Poet Laureate, Lifetime Achievers and Departed Literary Giants
1 December 2006
The 2006 edition of the South African Literary Awards (SALA) will take place
at an awards handover gala dinner on Friday, 8 December 2006 at 19h00, at the
Sand Du Plessis Theatre, Performing Arts Centre of the Free State (PACOFS),
Bloemfontein, Free State province. The Inaugural Literary Lifetime Achievement
Awards, part of the South African Literary Awards, were hosted by the Limpopo
Provincial Government in December 2005.
"The awards aim to become the most prestigious and respected literary
accolades in South African literature, by paying tribute to renowned writers
who have dedicated their lives to the field of literature," says national Arts
and Culture Minister, Dr Z Pallo Jordan.
A private-public partnership between the national Department of Arts and
Culture (DAC), the wRite associates, the Free State Provincial Department of
Sport, Arts and Culture (SAC), the South African Broadcasting Corporation
(SABC) and Sowetan, the South African Literary Awards seek to honour
groundbreaking creators of literature by authors whose primary input is in the
field of imaginary writing, Dr Jordan said.
"South Africa is confronted by the enormous challenge of inculcating a
culture of reading and writing, particularly among the youth," said Free State
MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Susan Mnumzana, adding that the project can
bear fruits and be truly enriching especially to the youth, who in most cases
are less exposed to the treasures that our writers have bestowed on South
Africa and the world through their books. MEC Mnumzana says that the Free State
Department of Sport, Arts and Culture strongly believe that literature can play
a pivotal role in forging South Africa's collective national identity and
pride.
The 2006 award recipients will be announced in following three
categories:
* South African National Poet Laureate Prize
* Literary Posthumous Awards
* South African Literary Lifetime Achievement Awards.
When the awards were inaugurated in 2005, the late Zulu poet Mazisi Kunene
became the first South African poet to be awarded the National Poet Laureate
prize, for his contribution and dedication to African literature, particularly
in African indigenous languages. The Literary Lifetime Achievement Awards on 8
December 2005 in Limpopo honoured 10 literary icons: Es'kia Mphahlele, Noni
Jabavu, Ellen Khuzwayo, Nadine Gordimer, Denis Brutus, James Matthews, T N
Maumela, Miriam Tlali, E S Madima and Modikoe Dikobe.
The 2006 South African Literary Lifetime Achievement Award will honour:
1. Andre Brink
2. Don Mattera
3. DBZ Ntuli
4. Ephraim Lesoro
5. Karel Schoeman
6. Lauretta Ngcobo
7. Lewis Nkosi
8. Peter Abrahams
9. Phyllis Naidoo
10. Ronnie Govender
11. Toek Blignaut
The 2006 South African National Poet Laureate prize will honour:
1. Keorapetse Willie Kgositsile.
The 2006 South African Posthumous Literary Awards will honour:
1. Bessie Head
2. James Jantjies Moiloa
3. Ingoapele Madingoane.
From 2007 onwards, the award categories will be increased to include:
1. Best Novel
2. Best Short-story
3. Best poetry
4. The Nadine Gordimer Short Story Award for writing in African languages
5. The K Sello Duiker Memorial Award.
Enquiries:
Natalia Molebatsi
Tel: (011) 326 1402
Fax: 086 605 3642
Cell: 074 356 6517
E-mail: natalia@writeassociates.co.za
Issued by: Free State Provincial Government
1 December 2006
Source: Free State Provincial Government (http://www.fs.gov.za)
