenan of Africori and editor of Stuff magazine Toby Shapshak. Watch for coverage on BOOK SA’s front page from about 3:45pm.
Finally, on Friday and Saturday, BOOK SA will head to Durban for the tail end of the 13th Time of the Writer litfest, where we’ll be tweeting mainly the concluding evening events with #tow10. Of course, you can expect ongoing coverage of the TOW on BOOK SA from its kickoff tomorrow.
Ter aansluiting by vanjaar se Woordfees-tema, Baljaar, het skrywers gisteraand by die Skrywersgala met woorde gespeel.
Philip de Vos het grappige ryme afgerits en Zimbabwese skrywer Shimmer Chinodya het ’n eksperimentele prosateks, wat geen verteller het nie, voorgelees.
Petra Mullër het “nonsens”-gediggies voorgedra en gewys op die tradisie om niksseggende gediggies in Afrikaans te probeer skryf. Sy het egter erken skrywers kry dit selde reg. Daar is steeds ’n dieper betekenis agter die meeste skrywers se grappigheid.
Die skrywersgala se wortels lê in die heel eerste Woordfees. Die eerste fees was ’n deurnag-geleentheid waar skrywers uit hul werk voorgelees het. Alhoewel die Woordfees vandag veel meer behels (debatte, toneel, musiek, kuns en boekgesprekke), het die oorspronklike aard van die fees in die skrywersgala behoue gebly.
Vanjaar het Bettina Wyngaard, Annelie Botes, Petra Müller en Phillip de Vos uit hul werk voorgelees, sowel as die Nederlanders Menno Wigman en Annelies Verbeke.
Die Nederlandse Theatergroep Flint het musiek verskaf met ’n tjello en ’n trekklavier. Hulle het Nederlandse en Afrikaanse getoonsette gedigte gesing, onder meer ook ’n gedig van Breyten Breytenbach en een van Ingrid Jonker.
Dorothea van Zyl, Woordfees-direkteur, het by die geleentheid gesê hulle wil al lank skrywers van ander Afrika-lande betrek. Vanjaar is die wens bewaarheid deur die teenwoordigheid van Chinodya.
Die spel met woorde is voortgesit deur Waldemar Schultz, Eben Genis en Pierre Theron wat tussen die voorlesings kort toneeltjies opgevoer het. Hulle het Breyten Breytenbach se gedig “Die Tweegeveg”, en Hennie Aucamp se kortverhaal “Muurblomme” gedramatiseer.
Verder het hulle die Baljaar-tema uitgebrei deur met die woorde “baldadig”, “ouballie”, “balsem”, “balans” en selfs “ballaglik” te speel.
Exclusive Books invites you to the launch of Hello South Africa, TONIGHT Wednesday, 17 March 2010, at the Nelson Mandela Square store. The book, like the recently link-loved The Real Soccer Fields of Africa, appears to be positioned to take advantage of the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
