The South African Literary Awards (SALA) have shortlisted 26 authors in 13 awards categories for this year’s awards. The winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony on the 7th November at Ditsong National Museum of Cultural History.
These prestigious Awards will be preceded by the 8th Africa Century International African Writers Conference whose International African Writers Day Lecture will be delivered by Mandla Makhanya, Principal and Vice Chancellor at the University of South Africa.
To be delivered under the theme “Africa Writing in Tongues: Towards Social, Political, Heritage and Cultural Justice”, the theme is in line with UNESCO’s International Year of Indigenous Languages (IY2019). For more information and registration for attendance, please visit www.africacenturyconference.co.za.
Now in their fourteenth year, the SALAs are awarded annually by the wRite Associates in partnership with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture to celebrate literary excellence in all the languages of South Africa.
Morakabe Seakhoa, SALA project director, says: “The main aim of the South African Literary Awards is to pay tribute to South African writers who have distinguished themselves as ground-breaking producers and creators of literature, while it celebrates literary excellence in the depiction and sharing of South Africa’s histories, value systems and philosophies and art as inscribed and preserved in all the languages of South Africa, particularly the official languages.”
The SA Literary Awards have become the most prestigious and respected literary accolades in the South African literary landscape. SALA prides itself in not only acknowledging established authors but as a platform to budding writers through the First-time Published Author Award category.
SALA has also expanded its categories to include Children’s and Youth Literature categories. A very significant move by SALA as this will encourage acknowledgement of writers writing for children while it encourages reading and appreciation of literature from an early age.
“More work is still to be done though to cultivate more writing in our African languages,” concluded Seakhoa.
2019 Shortlist
1. Children’s Literature Award
Author | Title of book/publication | Language |
Lebohang Masango | Mpumi’s Magic Beads | English |
Jaco Jacobs | Rondomtalie | Afrikaans |
2. Youth Literature Award
Author | Title of book/publication | Language |
Sally Partridge | Mine | English |
Marion Erskine | Vlerke vir almal | Afrikaans |
3. First-time Published Author Award
Author | Title of book/publication | Language |
Bongani Ngqulunga | The Man Who Founded The ANC | English |
Rekgotsofetse Chikane | Breaking a Rainbow, Building a Nation: The Politics behind #MustFall Movements | English |
Lodewyk G. du Plessis | Die dao van Daan van der Walt | Afrikaans |
4. Poetry Award
Author | Title of book/publication | Language |
Tony Ullyatt | An Unobtrusive Vice | English |
Willie van der Merwe | Doodmenslik | Afrikaans |
Nathan Trantraal | Alles het niet kom wôd | Afrikaans |
Ayanda Billie | Umhlaba Umanzi | isiXhosa |
5. Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award
Author | Title of book/publication | Language |
Chase Rhys | Kinnes | Afrikaans |
6. Novel Award
Author | Title of book/publication | Language |
Charl-Pierre Naudé | Die ongelooflike onskuld van Dirkie Verwey | Afrikaans |
Sabata-mpho Mokae | Moletlo Wa Manong | Setswana |
Ingrid Winterbach | Die troebel tyd | Afrikaans |
7. Nadine Gordimer Short-Story Award
Author | Title of book/publication | Language |
Ken Barris | The life of Worm & other misconceptions | English |
Niq Mhlongo | Soweto, Under the Apricot Tree | English |
8. Creative Non-Fiction Literary Award
Author | Title of book/publication | Language |
Sylvia Neame | Imprisoned | English |
Jonathan Jansen | As by Fire | English |
Jeremy Vearey | Jeremy vannie Elsies | Afrikaans |
9. Literary Translator’s Award
Author | Title of book/publication | Language |
Dominique Botha |
Original: Kamphoer Translation: The Camp Whore |
Afrikaans English |
Michiel Heyns |
Original: Buys Translation: Red Dog |
Afrikaans English |
10. Literary Journalism Award
Author | Title of book/publication | Language |
Jennifer Malec | Body of work | English |
Wamuwi Mbao |
Body of work | English |
11. Lifetime Achievement Award
Author | Title of book/publication | Language |
Louise Smit |
Body of work | Afrikaans |
Cornelius Tennyson Daniel (CTD) Marivate | Body of work | Xitsonga |
12. Posthumous Literary Award
To be announced at the awards ceremony
13. Chairperson’s Award
To be announced at the awards ceremony