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Press release: Three exciting young musicians performing on clarinet, saxophone and piano in Knysna, Gqeberha and Makhanda

LitNet Musiek 2022-09-02

These performers have all achieved high distinction results for their ABRSM advanced performance exams, placing them amongst some of the top students in South Africa. We wish to encourage them in their pursuit of musical excellence as they further their musical careers by creating opportunities to perform.

Press release: View the programme of the Midlands Literary Festival

LitNet Books and writers 2022-08-31

The Midlands Literary Festival has become one of the major book events in KwaZulu-Natal. Simply look at the programme to see why! A weekend in the Natal Midlands is a wonderful way to recharge. Do it for yourself.

An interview with Tracy Terblanche, manager of Bargain Books Walmer Park

Izak de Vries, Tracy Terblanche Books and writers 2022-08-30

"Chat to one of our helpful booksellers. We can order titles in and source books from many sources. Sometimes it feels like we conjure up books from magical places and we feel like wizards, although Book Wizard is not yet an official job title."

Papa dearest

Sifiso Mzobe New writing 2022-08-30

Stemme | Voices | Amazwi is LitNet’s series of 15 short, powerful monologues, presented in collaboration with Suidoosterfees, NATi and ATKV. In Sifiso Mzobe’s Papa dearest, a man remembers his late father who kept smiling while fading away into the arms of death. Sonwabo Mpandle performs the monologue, directed by Gaerin Hauptfleisch. Watch the performance here. The monologue text is also available.

Bargain Books Competition: You could win a trip for two to the Thula Thula Reserve

Bargain Books Books and writers 2022-08-29

Get your copy of The Elephants of Thula Thula by Françoise Malby-Anthony from any Bargain Books for only R329! Save R30 and you could win a trip for 2 to the Thula Thula Reserve.

The African library: Men don’t cry by Faïza Guène

Annie Gagiano Books and writers 2022-08-29

"Men don’t cry is her fourth novel and the hilarious moments do not disguise the poignance of what is at heart a family tragedy, exploring the inevitable generational cultural split in that sector of society in which parental values and cultural preferences are all too often abandoned and disrespected by their offspring, who wish to 'make it' in the setting of an economically and educationally extremely different setting from the one in which their parents were raised and attained maturity."

Fresh off the press: Don’t upset ooMalume! A guide to stepping up your Xhosa game by Hombakazi Mercy Nqandeka

LitNet Books and writers 2022-08-24

Don’t upset ooMalume! captures the essence of Xhosa heritage and culture, and explores different aspects of village life.

Don’t upset ooMalume: A guide to stepping up your Xhosa by Hombakazi Mercy Nqandeka – a review

Mphuthumi Ntabeni Books and writers 2022-08-24

"This book can be categorised as a dictionary of Xhosa Weltanschauung, a comprehensive conception and apprehension of a mode of life that has been transferred by experience through the centuries from the ancient of times."

South African writing on Angola: The forgotten war

David Willers Opinion 2022-08-23

"All wars in history, from the Greek heroes onwards, spawn such intense memoirs, long and short. They are a bedrock of classic literature. We are fascinated by them. They invite us to eavesdrop on the confessional. They are a form of writing therapy, a way of laying the ghost, and a psychiatrist is not needed to tell us that. But there is also more to it. War memoirs involve all of us, including the bystanders. They make the reader complicit."

Ingoma kaTutu

Fred Khumalo LitNetKanaal op YouTube 2022-08-23

Stemme | Voices | Amazwi is LitNet’s series of 15 short, powerful monologues, presented in collaboration with Suidoosterfees, NATi and ATKV. In Fred Khumalo’s Ingoma kaTutu a praise singer pays homage to the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu and chastises the South African government for corruption and ineffective leadership. Zamah Nkonyeni performs the monologue, directed by Mdu Kweyama. Watch the performance in isiZulu with English subtitles here.

Book review: Hoerkind by Herman Lategan is "a rare privilege"

Anthony Akerman Books and writers 2022-08-16

"Lategan also shares moments of beauty, happiness and warmth in a narrative that is insightful, ironic, humorous and compassionate. And it’s a page-turner."

Dare to read this? A review of Sabotage by Kyle Cowan

Catharina Stone Books and writers 2022-08-16

"I invite you to get your mind around reading this book. There is a lot to learn from it."

My father’s blazer by Phelelani Makhanya, a reader impression

Marieta McGrath Books and writers 2022-08-16

"In this hauntingly beautiful volume of poetry, Makhanya chronicles the all too familiar, universal experience of the dysfunctional family. However, My father’s blazer quickly transitions to a wider family, that of the South African people, Africa – and mankind."

The fate of your soulmate

Paige Nick New writing 2022-08-16

Stemme | Voices | Amazwi is LitNet’s series of 15 short, powerful monologues, presented in collaboration with Suidoosterfees, NATi and ATKV. Watch Gary Naidoo perform The fate of your soulmate, written by Paige Nick and directed by Rafiek Mammon. The monologue text is also available here.

Press release: PEN International condemns attack on Salman Rushdie

PEN Afrikaans PEN Afrikaans 2022-08-12

PEN International is deeply shocked and appalled to learn that former PEN America President and renowned writer, Salman Rushdie, was attacked today just before giving a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in New York. | PEN Afrikaans se bestuur onderskryf hierdie stellinginname deur PEN International. PEN Afrikaans is ’n deel van én deel die waardes van internasionale PEN-sentrums.

Inter-review of The man who loved crocodile tamers by Finuala Dowling

Janet van Eeden, Finuala Dowling Books and writers 2022-08-11

"The man who loved crocodile tamers is a strongly stitched patchwork of events in the life of Paddy Dowling, Finuala Dowling’s father, interspersed with extracts from the 'writer’s' personal diary."

Press release: Cape Town welcomes back the Open Book Festival – September 2022

LitNet Books and writers 2022-08-11

The event in September brings people together for lively conversations with authors and other guest speakers, in one central location in Cape Town’s historic District Six. The program sees a mix of established and debut authors engaging with audiences over three days.

True magic amongst grinding poverty, no fairies: Bridget Krone on her latest book

Izak de Vries, Bridget Krone Books and writers 2022-08-10

Can a dream be born in Cedarville, a place of grinding poverty? Izak de Vries chats to Bridget Krone about The Cedarville Shop and the wheelbarrow swap, published by Catalyst Press.

Matlakala

Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha New writing 2022-08-09

Stemme | Voices | Amazwi is LitNet’s series of 15 short, powerful monologues, presented in collaboration with Suidoosterfees, NATi and ATKV. Watch Tshegofatso Mabutla perform Matlakala, written by Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha and directed by Mahlatsi Mokgonyana.

Press release: Major nomination for Sifiso Mzobe

LitNet Books and writers 2022-08-08

On October 27, 2022, the Hurston/Wright Foundation will announce, during their annual Legacy Awards celebration, the winners of the juried awards for books by black authors published in 2021 in the categories of debut fiction, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

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