Grahamstown to host top-notch writers

The English Department at Rhodes is facilitating an exciting visit to Grahamstown by several well-known contemporary South African writers who are part of the READSA organisation. READSA is made up of 75 South African writers whose aim is to promote literacy in the country, and this particular event is being funded by the Film and Publications Board.

Dr Lizzy Attree, visiting lecturer in the English Department and key contact person for the initiative, sees it as part of the Department’s efforts to engage with various communities and promote reading, writing and an interest in South African literature. Dr Attree, who is UK-based, has been involved for a number of years in promoting African writers, through her connection with the Centre for Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, and the research for her doctoral thesis, which focused on South African and Zimbabwean writers writing about AIDS between 1990 and 2005. 

Three Rhodes alumni are among the group of nine writers that will be in town. Fiona Snyckers obtained her Honours degree in English and one of her books, an entertaining chick-lit novel entitled Trinity Rising, deals with first-year experiences at Rhodes. Kevin Bloom and Angela Makholwa were both Journalism students. Bloom’s first novel, Ways of Staying, was shortlisted for the 2010 Alan Paton Award. Siphiwo Mahala was born and went to school in Grahamstown. He is the author of When a Man Cries, which won him the Ernst van Heerden Creative Writing Award in 2006, and recently translated the novel into isiXhosa under the title Yakhal’Indoda.

Ndumiso Ngcobo rose to fame with his satirical collections of essays, Some of My Best Friends are White and Is it coz I’m black? but these days is probably best known for his regular column in the Sunday Times magazine. Mandla Langa has a long and distinguished writing career. Last year, his fifth novel, The Lost Colours of the Chameleon, won the Commonwealth Prize for Best Book 2009.

Sihle Khumalo is the director of the READ SA Board and author of the cheeky travel book Dark Continent My Black Arse. Literary activist, Zukiswa Wanner is the founder of the READSA campaign and also serves on the Board. Her novels include The Madams and Behind Every Successful Man. Thando Mgqolozana published his debut novel, A Man Who Is Not A Man to critical acclaim in June 2009.

There are two events planned where the writers will interact with school pupils from local schools, i.e. at Mary Waters High School and at the Duna Library in Joza. The Grahamstown Literacy Project and Upstart have assisted the English Department to promote these events, as this provides a unique opportunity for young people to meet the authors face-to-face and be inspired to read their work, as well as to be encouraged in their own writing efforts. The slogan for the day is “Use your imagination, be inspired”.

The reading and book signing event at the Hill Street Library on Saturday 27 November at noon is open to the general public. The writers will be donating copies of their books to the local libraries.

Picture: Siphiwo Mahala.

READSA invitation click here