Litnet

"For the arts and culture sector, Trump’s executive order might leave a small dent, but it is nothing that a good amount of panel-beating between South African and US institutions/organisations that hold shared values cannot navigate."

"Dis ’n lekker manier om te besef jy is nie alleen in jou stryd as middeljarige vrou nie; jy kan ’n verskil in ander se lewens maak as jy jouself reg inspan, en geen gebeurtenis in jou lewe is noodwendig die einde nie – dis dikwels ’n nuwe begin."

"By withdrawing the United States (US) from the global Paris Agreement, Trump is defying multilateral climate resilience cooperation, at a time when global average temperatures already exceed a critical 1,5°C warming threshold, and severe weather events are becoming more regular."

Today, on the tenth anniversary of André Brink’s death (6 February) we pay tribute to his life and work and announce that the Philida Literary Award, established in his memory in 2020, goes to Hedley Twidle and is awarded to him for an oeuvre of literary excellence.

"Throughout the Cold War, and through to today, the credibility of nuclear deterrence was and is attached to all manner and sorts of things: the personalities of leaders, their rationality, the regime type, and whether leaders believe in the doctrine of nuclear deterrence."

Open Book Festival announces its third annual Youth Festival, building on the momentum of previous years to create an even more dynamic celebration of youth literature and creativity. Youth Fest 2025 will run from 19 to 26 March 2025 and promises to bring together established and emerging voices in children’s and young adult literature, fostering a love of reading and writing among young people across Cape Town. 

"The year of the Master’s Resurrection and Ascension.
His call, as the Thunderous Sounds of the Apocalypse."

"[I]n most cases, the causes and atrocities of the wars – Korea, Vietnam, numerous struggles for liberation across Africa and the Middle East, Latin America and a dozen other settings – have been brushed over or inadequately brought to light. South Africa stands out as an exception, with its Truth and Reconciliation Commission. But the truth of the lessons of Auschwitz holds true for a world in conflict since 1945, and makes the 80th commemoration all the more important."

"Your chosen favourite can say or do no wrong, and anything, however outrageous or immoral, can be justified, condoned and, with every-day use and reinforcement, it becomes your new normal, the standard from which to judge The Other."

"In simple English, even in cases where there are healthcare workers paid for by the government, medication cannot be handed out."

"There is an honesty within these pages that is rarely seen in memoirs and politically slanted texts from the African literary scene." 

"Eurotrash, by the Swiss-German author Christian Kracht, is a novel of ideas and what the Germans call Vergangenheitsbewältigung (coming to terms with the past). It is about the grinding burden of having been born into tainted privilege, and the engulfing guilt that comes with that self-realisation."

Starting in 2025, the all-new AVBOB Prize for Best Published Collection of Poetry (by an individual poet) will shine a spotlight on South African poets with a R10 000 prize, honouring their artistic vision, linguistic mastery, and unique contributions to the country’s cultural tapestry.

The annual Literature, Heritage and Ecology Conference hosted by Amazwi South African Museum of Literature aims to foster cooperation and interaction between the humanities and the sciences and so help mitigate the social-ecological crises we face today.

"Logically, what is the justification for fact-checking – and then monitoring and censoring – Facebook or X or Instagram, but not WhatsApp?"

"Frank Anthony’s activism was not just a political endeavour; it was a deeply emotional and personal commitment to the pursuit of freedom and justice ... With each word penned in defiance, each poem recited in solidarity, Anthony poured his heart and soul into the struggle, knowing that the price of freedom was steep, but believing fervently in its worth."

South African producer Luc Lavigne has turned his passion for music into an impressive career in the heart of Hollywood. At just 22, his production, mixing and mastering expertise has earned him opportunities and accolades that have set him on a path as one of the most exciting young talents in the global music industry. In 2025, Lavigne already has numerous credits released, including “Any other way” by South African pop/pop punk artist Anica Kiana.

"For property rights holders, nothing dangerous will come of it. For the landless, their aspirations have been deferred. Perhaps once again."

Both comedic and tender, ’n Begin is a sharp and astute two-hander that takes an intimate look at the first fragile moments of risking your heart and taking a chance on love. The Market Theatre in association with the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees, supported by NATi, is proud to bring this acclaimed Afrikaans production to Johannesburg from 30 January to 16 February 2025. 

Following its critical success in Johannesburg, the Market Theatre’s production The cry of Winnie Mandela, based on Njabulo Ndebele’s celebrated novel of the same name, makes its Cape Town debut at the Baxter Flipside from 29 January to 15 February.