Zapiro Takes Centre Stage at a Poets’ Colloquium at Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch University’s Department of Afrikaans and Dutch recently held a colloquium at the Klein Libertas Theatre, where novelist Marlene van Niekerk was in conversation with political cartoonist Zapiro.

The colloquium also saw a selection of poets, including Loftus Marais, Antjie Krog, Bibi Slippers and Leon de Kock, read poems inspired by Zapiro cartoons.

Kate Ellis-Cole and Stephanie Niewoudt report on the colloquium:

When Jonathan Shapiro is welcomed to the stage at a packed-to-the-rafters Klein Libertas Theatre, het is greeted by uproarious and warm applause, in contrast to the freezing weather outdoors. Interviewed by Marlene van Niekerk, Shapiro, or “Zapiro” as he is more commonly known, comes across as bright, theatrical and almost as animated as the political cartoons that have won him such fame. Van Niekerk lauds Zapiro’s pluck in challenging those in power, and for leading through the power of laughter. She says: “I envy your courage, and your unflagging wit.”

• Complete article: SLiPnet

She welcomes him with envy – because he is brave, because he takes on holy cows and because he emphatically and irreverently critiques the system.

This is how Prof Marlene van Niekerk of the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch at Stellenbosch University welcomed the cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro (Zapiro) to the Department’s colloquium on Thursday evening, 16 Augustus 2012.

• Complete article: Stellenbosch University Media

Book details

• Do You Know Who I Am? by Zapiro
  EAN: 9781770098794
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• The Last Sushi by Zapiro
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  EAN: 9781431402533
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