Litnet

In The truth about Cape slavery, Patric Tariq Mellet argues that modern South Africa – its economy and politics – is shaped and established on the foundation of chattel slavery just like the United States of America. Cape slavery, rather than minor, was a crucial feature of maritime capitalism. This then moved to become the cornerstone of the Cape’s agricultural economy. 

"He is a creative writer very much attracted to the beauty of the mangled achievement; it is, in a sense, part of his ethos. It is the wilfully imperfect note that Pienaar strikes with great care and planning, which charms when it doesn’t become too convoluted."

"Ja, lesers gaan dinge raaklees wat nog nooit in die media gedek is nie." Stefaans Coetzee kuier saam met Nicole Engelbrecht, skrywer van die blitsverkoper, Sizzlers: The hate crime that tore Sea Point apart.

Joe Schutte en sy pelle, Nathe en Thabo, lewe vir rugby. Alles anders in Joe se lewe is so vars soos verlede jaar se brood. Maar skielik verander iets in die rugbyspan. Dit voel asof hulle spanmaats oornag groter, sterker, beter is. Joe en Thabo verloor hulle plekke in die span terwyl Nathe onseker is oor sy plek. Die drie beraam ’n plan, maar dis onwettig en die risiko is groot. Dan is daar Joanne. As Joe en Joanne se sterre mekaar gevind het, waarom kan sy ma haar nie verdra nie?

The Achmat Dangor Literary Prize is now open to eligible young writers working in all genres (poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction), with applications closing on September 15, 2024.

"We felt that editing the mass of content down to a collection of gems would be a great curated read. We believe it to be powerful (so many parents, not gurus, sharing their experience and wisdom), and we see the trends of what subjects people are concerned about daily. We could and might still publish 10 books. There’s that much."

The shortlisted collections of poetry for the Ingrid Jonker Prize 2024 have been announced.

This is the most urgent book ever to appear from the pen of cultural icon Koos Kombuis. Sometimes, when he is in an irreverent mood, Koos writes under the fun-filled pseudonym "Joe Kitchen". This time around, though, he is deadly serious. The death of history is a climate change diary.

"In Afrikaans, bedonnerd has pejorative associations. But I used the name to mean 'crazy about books'. I feel that there is no greater word for my memoir than BookBedonnerd."

The programme for this year’s Open Book Festival is now live. The festival, known for creating an inclusive space for important conversations, is set to explore a range of themes including mental health, fatherhood, creativity, and the impact of history on the present.

"Most of these stories are set in Botswana, which in itself is refreshing since there has been a scarcity of stories in that setting since the death of Bessie Head."

The Caine Prize for African Writing, an esteemed annual award honouring outstanding African writers, is pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2024 edition. The five shortlisted stories were carefully selected from a pool of 320 entries originating from 28 African countries.

You are invited to the book launch of What’s wrong with June? by Qarnita Loxton. Eva Mazza will be in conversation with Qarnita Loxton on 1 August, Wordsworth Books, Stellenbosch Square at 18:00 for 18:30.

The 19th South African Literary Awards ceremony will take place on 7 November 2024. Earlier that day, the 12th Africa Century International African Writers Conference celebrating the 33rd anniversary of the African Union-declared International African Writers’ Day and 30 years of South Africa’s freedom and democracy.

The 2025 AVBOB Poetry Competition officially opens for entries on 1 August 2024. This prestigious contest invites poets from all corners of South Africa to submit their original works in any of the South Africa’s 11 official written languages. With generous cash prizes awaiting the winning entries, this is a golden opportunity for talented wordsmiths to shine.

"No, he is not a rock star lawyer, as are some of those mentioned at the top of this note, but he is instead a humbler man who limited his financial ambitions to work rather with the needy and the under-resourced. He did great work here, at no great profit. The best of South Africa is built on such people making such sacrifices."

This year’s festival promises to be more than just a celebration of literature; it will serve as a vital platform for meaningful discussions. The lineup includes a wide array of talented writers, reflecting the rich tapestry of African literature.

"The action scenes and literary descriptions of the ocean with all its vicissitudes are vivid – from the perspectives of both a submariner and a sailor on a surface vessel. The text is replete with historical references and technical details of life on board, and is aided by a glossary of naval terms at the beginning of the book."

As South Africans prepare to celebrate Mandela Day on 18 July, the AVBOB Poetry Project is acknowledging Nkateka Masinga, a Mandela Washington Fellow and an award-winning writer, poet and scholar whose original voice pays tribute to the leaders and storytellers who came before her.

"Meintjes devotedly nurses his grape and malt, the pool table and his favourite bars, while around him the grand spectacle of life unfolds, and the stoicism of Long Street is revealed on a nightly basis."