Press release
Issued by the wRite associates
For immediate release
24 March 2021
The Miriam Tlali Reading and Book Club, a legacy programme of the South African Literary Awards (SALA), a programme of the wRite associates in partnership with the department of Sport, Arts and Culture, kick-started its monthly sessions on the 20th March 2021, following a long break since the imposition of the COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdown regulationsin 2020.
Featuring Ms MonicaThulisileBhuda, a culturalactivist, Indigenous Knowledge Systems scholar and lecturer at the University of Mpumalanga, who was also launching her debut children’s book, UmgwaloWobukghwariBaka Kwekwezi, also translated into English Kwewkwezi’s Cultural Mural Art, based on a true life journey of aMNdebele custodian.
The book ticks all the boxes: it is beautiful, colourful, with perfect illustrations and appropriate language. It tackles significant subjects as it takes the reader into the isiNdebele culture and heritage, while it promotes a sense of pride, confidence and appreciation of identity. The isiNdebele Mural Art is used as a significant tool that distinguishes the amaNdebele, especially women amongst other cultures, and even within themselvesas amaNdebele, those who master it, are revered and held in high esteem, they are seen as ambassadors of the community and cultural activists who are there to preserve and promote the siNdebele culture.
Ms Bhuda read both the isiNdebele and English versions of the book. Her presentation made the audience, even those who did not speak the African language,revel in itsbeauty and richness.Her dress code, as she was clad in Ndebele colourful beaded bracelets, shoes and accessories, resonated with everything in the book.
Herself a proud symbol of AmaNdebele culture and heritage, she is not shy to showcase her culture and does so with joy and vigour. This justifies her choice to study Indigenous Knowledge Systems, specialising in African Ethnomathematics and African Indigenous cosmology. She holds Bachelor’sand Mastersdegree (hons) in Indigenous knowledge Systems, both from the NorthWest University. Currently, she is busy with her PhD also in indigenous Knowledge Systems, registered with the same university.
Ms Bhuda’s book is a must-read, one item that all our kids should be exposed to if we are to preserve and embrace our culture, especially our languages. It is suitable for grade fours and above, and certainly suitable to be read in schools.
The session was held on the 20th March 2021, at the wRite associates Offices, Johannesburg at 13H00 to 15H00.
The Miriam Tlali Reading and Book Club is excited to have resumed its sessions. The next session will take place on the 24th April, same time, same place. The full details will be released in due course.
About the Book Club
Named after and in honour of the veteran author and activist, Ms Miriam MasoliTlali, who washonoured with the SALA Lifetime Achievement Literary Award in 2005, the Miriam TlaliReading and Book Club was established in June 2009, by the wRite associates in order toprofile, promote and explore the literary jewels that South Africa is in possession of.
For confirmation of attendance and more information, please visit:
www.writeassociates.co.za

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release
Released by the wRite associates
DEADLINE EXTENSION OF
THE 2021 SOUTH AFRICAN LITERARY AWARDS (SALA) CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS TO 7TH MAY 2021
The closing date of the 16thSouth African Literary Awards has been extended to the 7th May 2021.
“This is to allow more time to facilitate the submissions for the new category, the Regional Poet Laureate Prize, which will include the selection of the Provincial Poets Laureate SALA will be inaugurating on 7th November 2021, the AU-declared International African Writers’ Day,” said Mr Morakabe Raks Seakhoa, the SALA Project Director and Managing Director of the wRite associates.
The prestigious South African Literary Awards were founded in 2005 by the wRite associates, supported by the then national Department of Arts and Culture (now the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture), as a platform to honour authors, writers, poets and literary practitioners who made and continue to make a contribution in the literary landscape of South Africa.
To date, more than two hundred literary luminaries have been honoured (over the last fifteen years), amongst them Prof. J.J Moiloa, a Sesotho author of many booksprescribed for many years in schools in South Africa and other countries; Prof. Ephraim Lesoro, a Sesotho poet of high standing, broadcaster, scholar and educator; Toek Blignaut, was an author of over 80 books and 200 short stories. As a journalist and magazine editor, she interviewed the late heart surgeon Christian Barnard and made the first interview with Rain Queen Mokope Modjadji; Dr Gubudla Malindzisa, multi-award winning novelist, short-story writer, essayist, literary translator, legal eagle, broadcaster, and an educator; Trevor Noah, a South African comedian, television host, producer, writer, political commentator, actor and the host of The Daily Show, an American satirical news program on Comedy Central; Fred Khumalo, author, journalist, editor, publisher, literary translator, and columnist; Marlise Joubert; Phumlani Pikoli; current National Poet Laureate, Prof Mongane Wally Serote; the late Miriam Tlali, the first African woman to publish a novel in English; the late Nobel Award winner, NadineGordimer; multi-award winning novelist Kgebetli Moele, literary journalists Phakama Mbonambi, Bongani Madondo and Sabata-Mpho Mokae; poet Kobus Moolman; book critics Karabo Kgoleng and Jenny Crwys-Williams; poet and author Ambassador Lindiwe Mabuza; short story writers Makhosazana Xaba and Reneilwe Malatji; scholars and prolific writers Zakes Mda, Mbulelo Mzamane, Ashraaf Kagee, Nhlanhla Maake, Imraan Coovadia; the late translator, poet, novelist and children’s writer Chris van Wyk; Lebohang Masango, also a children’s author, and many others.
SALA honours writing and writers in all official languages across the following 16 categories, i.e
1. National Poet Laureate Prize (Not open for nomination)
2. Regional Poet Laureate Prize
3. Municipality Poet Laureate Prize (to be inaugurated in 2022)
4. Poetry Award,
5. Literary Translators Award,
6. Lifetime Achievement Literary Award,
7. Posthumous Literary Award,
8. Literary Journalism Award,
9. Novel Award
10. First-Time Published Author Award
11. k.Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award
12. Nadine Gordimer Short-story Award
13. Creative Non-Fiction Award
14. Chairperson’s Award
15. Children’s Literature Award
16. Youth Literature Award
The SALA 2021 Call For Submissions were issued on 14th January 2021 and closes on 7th May 2021. For more information on the submission criteria and nomination forms, please visit www.sala.org.za

INVITATION:

THE 2021 SOUTH AFRICAN LITERARY AWARDS (SALA) CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW OPEN.

Click here to download Submissions Invitation.

Click here to Nominate.

Click here to download CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS 2021 Media Statement.

2020 SALA WINNERS

Press Release

For immediate release (05 October 2020)

SALA CELEBRATES 15 YEARS OF ADVANCING OUR LITERARY HERITAGE: THE 2020 SHORTLIST IS ANNOUNCED.

Celebrating 15 years of growth and exhilarating success, the South African Literary Awards (SALA), announces the 2020 shortlist of nominees today.
The list of nominees reflects the transformative nature not only of SALA, but the country’s literary community. The potpourri nature of the country provides a canvas on which writers manage to paint beautiful pictures without needing to look over their shoulders.
The winners will be announced at a celebratory awards ceremony to be held virtually on 7th November 2020, the International African Writers’Day.
The prestigious South African Literary Awards were founded in 2005 by the wRite associates, in partnership with the national Department of Arts and Culture, as a platform to honour authors, translators, poets and other literary practitioners who made and continue to make a contribution in the South African literary landscape.
More than a two hundred luminaries have been honoured over the last fourteen years, amongst them the current National Poet Laureate, Prof Mongane Wally Serote, the late Nobel Laureate, Nadine Gordimer, multi-award winning novelist Kgebetli Moele, literary journalists Phakama Mbonambi, Bongani Madondo and Sabata-Mpho Mokae, poet Kobus Moolman, book critics Karabo Kgoleng and Jenny Crwys-Williams, activist, poet and author Ambassador Lindiwe Mabuza, short story writers Makhosazana Xaba and Reneilwe Malatji, scholars and prolific writers Zakes Mda, Njabulo Ndebele, Mbulelo Mzamane, Ashraaf Kagee, Nhlanhla Maake, Imraan Coovadia, the late translator, poet, novelist and children’s writer Chris van Wyk; Lebohang Masango, also a children’s author, and many others.
SALA honours writing and writers in all official languages across fourteen categories. They are K.Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award, which is a celebration of one of the country’s most prolific authors of his generation, k. Sello Duiker. First-Time published writers are also acknowledged and honoured by the Awards. The other is the Nadine Gordimer Short Story Literary Award, honouring thespians in the genre, across all languages. In addition, there are:
1. National Poet Laureate Prize
2. Poetry Award,
3. Literary Translators Award,
4. Lifetime Achievement Literary Award,
5. Posthumous Literary Award,
6. Literary Journalism Award,
7. Creative Non-Fiction Award and,
8. Chairperson’s Award
9. Children’s Literature Award
10. Youth Literature Award
11. Novel Award

As writers are given an equal opportunity to contest any of the Awards categories, the winners over the years reflect that elevated state of South African literature, which has seen some of the local works adapted to screen- and stage-plays.