Literature is far more than just words on a page; for the scholars honoured by the English Academy of Southern Africa, it is an existential compulsion. For the first time ever, the Academy brought its prestigious awards ceremony to the Department of Literary Studies in English at Rhodes University.

At a time when South Africa continues to grapple with gender-based violence, the conversation reflected Rhodes University’s commitment to fostering critical dialogue and empowering students to play an active role in building safer, more equitable communities.

The Hult Prize is the world’s largest student social entrepreneurship competition, challenging university teams to develop innovative, impact-driven business solutions to pressing global issues. Through on-campus, regional, and global rounds, students compete to advance and ultimately access USD 1 million in seed funding to launch their ventures internationally. The initiative aligns strongly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, positioning entrepreneurship as a powerful vehicle for sustainable social impact.

Exactly thirty years ago, in the early days of South Africa’s democracy, a remarkable book arrived on library desks across the country. Produced by the Dictionary Unit for South African English (DSAE) at Rhodes University and published by Oxford University Press, A Dictionary of South African English on Historical Principles was imposing in size and scholarly precision, yet it carried an unexpected emotional charge. At a moment when the nation was beginning to narrate itself anew, this dictionary offered a quietly powerful mirror: a record of how South Africans had spoken, written and imagined their world across more than three centuries.