Wordfest 2019 Recognises these South African Literary Giants on their Centenary: Eskia Mphahlele, Noni Jabavu and Peter Abrahams
All events are one hour and R25 unless stipulated. Tickets available at the door or NAF booking offices. Venues in the Eden Grove Building and NELM as stipulated
Click here to download the 2019 Wordfest programme.
Saturday 29 June
BOOK LAUNCH | I Beg To Differ: Ministry Amid Teargas – Peter Storey
The story of how apartheid was defeated is incomplete without Rev. Peter Storey’s contribution. He challenged apartheid wherever he could, leading the Methodist Church of Southern Africa into what many white congregants saw as uncomfortable ‘political’ territory, clouded with teargas…
DOCUMENTARY FILM SCREENING | Can Themba: The teacher in the newsroom
You have seen the play, haven’t you? Now see the documentary and get to understand the South African literal maestro, Can Themba, as Dr. Siphiwo Mahala unleashes him.
The great writer of The Suit and The Will To Die.
17H00 – Eden Grove | Tickets
Sunday 30 June
BOOK LAUNCH | Faithful to the Vision – Eric Kelly
A child’s primary education is of vital importance. It requires well-trained teachers with a professional approach to their work. Faithful to the Vision is the story of a teachers’ training college which set about preparing teachers of that very calibre; it is the history of the Grahamstown Teachers’ Training College.
10H45 – Eden Grove | Tickets | Contact author
BOOK LAUNCH | The Love Song of Andre P Brink – Leon De Kock
Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, this event has been cancelled.
BOOK LAUNCH | Intimate Lightning – Dan Wylie (Unisa Press)
Dan Wylie comes with a moving biographically-framed look at the slender but rich oeuvre of a poet who was regarded as the most challenging and energised poet of his day: Sydney Clouts (1926-1982). Inspired by the surroundings of Cape Town, he found it difficult to complete poems after he and his family went into self-imposed exile in England in 1961. He spent some time at Rhodes, completing a master’s degree.
Monday 1 July
BOOK LAUNCH | Curator & Crusader – Mike Bruton
Marjorie Eileen Doris Courtenay-Latimer was a South African museum official who, in 1938, brought to the attention of the world the existence of the coelacanth, a fish thought to have been extinct for sixty-five million years.
BOOK LAUNCH | A Person My Colour – Martina Dalhmanna
Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, this event has been cancelled.
BOOK LAUNCH | Christo Wiese – T. J. Strydom (Biography)
Christo Wiese, a former billionaire, acquired PEP Stores and other businesses to become richest man in the country. After 50 years of taking risks in business, he overplayed his hand with Steinhoff and lost part of his fortune…
Tuesday 2 July
BOOK LAUNCH | Death and Compassion: The Elephant in Southern African Literature – Dan Wylie
How is it that some humans can demonstrate great compassion for these extraordinary creatures, and others kill them without a quiver of compassion? What does literature tell us about these attitudes?
This book explores a number of genres, fiction and non-fiction…
From his previous works, Dan Wylie has won Olive Shreiner and Ingrid Jonker Prizes.
BOOK LAUNCH | Broken River Tent – Mphuthumi Ntabeni (Jacana Media)
Broken River Tent is a novel that marries imagination with history, telling the story of MAQOMA, a Xhosa chief on the forefront of fighting British colonialism in eighteenth century South Africa.
BOOK LAUNCH | Agriganda – Tariro Ndoro
Tariro Ndoro is a Zimbabwean Writer/Poet. She holds an MFA from Rhodes University. This is her debut poetry collection from Modjaji Books. She has a number of previous publications.
15H30 – Eden Grove | Tickets | Contact author
BOOK LAUNCH | To Survive and Succeed – Khusta Jack
Tells the story of an outspoken young anti-apartheid activist who became a respected leader in the democratic movement. Today he is a successful businessman, and still outspoken.
A true story of sacrifice, courage and triumph.
Wednesday 3 July
BOOK LAUNCH | Land of My Ancestors – Botlhale Tema
While working on the UNESCO Slave Route project in the early 2000s, Botlhale Tema discovered the extraordinary fact that her highly educated family from the farm Welgeval in the Pilanesberg originated from two young men who had been child slaves in the mid-nineteenth century.
LECTURE | #Braveheart With Red Lipstick – Kazeka Kuse-Mashologu
This author took up the fight against breast cancer, not armed with medical aid. This is the story of her journey.
CANSA lecture on breast cancer, in memory of late Kazeka Kuse.
14H00 – Eden Grove | Tickets
INDIGENOUS LITERATURE MOMENT | Umthetho Wabantu
Loyiso Nqevu and Thukela Poswayo, two known oral literature practitioners who master the Indigenous Knowledge Systems, will speak on UMTHETHO WABANTU: How order was maintained before colonisation and the introduction of European law.
16H00 – NELM | Tickets
Thursday 4 July
A LIT-FEST EVENT | Decolonizing the Mind Through Language
Adv. Sonwabile Mancotywa, CEO National Heritage Council (SA)
11H15 – 11H45 – NELM | Learn more about Lit-Fest
LIT-FEST OFFICIAL OPENING
Lit-fest 2019 will take place at National English Literary Museum (NELM) in Makhanda and will be officially opened by the Honourable MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Ms Bulelwa Tunyiswa.
11H45 – 12H15 – NELM | Learn more about Lit-Fest
BOOK LAUNCH | Triangulum – Masande Ntshanga
Triangulum is an ambitious, often philosophical and genre-bending novel that covers a period of over 40 years in South Africa’s recent past and near future — starting from the collapse of the apartheid homeland system in the early ’90s, to the economic corrosion of the 2010s, and on to the looming, large-scale ecological disasters of the 2040s.
This is Masande Ntshanga’s second novel.
Friday 5 July
A LIT-FEST EVENT | BOOK LAUNCH | Struggle and Hope: Reflections on the Recent History of the Transkeian People – Mda Mda
Mr Mda Mda is a retired attorney and recipient of President’s Convocation Medal. AmaXhosa would refer to him as Isisele Senyathi. His knowledge now is in a book. This book.
09H10 – 09H40 – NELM | Learn more about Lit-Fest | Buy Book
A LIT-FEST EVENT | LECTURE | Indigenous Languages: Post-Colonial Era
Professor Pitika Ntuli is a renowned South African sculptor, poet, writer and academic. He spent many years in exile in Swaziland and the UK.
09H40 – 11H40 – NELM | Learn more about Lit-Fest
BOOK LAUNCH | Emathunjini Omhlaba: Kuhlala Abantu – Mlandeli Wellington Moya
Le ingaba yincwadi yokuqala ebhaliweyo ngobomi basemigodini ebhalwe ngumntu ongenileyo buqu ngaphantsi, wabuphila ncakasana ubomi baseNkomponi.
14H00 – Eden Grove | Contact author
BOOK LAUNCH | The Space Between Us – Kyle Allen
Kyle Allan has been recently appointed as editor of New Coin Poetry Journal. This launch will include a poetry performance.
15H00 – Eden Grove | Contact author
OPEN MIC
Got some poetry you want to sure? Join us for Wordfest’s open mic at Eden Grove.
16H30 – Eden Grove|
Saturday 6 July
A LIT-FEST EVENT | WRITING WORKSHOP
Writing Workshop (2 hour craft talk) in isiXhosa by renowned writer M. S. Mlandu. Isakhiwo sebali elifutshane
The structure of a Short Story.
09H00 – 11H00 – NELM | Learn more about Lit-Fest
