Photo of Darryl David: provided; picture of the SA Festival of Children’s Literature: Facebook
Darryl David talks to Naomi Meyer about this year’s South African Festival of Children’s Literature at the University of the Western Cape. The festival takes place on 9 and 10 April 2025.
Darryl, it is almost time for the South African Festival of Children’s Literature. Please would you give me some background on the festival?
This year is our fifth anniversary of the South African Festival of Children’s Literature. Can you believe it? We started in 2021. Literally a month before that festival, we had to go online because of the lockdown.
...........
This year is our fifth anniversary of the South African Festival of Children’s Literature. Can you believe it? We started in 2021. Literally a month before that festival, we had to go online because of the lockdown.
.............
The festival was conceived to help raise funds for Heartlands Baby Sanctuary. This was part of our University of the Western Cape (UWC) Faculty of Education outreach programme. So, UWC provided the audio-visual platform for the festival, which was beamed to the world. I also knew at the time that there was no stand-alone book festival for children in South Africa. So, it is a unique festival. However, after three years, it was no longer viable for Heartlands. I think the problem was that my vision to make the children at Heartlands integral to the festival was not possible, because the identities of these children had to be kept confidential. That break with Heartlands truly broke my heart. But now we host the festival at UWC. And it is truly a joyous event, because we service the poorest of the poor schools. We are in the heart of the Cape Flats area, so that should give one an indication of the joy of colourful, glossy books and song for children who don’t normally get to experience such things in their schools and homes.
Which authors will attend the festival this year?
This year, we truly have found some gems out there. And many are not from your mainstream publishers. The highlight is undoubtedly Diana Ferrus’s The boy who loved to dance. It is one of those stories that epitomise the audacity of hope during the darkest days of apartheid. Diana will open the festival with this beautiful book.
Another highlight is the story of Springbok hockey prodigy Malikah Hamza. I am proud to have penned this remarkable story about the prodigious talent of Malikah, as told to me by her father, Boebie Hamza. Malikah will be in attendance at UWC’s Faculty of Education to autograph books.
Another welcome addition to the programme is Nal’ibali. This wonderful organisation, the face of the fight to improve literacy in this country, will be at the festival to thrill children with their unique brand of storytelling throughout the two days of the festival.
And then there is our youngest author, twelve-year-old Bontle Ndhlovu, who will be flying all the way from Johannesburg to be with us. This child prodigy has penned her own book, titled Adventures with Bontle. I can’t wait to be in conversation with Bontle on 10 April.
And then there are the illustrators of my book – Leon Govender and Raksha Chabalalsing. They are truly among the greatest illustrators I have worked with. But with their debut children’s book, Langa, they have outdone themselves, even by their high standards. I predict great things for this book.
I have told my daughter to hurry up; I need grandchildren to read all these wonderful stories to.
Are there only English-speaking authors on the programme? Any other South African languages that will feature at the festival?
Many of the books on our programme are available in all three languages of the province – English, Afrikaans and Xhosa. We will see what the composition of our audience is and switch between languages. I am sure that Nal’ibali and Xolisa Guzula, champions of mother tongue education, will no doubt switch between English and Xhosa, and it will be similar for the Afrikaans writers.
...........
Many of the books on our programme are available in all three languages of the province – English, Afrikaans and Xhosa. We will see what the composition of our audience is and switch between languages.
................
And if comics can be considered a “language” of their own, then we have a fourth language on the programme as well. Zihad Rahman will entertain children with his Awali comic series.
You organise plenty of book festivals, Darryl. Why organise one for children’s literature?
On the one hand, I organise this festival so that we can send out better prepared, inspirational teachers to schools. My view is that teachers who do not read themselves can never be good teachers – especially if they are language teachers or foundation phase teachers.
And although the number of student teachers in the audience always disappoints, this year I struck gold. One of my final teachers, Miché Jantjies, is on the programme with a gem of a story. If I can change just one teacher, I suppose that’s a victory.
But the main reason I do it is to see the joy on children’s faces. That smile is not conditional on taking a register or produced for an assessment task. That unadulterated smaaail is because you’ve just gifted a young child a book. Or like last year during your session, Naomi, when Elsibe McGuffog gifted children teddy bears – those are the moments I live for.
Please provide some practical details: where will the festival take place, what are the costs, are children welcome, etc?
The festival is being held at the University of the Western Cape, at the Faculty of Education. Our students will chaperone guests from outside the building.
Entrance is free!
...........
The festival is being held at the University of the Western Cape, at the Faculty of Education. Our students will chaperone guests from outside the building.
Entrance is free!
..............
Children and schools are our intended audience, so we hope they will make use of this wonderful opportunity.
And day one is on Zoom. See the barcode on the programme.
Kommentaar
Good Morning
My name is Thembeka Sandi-Maila, and I am the author of a recently published children’s book titled Buffy and Bibby my dogs, released in June 2024. I am writing to kindly express my interest in participating in your upcoming book festival.
Buffy and Bibby my dogs is a heartwarming and educational story about two puppies and a family that learns to love and care for them. The book encourages children to develop empathy and responsibility through pet care and is perfect for storytime readings, workshops, or interactive sessions with young readers.
As a passionate advocate for children’s literacy and storytelling, I would love the opportunity to read my book. I believe my participation would contribute positively to your festival’s children’s programming.
Please let me know if there are available slots or how I can formally apply to be included. I would be honored to be part of your celebration of literature and learning.
Thank you