Top 5 South African Writers

South Africa has been blessed with many a writer that shows an extraordinary talent for putting into words the various events, stories and historical happenings that make our country so unique. 

Let’s take a look at the top 5 writers South Africa has produced so far. 

André P. Brink is a well-known and established white writer whose best works are set in the Apartheids era. Brink’s work discusses sexual and religious themes with such openness that his novel, Kennis van die and was the first Afrikaans book that was banned under Apartheid.

After this, Brink started writing in English and this combined with his Afrikaans books being translated due to high demand, has enabled him to reach a massive international audience. Although he mostly wrote novels that addressed the problems experienced in the Apartheid era, his more recent works focuses on the new range issues posed by the different life of a democratic South Africa.

Lewis Nkosi is not as well-known, having written just three novels and two plays before his death in 2010. However his analytical and allegorical writing style has seen to him being compared to the likes of Albert Camus. As a young man, Nkosi wrote for Drum Magazine and used his confidence and pride in his race as a tool for social activism.

 In 1986 his debut novel Mating Birds was released.

It takes a very ambiguous look at rape, love and seduction and the thin lines separating these concepts. Nkosi was a multifaceted personality and not only attempted writing plays and novels, but his works stretch from attempting every literary genre to literary criticism, poetry and drama.

Njabulo Ndebele is an academic and author who won the Noma Award – Africa’s most prestigious literary accolade. With mostly critical writing, his topics range from exploring ways forward for the damaged post-apartheid nation in search of freedom of expression through to stories of Cape Town’s poverty stricken townships’ inhabitants and their lives.

He sees his positive reading of post-apartheid pretence of reconciliation not as hypocrisy, but as a natural coping mechanism, a way of buying time. Ndebele has changed his focus in later years and is the former Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Cape Town and was inaugurated as the Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg in 2012

Bessie Head was born in Pietermaritzburg in 1937 and passed away in 1986. The significance and influence of her work and life has been abruptly brought into focus since her death. Best known for three novels – When Rain Clouds Gather, Maru  and A Question of Power, her fiction is preoccupied with the typical issues, struggles and questions, which became a unique signature narrative style.

Head grew up in the midst of serious racial conflict as her father was a wealthy white South African and her mother a black servant. However, her work does
not reflect the expected and sometimes obvious topics written about by South African writers, but she rather portrays everyday rural African life in a simplistic and honest manner.

The last writer we will discuss today is John M. Coetzee. Having won the Nobel Prize in 2003, Coetzee is the most internationally acclaimed writer produced by South Africa. Coetzee tackles politically charged issues including race and class and his works are often a reflection of a surreal, disjointed terrain in which traumas of the country and characters are magnified and symbolic.

In Waiting for the Barbarians, he goes beyond allegories, imagining an apolitical, non-specific and timeless conceptual space in which he explores issues of ownership, violence and the nature of civilisation. Producing works of a divergent nature, Coetzee is known to often be highly experimental in his approach. 

As you can see, our country has produced many a writer from various cultures, races and background. Make sure you don’t miss out on the talent South Africa has to offer and get reading today!

Written by Marleen Theunissen
Creative writer at ATKA SA

Mandela – Before the Struggle

On 18 July 1918 Rolihlahla Mandela was born into the Madiba clan in Mvezo, Transkei. Seeing as his father died when he was a child, the young Rolihlahla became a ward of Jongintaba at the Great Place in Mqhekezweni. 

Throughout his childhood he would be hearing the elder’s stories of his ancestor’s valour during the wars of resistance and he dreamed also of making his own contribution to the freedom struggle of his people.

He attended primary school in Qunu where his teacher Miss Mdingane gave him the name Nelson, in accordance with the custom to give all school children “Christian” names. He completed his Junior Certificate at Clarkebury Boarding Institute and went on to Healdtown, a Wesleyan secondary school, where he matriculated.

He started his studies for a Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University College of Fort Hare but did not complete the degree there, because he had been expelled for joining in a student protest. He completed his BA through the University of South Africa and went back to Fort Hare for his graduation in 1943.

The King was furious and said that if he didn't return to Fort Hare, he would arrange wives for him and his cousin Justice. Instead, they ran away to Johannesburg, arriving there in 1941. There Nelson worked as a mine security officer and here he met Walter Sisulu, an estate agent, who introduced him to Lazar Sidelsky. He then did his articles through the firm of attorneys Witkin Eidelman and Sidelsky.

Meanwhile he began studying for an LLB at the University of the Witwatersrand. By his own admission he was a poor student and left the university in 1948 without graduating. He only started studying again through the University of London and also did not complete that degree. In 1989, while in the last months of his imprisonment, he obtained an LLB through the University of South Africa. He graduated in absentia at a ceremony in Cape Town.

Nelson Mandela only joined the ANC in 1944 when he helped form the ANC Youth League, although he had become increasingly involved in politics from 1942. In 1944 he married Walter Sisulu’s cousin Evelyn Mase, a nurse. They had two sons Madiba Thembekile ‘Thembi’ and Makgatho and two daughters both called Makaziwe. The couple was effectively separated in 1955 and officially divorced in 1958.

Nelson Mandela rose through the ranks of the ANCYL and through its work the ANC adopted in 1949 a more radical mass-based policy, the Programme of Action. In 1952 he was chosen at the National Volunteer-in-Chief of the Defiance Campaign with Maulvi Cachalia as his Deputy. He and 19 others were charged under the Suppression of Communism Act for their part in the campaign of civil disobedience against six unjust laws, and were sentenced to nine months hard labour suspended for two years.

Nelson finally completed a two year diploma in law and this on top of his BA allowed Nelson Mandela to practice law. In August 1952 he and Oliver Tambo established South Africa’s first black law firm, Mandela and Tambo. At the end of 1952 Nelson Mandela was banned for the first time. As a restricted person he was only able to secretly watch as the Freedom Charter was adopted at Kliptown on 26 June 1955. Nelson Mandela’s arrest in a countrywide police swoop of 156 activists on 5 December 1955 led to the 1956 Treason Trial. Men and women of all races found themselves in a marathon trial that only ended when the last 28 accused, including Mr Mandela were acquitted on 29 March 1961.

During the trial on 14 June 1958 Nelson Mandela married a social worker Winnie Madikizela. They had two daughters Zenani and Zindziswa. The couple divorced in 1996. Days before the end of the Treason Trial Nelson Mandela traveled to Pietermaritzburg to speak at the All-in Africa Conference.

Nelson Mandela went underground as soon as he and his colleagues were acquitted in the Treason Trial and began planning a national strike for 29, 30 and 31 March, but in the face of a massive mobilization of state security the strike was called off early. In June 1961 he was asked to lead the armed struggle and helped to establish Umkhonto weSizwe (Spear of the Nation).

Nelson Mandela left South Africa secretly on 11 January 1962 using the adopted name David Motsamayi. He traveled around Africa and visited England to attempt to gain support for the armed struggle. He received military training in Morocco and Ethiopia and returned to South Africa in July 1962. 

He was arrested in a police roadblock outside Howick on 5 August while returning from KwaZulu-Natal where he briefed ANC President Chief Albert Luthuli about his trip. He was charged with leaving the country illegally and inciting workers to strike. He was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment which he began serving in Pretoria Local Prison. On 27 May 1963 he was transferred to Robben Island and returned to Pretoria on 12 June. Within a month police raided a secret hide-out in Rivonia used by ANC and Communist Party activists and several of his comrades were arrested.

Nelson Mandela joined nine others in October 1963 on trial for sabotage in what became known as the Rivonia Trial. On 11 June 1964 Nelson Mandela and seven other accused were convicted and the next day, were sentenced to life imprisonment. Nelson Mandela was sent to Robben Island. On 31 March 1982 Nelson Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town.

In 1988 he was treated for Tuberculosis and was transferred on 7 December 1988 to a house at Victor Verster Prison near Paarl. He was released from its gates on Sunday 11 February 1990, nine days after the un-banning of the ANC and the PAC and nearly four months after the release of the remaining Rivonia comrades. Throughout his imprisonment he had rejected at least three conditional offers of release.

Written by: Marleen Theunissen

Creative writer at ATKA SA

Minister Mashatile Launches the Framework for the Celebration of 20 years of Freedom

 Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile recently launched the build-up programme towards the 20th anniversary celebrations of South Africa’s freedom and democracy. The event took place at the aptly named Freedom Park, in Pretoria, on the 3rd of June 2013. 

The moment you enter Freedom Park, you are immediately drawn towards the beauty and aura of this magnificent place, as well as its historical significance. Thus, it was an appropriate place to launch the build-up to South Africa’s historic path towards 20 years of freedom and democracy.

The event which was hosted at Freedom Park’s, Gallery of Leaders, brought together a number of well-known opinion makers such as Advocate George Bizos, academics, business leaders as well as members of Civil Society in one common ideology… the unification of all South Africans in celebration of the countries historic 20th anniversary of freedom.

The framework launched by Minister Mashatile incorporates and builds on the declarations and plans which emanated from the National Summit on Social Cohesion and National Building, which took place in July 2012 at the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication in Kliptown, Soweto. 

As stated by the minister, the launch “Marks the commencement of a year-long process of mobilizing of all sectors of society to participate in campaigns that reflect our democratic achievements.” The purpose of the framework is thus; to deepen South Africans understanding of “Where we come from as a nation”, and how the country attained its democracy. The Minister also highlighted the frameworks path to identifying and celebrating South Africa’s untold stories, as well as unsung heroes and heroines of the liberation struggle. The day also marked the unveiling of the 20 years of Freedom logo, as well as a declaration from the Minister that by April 2014, all schools in the country will fly the South African flag. 

Throughout the launch, a number of veterans shared their untold stories of the struggle for liberation. Ms Barbara Masekela gave an uplifting speech titled “An Empowered Fair and Inclusive Citizenry for Social Cohesion”, which emphasized how the youth of the liberation era, empowered them to liberate themselves from the Apartheid system of oppressive exclusion. Her’s was a message of strength in the fight for social inclusion. 

Advocate George Bizos said, “People who say there hasn't been changes in the country in 19 years, are doing the country a dis-service.” He acknowledged that the country faces a number of challenges, but this “Shouldn't discourage us from trying”, to create a “unified nation, irrespective of colour or background.”

Mr Andrew Mlangeni, a political activist and Robben Island prisoner; said of the launch: “A foundation has been laid; now it’s our time to finish building the house…the house of   democracy and freedom.” 

Dr Frene Ginwala, a political activist and opinion maker, stressed the need to change the culture of expectancy. She also touched on the need for all South African’s to know and understand the Constitution as well as the true meaning of democracy. Her message was an impassioned plea to the countries leader’s, to lead by example. She also expressed one of Apartheid's cruelty, she said: “One of the worst crimes of apartheid was denying us our history.” 

World-Renowned poet, Dr Don Mattera said of the event: “A seed was planted in Kliptown and now it needs to be watered.” He also emphasized the need for the country to unite as one: “Social Cohesion cannot be implanted by the government in our hearts”, “It is not a government program…it is a human program.”

Former Miss South Africa, Joan Ramagoshi, said as a young South African she was “Inspired by what the veterans had to say”, and that she was grateful and honoured that she heard all the amazing untold stories. About what the event meant to her, she said: “The event is about people being passionate about this country”, and that “People need to work together in-order to attain a joint spirit.”

At the end of the launch, the social cohesion Ambassadors from various sectors of society signed a declaration of commitment, pledging their support “to mobilize and unify society in our on-going national movement of healing the divisions of our painful past and establishing a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights.” 

In conclusion the Framework for celebration of 20 years of Freedom and Democracy marks the new dawn in South Africans quest for a unified and socially inclusive nation.

Written by: Thulisile Khumalo

Creative Writer at ATKA SA

Mandela Day - The Legacy Continues

Mandela Day has been celebrated for the past 4 years, yet there are many South Africans who do not fully understand why we celebrate this day or how it originated. Let me illuminate you…

Mandela Day is on the day of our former president, Mr Nelson Mandela’s birthday. In 2008 it was decided that Madiba’s birthday would be celebrated yearly in-order to carrying on his legacy. For 67 years, Mr Mandela sacrificed his life to fight for the rights of humanity. Therefore on Mandela Day, 18 July every year, South Africans are asked to give 67minutes of their time to do good for others. South Africans can do this by supporting charities or serving their local communities.

The main objective of this day is to inspire everyday individuals to do their part in changing the world for the better, build global movements for good and ultimately empower communities countrywide. 

The United Nations have officially adopted Mandela Day as “Nelson Mandela International Day” on 10 November 2009. This resolution was made unanimously with the support of all UN member states and co-sponsorship of over 165 members from all regions of the world. Representing the overwhelming support of the entire international community, this hopefully signals the beginning of greater involvement by the global community in this good initiative.

Individuals, communities, businesses, non-governmental organisations and government departments can get involved easily – all that is needed is for you to donate 67 minutes of your day towards a good cause. 

Some of the partners include the Nelson Mandela Foundation which, through the Centre of Memory and Dialogue programmes, helps form a just society by promoting the values, vision and work of Nelson Mandela. Another partner, 46664 has expanded its focus to include all areas of Mr Mandela’s humanitarian legacy and confronting issues of social justice with its goal of creating global HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.

As South Africans we are all grateful to Madiba for what he has accomplished and how much he sacrificed for equal rights in our country. Let’s show our appreciation together and give 67 minutes (or more) of our time to make sure the legacy is carried on!

Written By: Marleen Theunissen

Creative writer at ATKA SA

How do I copyright my music?

There is no great secret on how to copyright your musical work. As soon as you affix your music and lyrics in a tangible medium (paper, CD or DVD) the work  is afforded copyright protection. The affixed products can be deposited with existing institutions such as the South African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO), the National Organisation for Reproduction Rights in Music (Norm) as well as the National Archives of South Africa.  According to the copyright act, the owner of the copyright has the exclusive rights to authorise any of the following: reproduction of the work, distribution of the work, performance of the work, displaying the work publicly.  There are monetary benefits attached to the exclusive rights.

You can also visit the website www.samro.org.za  for more information.

What are Legacy Projects of South Africa?

Legacy projects refers to  Monuments, museums, plaques, outdoor art, heritage trails and other symbolic representations create visible reminders of, and commemorate, the many aspects of South Africa’s past.

Government has initiated several national legacy projectsto establish commemorative symbols of South Africa’s history and celebrate its heritage.

The legacy projects include the Women’s Monument, Chief Albert Luthuli’s housein KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal, Battle of Blood River/Ncome Project, Samora Machel Project, Nelson Mandela Museum, Constitution Hill Project, Sarah Baartman Centre of Remembrance, Khoisan Legacy Project, Freedom Park Project, Dulcie September Legacy Project , Matola Raid Memorial Project, Bhambatha Project and Albert Luthuli Annual Memorial Lecture. 

How do I / my organisation access funding for arts, culture and heritage related projects/events?

The Department of Arts and Culture disburses its funds through specialised funding institutions that are able to assess and keep track of those funds, namely:

·         National Heritage Council

Tel: (012) 348 1663

Fax: (012) 348 2833

Web: http://www.nhc.org.za/

 

·         National Arts Council

Tel: (011) 838 1838  

 Fax: (011) 838 6363

E-mail: funding@nac.org.za.

Web: http://www.nac.org.za/

 

·         National Film and Video Foundation

Tel: (011) 483 0880 

Fax: (011) 4830881

Web: http://www.nfvf.co.za/

 

·         Business Arts South Africa        

Tel (011) 832 3000

Fax: (011) 832 3040

E-Mail: info@basa.co.za

Web: http://www.basa.co.za/