Archive for the ‘Poetry’ Category
by Amy on Oct 26th, 2012
The Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Anthology Vol II honours the spirit of the legendary intellectual giant, Sol Plaatje, the activist, linguist, translator, novelist, journalist and leader.
Poetry lovers – those who enjoy reading it and those who are compelled to write it – will find in this collection a truly splendid experience of the country’s soul. So much of the ineffable human spirit and experience that usually remains untold is gently lifted above the surface with care, attention and honesty. Here, for the reader who must yet write of his or her own intimate recovery and sacred journey, are guideposts on the way. Here, for those who are already on the journey, are good and wise and funny journeymen and women to keep them company on the road.
The anthology includes Siddiq Khan’s poem “Anthem for the Old Nations” which won the 2012 Sol Plaatje European Union Award.
The Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award is supported by the European Union.
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by Amy on Oct 19th, 2012
The Jacana Literary Foundation is pleased to announce the winner of the Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award 2012. Siddiq Khan accepted the honour for his poem “Anthem for the old nations” at a prize-giving ceremony at the Poetry Africa Festival in Durban.
Second place went to Vonani Bila for his entry “boys from seshego”. The jury was comprised of distinguished South African poets Liesl Jobson, Goodenough Mashego and Johann de Lange. The jury deliberated on the entries and sent a shortlist to Dr Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali, who chose the winner.
Both poems, as well as a selection of poetry entered for the competition, have been published to coincide with the ceremony.
About the anthology
The Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Anthology Vol II honours the spirit of the legendary intellectual giant, Sol Plaatje, the activist, linguist, translator, novelist, journalist and leader.
Poetry lovers – those who enjoy reading it and those who are compelled to write it – will find in this collection a truly splendid experience of the country’s soul. So much of the ineffable human spirit and experience that usually remains untold is gently lifted above the surface with care, attention and honesty. Here, for the reader who must yet write of his or her own intimate recovery and sacred journey, are guideposts on the way. Here, for those who are already on the journey, are good and wise and funny journeymen and women to keep them company on the road.
The Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award is supported by the European Union.
Entries for the Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Competition 2013 are now open.
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by Amy on Oct 11th, 2012
The Jacana Literary Foundation is pleased to announce the shortlist and finalists for the Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award 2012. The jury comprised distinguished South African poets Johann de Lange, Goodenough Mashego, and Liesl Jobson.
The jury deliberated on the entries and sent a shortlist to celebrated poet Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali, who decided upon the winner.
Two finalists have been chosen and will be invited to attend the Poetry Africa festival in Durban in October 2012, and the winners will be announced by a European Union representative. A cash prize will be awarded. In the spirit of Sol Plaatje, an anthology of the best poems will be launched at Poetry Africa on the 18th of October, 2012.
The Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award is supported by the European Union.
Finalists (In alphabetical order, by title)
Anthem for the old Nations – Siddiq Khan
boys from seshego – Vonani Bila
Shortlist
AFRIKAANS
New York, ’n meditasie – Joan Hambidge
Tafereel – Joan Hambidge
Tokio, ’n meditasie – Joan Hambidge
ENGLISH
untitled (in the week before) – Andries Samuel
Anthem for the old Nations – Siddiq Khan
boys from seshego – Vonani Bila
Four Stages of Surgery – Gillian Rennie
i wish i could write – Andries Samuel
The Jump – Gail Dendy
Kelp Elephant Creation – Dorian Haarhoff
Pipistrelle – Michelle McGrane
The Rain – Yewande Omotoso
Sacred Passage – Vonani Bila
Spring in New York – Gillian Rennie
Tamil Familiars – Francine Simon
Third Beach, Port St Johns – Pamela Newham
The Walk – Dawn Garisch
Warwick Junction – Marí Peté
SEPEDI
Kgwara – Doreen Mojapelo
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by Amy on Sep 5th, 2012
Jacana Media is proud to announce the forthcoming publication of a South African classic, Sounds of a Cowhide Drum / Imisindo Yesighubu Sesikhumba Senkomo by Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali.
Originally published in 1971 by Lionel Abrahams’ Renoster Books, it quickly became a classic but has been unavailable for many years. The new edition carries a simultaneous isiZulu translation of the poems, and a new foreword by Nadine Gordimer.
“Not surprising that Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali, with his deep understanding of the human psyche, master of the ultimate in communication – undreamt of by Twitter – the poet’s power to reach from the conscious to the depths of the subconscious, has added to Sounds of a Cowhide Drum in this new edition the beat of poems written in his mother tongue, isiZulu.”
– Nadine Gordimer, Foreword to Sounds of a Cowhide Drum/Imisindo Yesighubu Sesikhumba Senkomo by Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali
“Poetry is the language of emotions and a medium for articulating feelings, opinions, ideas, thoughts and beliefs. Much more than an artistic pastime, it is the spiritual repository of human dreams which originate from the depths of the subconscious.”
– Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali, The Light of the Poetic Spirit, SGI Quarterly
About the author
Dr Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Southern Africa English Academy Poetry Award in 1971, the London Poetry International Award in 1973 and the South African Lifetime Achievement Literary Award (SALA) from the Department of Arts and Culture in 2007. He taught at the New York City College of Technology and is founder and deputy headmaster of Pace Community College in Jabulani, Soweto. Having worked in the United States for many years, Mtshali returned to South Africa and now lives in Soweto.
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by Amy on Aug 22nd, 2012
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.”
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.
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by Amy on Aug 20th, 2012
The launch of POWA‘s 7th Breaking the Silence anthology, Sisterhood, was arguably the best attended in the short history of the annual publication. This event has taken place at various venues over the years, including in Sophiatown and at Xarra Books in Newtown. This time around, Museum Africa’s auditorium was packed, with latecomers having to sit in the aisles.
The theme of “Sisterhood” arose out of a personal essay “Am I My Sister’s Keeper?” by Joy Lange which was featured in last year’s anthology, Love and Revolution.
Alongside short fiction, poetry and personal reflections, Sisterhood includes artwork that is the result of collaboration between People Opposing Women Abuse and the Curriculum Development Project Trust, facilitated by the late Charlotte Schaer, former CDP director, to whom the anthology is dedicated.
Emcee Linda Mashinini kept the event flowing, following a welcome and overview from POWA’s Sakina Mohamed. The enthusiastic audience was treated to readings by contributors Nomalanga Nkosi, Fortunate Sethoga, Karen Denise Lanie, Dipuo Edna Molapisi, Mbali Langa and Jayne Bauling. These were alternated with thoughtful and thought-provoking items from guest speakers and members of POWA.
Guest speaker Sipho Mthathi of The Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL) began her address by calling for a short silence to honour those who died in the shooting at Marikana. She then dissected the meaning of ‘sisterhood’ and its related terms. POWA’s Liz Trew, chair of the anthology’s five-member judging panel, spoke about the background to the POWA Women’s Writing Project and Anthology.
Highlights of the launch included a description of the careful selection process from Editorial Board member Sixolile Ngcobo of Oxfam GB, and the announcement of the theme for the 2012/2013 Breaking the Silence anthology by Sakina Mohamed. Submit your entries for next year’s anthology, Perfectly Imperfect, by 29 March 2013.
The audience were also treated to a monologue by Tapuwa and two songs from Ayanda, while an impromptu musical insert from Sixolile Ngcobo had most of the crowd on their feet.
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by Amy on Aug 16th, 2012
Jacana Media is delighted to announce that Dr Mongane Wally Serote has won the prestigious Golden Wreath Award. He joins Léopold Sédar Sengor of Senegal as the only two recipients of this award to come from the African Continent.
The award is given to a world famous poet for contribution to poetry and history. Previous recipients of the award include Pablo Neruda (1972), Ted Hughes (1994), and the Agrarian poet, Seamus Heaney (2001).
The award is bestowed as part of the Struga Poetry Evenings festival held in Macedonia annually. The festival is recognised by the United Nations as one of the most important poetry festivals in the modern world, and a tribute to world poetry. Each annual festival also hosts a symposium with a running theme for discussion. This year’s theme, “Poetry and the mass media”, will provide a platform for approaches to the ambivalent views of the relationships between media and poetry.
Dr Mongane Wally Serote, through his writings and social work, is dedicated to preserving South African history and identity through the expression of the black experience. His first book, Yakhal’inkomo (1972), won the Ingrid Jonker Prize for the best debut volume of poetry in English.
Dr Serote was a loud voice against apartheid as a young poet and member of the Black Consciousness movement and, later, as a commander in the underground armed structures of the liberation movement. His poetry and writings continue to form a mirror to the being of blackness.
This award not only places the South African nation amongst some of the greatest poets and writers in the world, but contributes the South African story to global history. The Golden Wreath Award is bestowed each year as a lifetime achievement in the field of poetry. His latest volume of poetry will also be published at the festival, adding to the 14 volumes of poetry, three plays currently in production, and 4 novels he has authored. Dr Serote’s last novel, Revelations (Jacana Media, 2010), was a national bestseller and his new novel, Rumours, will be published by Jacana Media in 2013.
The Struga Poetry Evenings 2012 will be held from August 23th – 26th, in Struga, Republic of Macedonia. – Philile Ntuli
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by Amy on Aug 10th, 2012
People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) and Jacana Media are delighted to invite you to the launch of Breaking the Silence: Sisterhood, POWA’s 7th anthology of poems, short stories and personal essays.
The launch will take place at Museum in Africa in Newtown on 17 August at 3 PM. Please RSVP on or before 10 August.
Don’t miss it!
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by Amy on Aug 8th, 2012
Sisterhood is POWA’s 7th anthology of poems, short stories and personal essays. The anthology embodies the meaning of sisterhood, of relationships in which girls and women give and receive friendship, love and support. This safe, secure environment, increased by their bond, is neither threatening nor imposing; a “sister” is there to give encouragement and unconditional love.
The theme of Sisterhood grew from a personal essay published in last year’s anthology, Love and Revolution. “Am I my sister’s keeper?” by Joy Lange tells how her family started St Anne’s Homes, a shelter for abused women and children, which Joy and her sisters continue to manage today. Her parents left their children a legacy of love and concern for each other, which has reached into the lives of homeless families and the community, a revolutionary act of love.
All the contributions warmly embrace this theme. The writers defined what sisterhood meant for them, and incorporated it into their stories and poems. Their understanding of sisterhood deepened through reflection. In this way, writing also becomes an act of liberation.
Poems
Sisterhood – Patience Nozithelo Mkosana
My Sister Could – Namhla Stemala
A Chant to My Sisters – Mbali Langa
The Ladies Taking Tea – Jayne Bauling
Slaughtered Sisters – Nicole Rudlin
Liewe Vriendin – Jade Niemand
Short Stories
Sisters by Blood – Carlette Egypt
Mended Pieces – Mawint Nokubonga Chauke
Witch and Bitch – Jayne Bauling
Bread – Sally Cranswick
White Without But Black Within – Nkosinomusa Truth
Personal Essays
Companionship – Fortunate Sethoga
My Circle of Angels – Nokwethemba Musi
Inspired by Women – Nomalanga Nkosi
“Suster” – Jade Niemand
Love Her Madly – Coleth Sitole
A Starved Sisterhood – Amy Heydenrych
Forgive Me My Sister – Karen Lanie
Strength from My Sister – Dipuo Edna Molapisi
Impilo Iyaqhubeka – Maria Shongwe
About POWA
POWA’s vision is to create a safe society that does not tolerate violence against women, where women are powerful, self-reliant, equal and respected. POWA’s mission is to be a specialised and multi-skilled service provider which contributes to the complete eradication of violence against women in society. POWA provides counselling, legal advice, court support and shelter to women survivors of domestic violence.
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by Amy on May 17th, 2012
Following the success of the inaugural Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award in 2011, Jacana Media is motivated to further strengthen South Africa’s voice and creative spirit.
To ensure that all South African poets have the opportunity to give a voice to their vision, the deadline for submissions for the Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award 2012 has been extended to 31 May 2012.
The prize, for poetry in ALL 11 South African languages, will be awarded later this year. All selected works will be published in an annual anthology. Selected poets will be invited to appear at a South African poetry festival and a cash prize of R10 000 will be divided among the selected poets.
Rules
- Entrants are encouraged to write in their mother tongue.
- Poems may not have been published in book form before, but may have been published in journals or magazines.
- Entries are limited to 3 poems per poet.
- Entrants must be South African citizens permanently resident in South Africa.
- Entries must include 6 copies of each poem entered plus a soft copy in a suitable word-processing package. No handwritten entries will be considered.
- Entries must include a separate one-page biography of the author, including the name of their poem and current contact details.
- The award is judged blind and therefore any poems that include the author’s name will be disqualified.
- By entering this competition, entrants give permission for the publication of their poem for no payment if selected in the annual anthology. If the entry is not in English, they give permission to translate the poem into English for publication together with the original language poem.
Submissions
Submit your entries by 31 May 2012 in a clearly marked envelope indicating the award and the language of entry. The entry form must be included and is available to download at www.jacana.co.za. Submissions not accompanied by an entry form will not be accepted!
Send to: Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award, PO Box 291784, Melville 2109
Or deliver by hand to: Jacana Media, 10 Orange Street, Sunnyside, Auckland Park, Johannesburg 2092
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