Hedley Twidle is the recipient of the Philida Literary Award 2025. (Photo: provided)
Today, on the tenth anniversary of André Brink’s death, 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.
Hedley Twidle is a writer, teacher and researcher based at the University of Cape Town. His collection of essays and non-fiction, Firepool: Experiences in an Abnormal World, was published by Kwela Books in 2017. Experiments with Truth, a study of life writing and the South African transition, appeared in the African Articulation series from James Currey in 2019. A new essay collection, Show Me the Place, was published by Jonathan Ball in 2024. His work has appeared in a range of international publications, including the New Statesman, Financial Times and Harper’s magazine. Currently, he is collaborating with UCT’s Neuroscience Institute on “Writing Forgetting”, a project exploring the arts and literatures of dementia and memory loss. More of his writing can be found at hedleytwidle.com.
The Philida Literary Award is awarded annually to a writer mid-career for an oeuvre of between three to five books of any genre. Established in 2020 by Karina M Brink (writing under her maiden name Szczurek) in memory of her late husband, renowned author André Brink, the award recognises a writer with a consistent record of publishing works of excellence and aims to encourage them further in their pursuit of a literary career.
The award announcement takes place annually on the anniversary of André’s death, 6 February.
The award is named after a historical figure, the slave woman Philida van de Caab, a knitting woman, who entered South Africa’s archival records because of laying an official complaint against her masters, Francois and Cornelius Brink, distant relatives of André’s. She became the protagonist of André’s last published novel, Philida (2012). André’s rendition of her courage and resilience continues to inspire readers and writers around the world.
Each winner receives an award certificate designed by Debbie Minné and an amount of money that was first determined by the royalties earned from the sales of You make me possible: The love letters of Karina M Szczurek and André Brink (Protea Book House, 2018) and is now sponsored by Karavan Press. As Karina wrote in her Note on the publication of You make me possible: with André’s encouragement and support, she was able to acknowledge the fact that she was a writer; he was an inspiration to many other writers and was always generous with his time and expertise in furthering the literary careers of others. The Philida Literary Award continues this legacy.
Hedley Twidle on accepting the Philida Literary Award: “I'm honoured to be the recipient of the Philida award – thanks so much for thinking of me.”
Kommentaar
Interessante brokkie inligting wat einde 2025 eers onder my aandag kom! Beide die toekenning en die naam van die jongste ontvanger.
Wie was die vorige wenners?