Programme Announcement: Time of the Writer 14 - 19 March 2016

Media release

Programme Announcement

19th Time of the Writer

14 -19 March 2016 

The Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN) has announced the lineup and programme for the Time of the Writer festival, as well as new partnerships for its 19th edition.

Ten writers from South Africa and Africa will meet for a week of stimulating literary dialogue and exchange of ideas. Audiences can engage with award-winning writers, from a variety of political and social contexts, on the creative and technical processes and perspectives which shape their writing. Evening readings and discussions will take place at 7pm at eKhaya Multi Arts Centre (KwaMashu), Ohlange High School (Inanda), Umkhumbane Hall (Cato Manor), Umlazi Cinema and Clermont Hall.

This years panel discussions couples authors whose writings share semiotic marrow and are loosely titled after books and papers that echo their literary sentiment.

The evening panels are:

The Madness of History – Tuesday 15th March (eKhaya Multi Arts Centre -KwaMashu)

Ashwin Desai and Mishka Hoosen will have a conversation on the importance of retrospective meditations on self, historical figures and the family. 

Why Must a Black Writer Write About Blackness? – Wednesday 16th March (Ohlange High School)

In this Dany Laferrière inspired panel discussion Panashe Chigamudzi and Eusebius McKaiser share their experiences as writers who write without curiosity’s gaze.

They Write What They Like – Thursday 17th March (Umkhumbane Hall - Cato Manor)

Crossing the borders from short stories to novellas to poetry to essays, writer Niq Mhlongo gives insight into his unique take on the world across genres and mediums.

Tuning In... – Friday 18th March (Umlazi Cinema)

Writing for listeners is an art that requires its own stage, a stage of which Christa Biyela and Mandla Ndlovu are accomplished masters. These two audio drama maestros open their lyrical vaults and with it the history and depth of the Zulu audio drama. 

The Alchemy of Fiction – Saturday 19th March (Clermont Hall)

How pliable is truth? Can one measure the elasticity of the human imagination and if pushed, would one ever erase the self from one’s own story? In this panel, musician turned author Nakhane Touré and Nikhil Singh discuss the roles fantasy, biography and imagination play in the erection of the worlds they create. 

As part of the festival’s focus on decolonizing South African literature the festival will gather leading voices from every facet of literature in the areas of writing, editing, publishing, translation, marketing, bookselling and promotion (including events), to interrogate the central question of how to go about decolonising literature in South Africa, from writing to readership.

Conversations that Matter is a daytime programme of roundtable discussions, led by experts across the various fields of literature, that provides a space for people to share and contribute towards this vital topic ofdecolonisation within literature.

The following topics will be under discussion during the day from 11am.

Conversations That Matter: The Book & Knowledge Production – Tuesday 15th March 2016 (KwaMashu Library)

Writers Niq Mhlongo, Panashe Chigamudzi, TO Molefe, Percy Zvomuya, Nakanjani Sibiya and poet Mputlane wa Bofelo meet to expose the landmines that await writers who render text that challenges literary traditions and their inherent exclusion of certain voices.

Conversations That Matter: The Book & GateKeepers – Wednesday 16th March 2016 (Ohlange Library)

To probe the accessibility of literary institutions and the tribulations of those tasked with creating that access, this conversation culls from the experiences of both publishers and distributors. Has the South African literary landscape shifted to accommodate previously poorly documented and valued contributions? Which attitudes delay decolonising access? To open the discussion are Prof. Sihawu Ngubane, Thabiso Mahlape, Kholeka Mabeta, Duduzile Mabaso, Mandla Matyumza, Siphiwo Mahala.

Conversations That Matter: The Book & Readership – Thursday 17th March 2016 (UmKhumbane Hall – Cato Manor)

To explore questions on readership often posed to booksellers, librarians and festival organisers are Cedric Sissing (Adams Books), Benjamin Trisk (Exclusive Books), Fortescue Helepi (African Flavour Books), Sinenhlanhla Buthelezi (Goethe Library), Tebogo Mzizi (eThekwini Municipality Libraries), Mignon Hardie (FunDza Literacy Trust), Frankie Murrey (Open Book Festival), Dr. Maria Van Driel (Jozi Book Fair) and Jennifer Platt (Sunday Times). This conversation draws on the challenges of pricing, public expectations and historical misconceptions on reading cultures in South Africa.

Conversations That Matter: The Book & Language – Friday 18th March (Umlazi Library)

An interrogation of the notion of linguistic hierarchies in print media, literature and academic institutions requires contributions from academics and cultural producers whose careers are dedicated to the preservation and promotion of marginalized languages. This conversation will be initiated by Eric Ngcobo, Dr. Mpho Monareng, Dr. Gugu Mazibuko, Dr. Pamella Maseko, Prof. Nobuhle Hlongwa and Wangui Wa Goro.

Conversations That Matter: The Book & Intersectionality – Saturday 19th March 2016 (Qashane Library)

As a result of recent shifts in the quality of contributions produced outside the academy, the topic of Intersectionality has relocated academics and social commentators alike. The youth are proving to be the aorta of the argument and keeping pulse with contemporary readings on Intersectionality demands the voices of those who bravely tackle this pertinent and inflammatory subject. To open the discussion are Eusebuis McKaiser, Milisuthando Bongela, Nakhane Toure, Lindokuhle Nkosi, Mputlane Wa Bofelo, Mbali Matandela and Zethu Matebeni.

The 19th edition of the festival is presented in partnership with various organisations including the eThekwini Municipality Libraries department whose involvement supports the community engagement programme of the festival by hosting Conversations that Matter in public libraries.

All events are FREE to library or student cardholders. For members of the public without either card, a nominal fee of R20 will be requested at the box office from one hour before the event. The eThekwini Municipal Libraries along with The Centre for Creative Arts will be on hand at each venue in order to aid those without library cards to sign up for one on the spot, all that it requires is a valid ID document and proof of residence.

For more details about this years' Time of the Writer, visit the www.cca.ukzn.ac.za  or call (031) 260 2506.

Organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (University KwaZulu-Natal), the 19th Time of the Writer is supported by eThekwini Municipality, the National Department of Arts and Culture Alliance Française de Durban. The Centre for Creative Arts is housed in the College of Humanities at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is a special project of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cheryl Potgieter.

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19th Time of the Writer 14 - 19 March 2016

19th Time of the Writer

14 - 19 March 2016

The Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN) is proud to announce a change in venues and a special programme for the 19th Time of The Writer, which takes place from 14 to 19 March in Durban, under the theme Decolonising the Book.

A nationwide conversation on inclusiveness in the South African literature landscape began at the 2015 edition of Time of the Writer, sparked off by South African writer Thando Mgqolozana. In order to provide a platform for conversation and debate on this issue, this year’s edition of the festival will gather the leading voices from every facet of literature in the areas of writing, editing, publishing, translation, marketing, bookselling and promotion (including events), to deliberate on the salient issues pertinent to the transformation and growth of literature in South Africa. This theme aims to interrogate the central question of how to go about decolonising literature in South Africa, from writing to readership.

Conversations that Matter is a daytime programme of roundtable discussions, led by experts across the various fields of literature, that provides a space for people to share and contribute towards this vital topic. The nightly evening panels will then feature a summative discussion on the day’s deliberations.

The 19th edition of the festival is presented in partnership with the eThekwini Municipality Libraries department in whose libraries the day programme will take place.

This year’s edition of the festival features a shift in venue for the evening panels as each day the festival will take place in a different location across the surrounding areas of Durban; venues are located in Clermont, Cato Manor, Umlazi, Inanda and KwaMashu.

“We are very excited about the plans for this year’s festival, which came about as a result of a growing call from within the literary world and South Africa as whole for increased diversity, access and inclusiveness. The Centre for Creative Arts would like to acknowledge one of South Africa’s leading writers Thando Mgqolozana who has been very vocal about change in our society and has assisted in the programming of this edition of the festival,” says Tiny Mungwe, festival manager at the Centre for Creative Arts. “The change is very big for us and by breaking from years of tradition we will have another set of operational challenges, but it is something we believe is absolutely crucial for the festival and for the face of literature in South Africa if we are to effect some kind of shift in our thinking.”

The line-up of writers and venues will be announced in a few weeks time.

All events FREE to library or student cardholders. For members of the public without either card, a nominal fee of R20 will be requested at the door one hour before the event.

For more details about this years' Time of the Writer, visit the festival web page or call (031) 260 2506

Organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (University KwaZulu-Natal), the 19th Time of the Writer is supported by the City of Durban, the National Department of Arts and Culture, The Goethe-Institut and Alliance Francaise Durban. The Centre for Creative Arts is housed in the College of Humanities at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is a special project of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cheryl Potgieter.

19th Time of the Writer - Schools Short Story Competition

19th Time of the Writer

14 - 19 March 2016

Schools Short Story Competition

The 19th Time of the Writer hosted by the Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal invites South African high school learners to submit their short stories for the annual Schools Short Story Competition by Friday 26 February 2016.

Held in conjunction with the Time of the Writer Festival, the Schools Short Story Competition is open to all South African high school learners and aims to encourage creative expression in young people while functioning as a springboard for the future writers of South Africa. With the festival’s long standing commitment toward nurturing a culture of reading and writing, this competition has received a wide appeal that continues to grow with each edition of the festival.

Winners will be awarded cash prizes, book vouchers and complimentary tickets to the festival.

The Time of the Writer takes place from 14-19 March 2016. As one of the country’s longest running literature festivals, Time of the Writer brings together some of the best authors, publishers, and editors from around the world, while focusing on providing a platform to KwaZulu-Natal talent.  In addition to the nightly showcases at the various community based venues, the festival also organises a broad range of free daily activities including an educational and entertaining programme of workshops, reading sessions and panel discussions. This includes engagement with teachers, on the implementation of literature in the classroom and with members of the public interested in literature as well as visits to schools by the festival participants.

For more information on the festival or the competition, go to www.cca/ukzn.ac.za or contact the Centre for Creative Arts on 031 260 2506/1816 or email:  schools@cca-ukzn.co.za

Terms and Conditions

·       The competition is open to all South African high school students.

·       There is no particular topic for the short stories.

·       The short stories can be written in English or isiZulu.

·       Illegible entries will not be considered (Typed entries preferred).

·       Short stories are to be a maximum of 5 pages in length.

·       Deadline for submissions is 26 February 2016. (16:00)

How to Enter

Entries can be submitted by one of the following methods:

Email: schools@cca-ukzn.co.za

Fax: 031 260 3074

Hand Delivery: Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, Mazisi Kunene Avenue, Durban, 4041, South Africa

All entries must include:

·       Name of School (Contact and physical address)

·       Name of submitter (Grade, age and contact details)

·       Ensure that all pages are numbered.

Organised by the Centre for Creative Arts(University KwaZulu-Natal), the 19th Time of the Writer is supported by the City of Durban, the French Institute of South Africa and Alliance Française, the KZN Department of Arts and Culture and the National Department of Arts and Culture and the Goethe-Institut. The Centre for Creative Arts is housed in the College of Humanities at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is a special project of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cheryl Potgieter.

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CAPTION:

Last year’s schools’ short story competition winners.

Book Day @Time of the Writer

Book Day @Time of the Writer

The Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN) presents the 18th Time of the Writer from 16-21 March. This festival will be hosting a day-long programme with a focus on both aspiring writers and bibliophiles, aptly named, the Time of the Writer “Book Day” at the Open Plan Studio on Saturday, March 21 from 10:00- 14:30. The programme will feature a creative writing workshop, a range of publishing workshops, book launches and a storytelling programme for the kids by the Gcinamasiko Arts and Heritage Trust.

Open Plan Studio is a combined office, art, photo studio and event space situated on the 4th floor of a newly renovated light industrial building now known as The Design Factory that overlooks some of Durban’s most iconic features such as; the Lion Match Factory, both Kings Park and Moses Mabhida stadium, the Stables, Durban Club and the ocean beyond that. Through this conversion into studio space, Open Plan aims to become a new creative hub and precinct in the city of Durban.

Book Launches: There will be a number of book launches featuring a rich and varying lineup of books from local authors including: A Piece of Cake by Cecil Levin, Everyday Matters by Margaret Daymond, How to Teach Your Baby in the Womb by Hamza Moleleki, Letters to My Native Soil- Lewis Nkosi Writes Home by Lindy Stiebel, Poetry Potion Dear SA – Vol. 3, No. 8 by Poetry Potion, Rusty Bell by Nthikeng Mohlele, The Dream House by Craig Higginson and What About Meera by ZP Dala.

Publishing Forum: With publishing as one of the fundamental elements in the growth of a local literary culture, a rich line-up of speakers will participate in the Publishing Forum at this years’ Time of the Writer festival. The programme comprises various topics, including publishers discussing the publishing landscape, contemporary South African publishing, the process of compiling an editorial from contributors, and the process of self-publishing.

Creative Writing Workshop: An open workshop and discussion focusing on creative writing by three festival participants - Imraan Coovadia, Thando Mgqolozana and Craig Higginson

Storytelling with the Gcinamasiko Arts and Heritage Trust: The GAHT is founded on the success of its founding member, internationally renowned playwright, actress and storyteller, Gcina Mhlophe. The purpose of the GAHT edutainment is to promote a culture of reading and writing through skills-transfer workshops and performances at schools, the approach of the organization is to expose young emerging writers and performers at schools and communities to established writers and storytellers, so that they can learn skills from these well-known artists.

For more information contact the Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal (031) 260 2506/1816 or  info@cca-ukzn.co.za. For the full programme go to www.cca.ukzn.ac.za or like the Facebook page: 18th Time of the Writer.

Organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal) the 18th Time of the Writer, festival is made possible by support from our funders; the National Department of arts and Culture, eThekwini Municipality's Parks, Recreation and Culture Unit, the Goethe-Institut, the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and Adams Booksellers as well as support from our partners; Pan Macmillan, Daily News, Computicket and the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre. The Centre for Creative Arts is housed in the College of Humanities at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is a special project of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cheryl Potgieter.

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Flatfoot Dance presents "days like these"

Media Release

Flatfoot Dance Company presents “days like these”

Durban’s inimitable Flatfoot Dance Company begins its 12th year in 2015 with a full blown performance season of innovative dance to lure, cajole, amuse, provoke and sheer-out entertain audiences. “Days like these” has a one week run at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from the 25 to 29 March 2015.

Always looking for new challenges, award-winning Durban based choreographer, Lliane Loots has delved into the theatre making methodologies of Verbatim Theatre to create “days like these”. Verbatim theatre, sometimes referred to as Documentary Theatre, asks the playwright to gather live testimony and the spoken word of real people to construct the dialogue of a drama. In this way the resultant theatre work achieves a degree of authenticity and truthfulness that allows real people a voice. With a history going back to the 60s, Verbatim Theatre has a long trajectory in creating edgy political theatre where these methodologies help create social dialogue.

Loots’s fascinating with Verbatim Theatre sparked and interest to see if there could be cross-over into contemporary dance. As Loots says; “the way that I work is essentially verbatim in that I am constantly asking the dancers to bring their own life experience – through their bodies – into the work we make. As a choreographer I have always thought of myself as a type of ‘collector of stories’; some of them are my own but others come from the dancers who I am working with”.

In “days like these”, Loots has asked the six resident FLATFOOT dancer and co-collaborators on this dance work (Sifiso Majola, Tshediso Kabulu, Sifiso Khumalo, Jabu Siphika, Julia Wilson and Zinhle Nzama) to go even deeper into this physical and spoken word storytelling and after a two week intensive and deeply personal workshop process around memory gathering, Loots then only set out to create the choreography around what she calls “a dance theatre work that takes everyday memories and begins to celebrate the sacred of what we all might feel is the commonplace of our lives”. She goes on to say, “what has resulted is an incredibly tender and beautiful interior dancescape that – for me anyway – will poignantly remind an audience of what it means to be human; and to be an African”.

Loots asked the dancers to dig for memories around three specific topics; food, politics and love/loss. As the process of re-membering went, Loots explains, “we sat with each other sometimes laughing till we cried and sometimes growing silent in a shared space of pain and solidarity. I am reminded again that the deeper we dig into the personal as artists, the more profoundly political our voices become”.

“days like these”, sees Loots return to a long time artistic partnership with award winning Durban theatre and filmmaker, Karen Logan. Logan’s videoscape for “days like these, sits at the heart of the work as it was her task to capture, verbatim, the final memories and stories collected.

Logan says, “working on “days like these” has me seriously excited. It’s always inspiring to work with Lliane Loots and the Flatfooters - this work in particular is meaty and uncompromising and is taking new leaps with the integration of the AV on multiple levels and surfaces and the melting of boundaries between documentary and dance. I think the results will be mesmerising, befitting the very personal layers of narrative that each dancer has woven into the work”.

“days like these” also features the subtle and imaginative lighting design of Wesley Maherry whose challenge was not only to help support the manifold projections, but to also find a way to light the dance that helped the stories unfold.

“days like these”, works with multiple projections and light, and as the images, the voices and the dancing bodies begin – in truth and vulnerability - to layer the stage space, so the remarkable magic of dance theatre starts to happen. We are reminded, in “days like these”, of the need for art and dance, to urge us, as audience, to unbury our own stories. Loots began this work in a response to Nigerian writer, Ben Okri’s comment;

"There is not a single person who is not touched by the silent presence of stories. A nation is as healthy and confident as the stories they tell themselves. Without fighting, stories have won over more people than all the great wars put together. The universe began as a story. Only those who have lived, suffered, thought deeply, loved profoundly, know joy and the pain of life, tell truly wonderful stories. Africa breathes stories."

Thursday’s performance (26 March @ 7.30pm) features a special after show “DANCE TALKS BACK” hosted by awarding winning arts journalist Adrienne Sichel in conversations with Loots and the dancers. This is a unique opportunity to listen to the dancers and choreographers unpack and answer questions about their work. Sichel comes to Durban as a guest from The Ar(t)chive at the Wits School of Arts.

Bookings are now open via Computicket. Ticket prices are R85 for adults, R50 for students/learners and pensioners. Block bookings of 10 or more people is also at R50 per ticket. 

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For more Information, interviews and pictures please contact:

Sharlene Versfeld
Mobile: +27 (0) 83 326 3235
Tel: +27 (0) 31 811 5628
Email: sharlene@versfeld.co.za
Website: www.versfeld.co.za

Time of the Writer Festival Evening Panels and Programme

Media Release

Time of the Writer - Evening Panels - Programme

A select group of 20 writers from South Africa and Africa will gather together for a week of thought provoking literary dialogue and exchange of ideas at the Time of the Writer Festival from Monday (March 16)the opening night  untilSaturday (March 21) next week.

Audiences can expect to hear the opinions of multiple award winning writers, from a wide variety of political and social contexts, on the creative and technical processes and perspectives which shape their writing. Evening readings and discussions will take place at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre (Howard College Campus) beginning at 7pm each evening.

Tuesday, 17 March

Female Narratives

The first panel of the festival pairs two South African authors as they discuss with the challenges and opportunities faced by female authors in the modern landscape and unpack the female narratives in their writing.

Z.P Dala (South Africa) is a therapist and full-time writer. Dala has been included on the 2015 Goodreads Sunday Times list of Top Novelists to look out for in 2015.

Kirsten Miller (South Africa) has published short stories in six collections, a short play, a children’s book, and was a finalist in the SA PEN literary award three times. She held a dual career as a freelance writer and in early intervention for Autism for many years. She also worked as a Drama lecturer, a Creativity lecturer and a dolphin trainer early in her career.

The panel will be facilitated by UKZN research and PhD student Alan Muller.

Writing Without Permission

In the face of growing censorship across the world, Time of the Writer brings together two fearless authors with reputations for tapping into hard truths no matter the consequences.

Jacob Dlamini (South Africa) holds a PhD from Yale University. Having previously worked as a journalist and was the political editor of Business Day newspaper. He is the winner of the University of Johannesburg’s Creative Writing Debut Prize for his book Native Nostalgia.

Mzilikazi wa Afrika (South Africa) is a multi-award winning journalist working for the SundayTimes investigations unit in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Bushbuckridge born scribe was awarded two international scholarships to study in the UK and USA for the recognition of his outstanding achievements in the field of journalism.

Scholar and activist Jackie Shandu will facilitate the panel.

Wednesday, 18 March

Telling Stories, Bridging Divides

This panel highlights the power of literature to transcend borders and cultures, Telling Stories, Bridging Divides highlights two authors who have reached audiences beyond their regions through their stories being translated as well as the telling of stories that transcend borders.

Born in Bassala, Ousmane Diarra (Mali) is a storyteller, poet, novelist and author of many children’s books.

M.J Mngadi (South Africa) was the recipient of the SALA (S.A.) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009 for lifelong dedication to African and World literary excellence. Whilst employed at the Commissioner’s office as an Interpreter/Clerk Mngadi spent his spare time reading books and learning Authorship and Freelance Journalism.

Head of the French Department of University of KwaZulu-Natal Bernard De Meyer will facilitate the discussion.

Murder, She Wrote

With the rise in popularity of crime novels coming out of South Africa, this panel brings together two established female authors with the focus on this burgeoning genre.

Charlotte Otter (South Africa) is a writer living in Germany, where she works as a corporate communicator in the IT industry. Otter’s first novel, Balthasar’s Gift, which is crime fiction set in her home town of Pietermaritzburg, was published to critical acclaim.

Books editor for the Witness Margaret von Klemperer (South Africa) was arts editor of the newspaper for 16 years until she decided to give up full time work and see whether she could write a publishable book. She was born in Britain but has lived in Pietermaritzburg for more than 40 years.

This panel will be facilitated by PhD student Olivier Moreillon.

 Thursday, 19 March

Letters From Zimbabwe

The festival shifts its gaze north bringing together two of Zimbabwe’s new generation of authors to provide insight and perspective on the stories of Zimbabwe, often told from the diaspora.

Multiple award winner, NoViolet Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) shortlisted for the Man Booker prize for her novel entitled We Need New Names.

Sue Nyathi (Zimbabwe) began writing at the tender age of 10 and nurtured this passion through her teenage years.  Holder of a Master’s Degree in finance, Nyathi is a freelance writer, scriptwriter and a novelist.

Poet, author and activist Menzi Maseko will facilitate the panel.

Blurring the Lines- Memoir and Fiction

This panel brings together two prolific authors who sometimes channel real life experiences, to create honest pieces of work that tread the fine line between reality and fiction.

Nthikeng Mohlele (South Africa) was listed by Bloomsbury Publishing, Hay Festival and Rainbow Book Club among the 39 most promising authors under the age of 40 from sub-Saharan Africa and the diaspora.

Growing up in the streets of Makhado town, reformatory school and maximum security prisons,Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho (South Africa)was released from prison on 11 November 2010, He went on to become  a writer, poet, freelance journalist and has also authored a novel, The Violent Gestures of Life.

This panel will be facilitated by Sunday Tribune senior journalist Nathi Olifant.

Friday, 20 March

Written in the Margin

Written in the Margin; highlights the untold stories of marginalised South Africans often forgotten in classic and popular literature, taking an audience into worlds overlooked.

Author and journalist Carol Campbell (South Africa) has worked in print media for 24 years and during that time covered South Africa’s transition to democracy in 1994 going on to win a British Council award for education reporting the following year.

Futhi Ntshingila (South Africa) is a former Sunday Times journalist and recipient of the 2004 Vodacom Journalist of the Year Editor’s Choice Award, with a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism at Rhodes University and Master’s Degree in Conflict Resolution at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Her work deals with women who are in the peripheries of society whose stories have been historically ignored.

Senior Sunday Times journalist Matthew Savides will facilitate the panel discussion. 

Words Weaving Worlds

This panel focuses on the power of words to create in-depth pieces of fiction that mirror the complexities of real life experiences.

Ekow Duker (South Africa) is an oil field engineer turned banker turned author with a heartfelt passion for writing. He is the author of two novels White Wahala and Dying in New York whichwere published simultaneously in July 2014.

Thando Mgqolozana (South Africa) is a novelist and screenwriter. His novel A Man Who Is Not a Man was long-listed for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, and was adapted for screen into Ibhokhwe (The Goat), which won the Best Short Film and Best Director of a Short Film awards at the Independent Mzansi Short Film Festival in 2014.

Publisher and photographer Russell Grant will facilitate the panel.

Saturday, 21 March

Shapeshifting- Form and the Modern Writer

The festival brings two chameleon-like authors who aren’t hampered by the boundaries of traditional mediums. Both panelists are known for their ability to produce work across platforms and genres – theatre, screen and novel - to bring their stories to the world.

Author and filmmaker Dilman Dila (Uganda) has been shortlisted for the prestigious Commonwealth Short Story Prize (2013), twice long listed for the Short Story Day Africa prize, and nominated for the 2008 Million Writers Awards.

Internationally acclaimed author and playwright Craig Higginson (South Africa) was born in Zimbabwe and has lived in London, Stratford-upon-Avon, Paris and currently resides in Johannesburg. He is the recipient of the Sony Gold Award for the Best Radio Drama in the UK, the UJ Award for South African Literature in English and the Naledi Award for Best South African play.

The panel discussion will be facilitated by writer and critic Sihle Mthembu.

The Writer is the Witness

The final panel of the festival brings together two respected South African writers as they journey through our past, bringing a fresh perspective on well-known realities told through fiction.

Imraan Coovadia (South Africa) is a writer and director of the creative writing programme at the University of Cape Town. His novel The Institute for Taxi Poetry (2012) is the winner of the M-Net Prize.

Growing up in KwaMashu Township, Mandla Langa (South Africa) received his BA at the University of Fort Hare. In 1991, he became the first South African to be awarded an Arts Council of Great Britain Bursary for Creative Writing. His diverse work includes penning an opera, Milestones, with music composed by jazz musician Hugh Masekela.

The Writer is the Witness, will be facilitated by City Press KwaZulu-Natal Bureau Chief and investigative journalist Paddy Harper.

Ticket prices are R25 for the evening sessions and R10 for students on presentation of a student card. Workshops, seminars and book launches are free of charge. Book through Computicket Tel: 0861 915 8000 or 011 340 8000 or online at online.computicket.com or at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from 18h00.

Organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal) the 18th Time of the Writer, festival is made possible by support from our funders; the National Department of arts and Culture, eThekwini Municipality's Parks, Recreation and Culture Unit, the Goethe-Institut, the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and Adams Booksellers as well as support from our partners; Pan Macmillan, Daily News, Computicket and the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre. The Centre for Creative Arts is housed in the College of Humanities at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is a special project of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cheryl Potgieter.

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For more information contact:

 Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal

 Tel: +27 31 260 2506/1816

Fax: +27 31 260 3074

Email: info@cca-ukzn.co.za

18th Time of the Writer - Schools Short Story Competition

18th Time of the Writer - Schools Short Story Competition

The 18th Time of the Writer, International festival of writers, hosted by the Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal invites South African high school learners to submit their short stories for the annual Schools Short Story Competition section of the festival, by Friday 27 February.

Held in conjunction with the Time of the Writer festival, the Schools Short Story Competition section is open to all South African high school learners and aims to encourage creative expression in young people while functioning as a springboard for the future writers of South Africa. With the festival's long standing commitment toward nurturing a culture of reading and writing, this competition has received a wide appeal that continues to grow with each edition of the festival.

Winners will be awarded cash prizes, book vouchers and complimentary tickets to the festival.

The Time of the Writer takes place from 16-21 March 2015. As one of the country's longest running literature festivals, Time of the Writer brings together some of the best authors, publishers, and editors from around the world, while focusing on providing a platform to KwaZulu-Natal talent.  In addition to the nightly showcases at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre the festival alsoorganisesa broad range of free daily activities including an educational and entertaining programme of workshops, reading sessions and panel discussions. This includes the Educator's Forum with teachers, on the implementation of literature in the classroom; the Community Writing Forum with members of the public interested in literature as well as visits to schools by the festival participants. The 18th Time of the Writer will also include a Storytelling Focus in partnership with Gcinamasiko Arts & Heritage Trust.

For more information on the festival or the competition, contact the Centre for Creative Arts on 031 260 2506/1816 or email:schools@cca-ukzn.co.za

The competition is open to all South African high school students.Terms and Conditions

• There is no particular topic for the short stories.
• The short stories can be written in English, Afrikaans or isiZulu.
• Illegible entries will not be considered (Typed entries preferred).
• Short stories are to be a maximum of 5 pages in length.
• Deadline for submissions is 27 February 2015.

How to Enter

Entries can be submitted by one of the following methods:

Email:  schools@cca-ukzn.co.za

Fax: 031 260 3074

Hand Delivery: Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, Mazisi Kunene Avenue, Durban, 4041, South Africa

All entries must include:

1. Name of School (Contact and physical address)
2. Name of submitter (Grade, age and contact details)

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17th Time of the Writer International Festival of Writers 17-22 March 2014

The Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN) is proud to announce the programme for the 17th Time of The Writer: International Festival of Writers - a weeklong showcase set to provoke, inform and inspire interesting debates and panel discussions. The festival, which brings together some of the world’s finest novelist, authors and storytellers to Durban, features participants from India, Kenya, Nigeria, Botswana, Togo, and Guinea takes place from 17-22 March at the UKZN Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre. Twenty writers will be gathering for a week of literary dialogue, exchange of ideas and stimulating discussion under the theme Freeing Our Imagination in solidarity with Kenyan writer Binyavanga Wainaina’s clarion call for Africans to use their creativity to imagine and create a continent free of the existential burdens of colonialism.

Opening night (March 17) will feature all participating writers as they make brief presentations at the UKZN Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, with the first night of the festival dedicated to the late great South African thinker, academic and prolific writer, Professor Mbulelo Mzamane, a past participant of Time of the Writer. Prof Mzamane passed away on 15 February, having made his mark through his writing and scholarship with titles including The Children of Soweto, The Children of the Diaspora and other stories of Exile and Where there is no vision the people will perish: Reflections on the African Renaissance among others. Nelson Mandela described him as “visionary leader, [and] one of South Africa’s greatest intellectuals.”

The rest of the week’s evening presentations will be panel discussions with writers talking about their writing and the issues dealt with in their work.

New Voices from India

The first panel discussion of the festival on Tuesday, 18 March, entitled New Voices from India will focus on writing from the sub-continent with Indian authors Satyagit Sarna and Prajwal Parajuly. Satyagit Sarna is an author and lawyer based in New Delhi. His debut novel Angels Share, described as a love story, a political commentary, and coming-of-age novel, was published in 2012 by Haper Collins. He will be joined by Prajwal Parajuly, whose books The Gurkha's Daughter: Stories and Land Where I Flee have been lauded in international press. This panel discussion will be facilitated by author, Shubnum Khan.

Mzansi Women Voices

The second panel of the evening, entitled Mzansi Women Voices features South African writers Angela Makhlowa and Praba Moodley. Returning to Time of the Writer after her debut in 2007 Angela Makhlowa is an author and public relations consultant. She became the first black female crime author with her debut novel Red Ink. She has since published a drama novel, The 30th Candle and will be releasing her third novel later this year. Praba Moodley published her first novel The Heart Knows No Colours in 2003, which was followed up by two more novels, A Scent So Sweet (2006) and Follow Your Heart, the sequel to her debut novel. She writes for magazines and has been featured in publications such as Elle and Oprah Magazine. The panel discussion will be facilitated by author, Shafinaaz Hassim.

Writing the Policy Debate

Wednesday’s night (March 19) programme kicks off with a panel discussion titled Writing the Policy Debate, featuring South African writers and political analysts Professors Adam Habib and Paulus Zulu. As one of the country’s most recognizable political analysts and Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Witwatersrand, Professor Adam Habib has long been considered one of the most astute experts in the areas of transformation, democracy and development. He holds qualifications in Political Science from the University of Natal and Wits. He earned his master’s and doctoral qualifications from the Graduate School of the City University of New York. His latest work is the book South Africa’s Suspended Revolution.  He will be joined by Professor Paulus Zulu, author and Director of Human Sciences Research Council.  A noted writer, academic and community leader, Professor Zulu holds a PhD from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and has published extensively in the fields of politics and sociology both nationally and internationally. His latest book is entitled A Nation In Crisis. This discussion will be facilitated by Ben Fogel. 

Writing in Francophone Africa: trends and issues.

The second panel discussion of the night is entitled Writing in Francophone Africa: trends and issues. This panel discussion will look trends in Francophone literature with a discussion by authors Sami Tchak(Togo) and Tierno Monénembo(Guinea).  Togolese writer Sami Tchak won the Grand Prix of Black African Literature for the entire range of his work. He has published Femme infidèle, Lomé (1988), Place des Fêtes, (2001), Hermina (2003), La fête des masques, (2004), Le paradis des chiots, (2006), Filles de Mexico (2008). Tierno Monénembo was born in Guinea but has lived in exile in Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal before settling in France and Cuba. He has published nine novels and a stage play since 1983. Tierno Monénembo is the winner of France's 2008 prix Renaudot, which is awarded annually to the author of an outstanding original novel. He won the prize for his book, "The King of Kahel." The panel discussion will be facilitated by Bernard DeMeyer of UKZN French department and is presented in partnership with the French Institute of South Africa.

Writing the Historical Moment

Thursday night’s activities open with the panel discussion Writing the Historical Moment looks at key historical moments shaping the current South African political landscape. This panel will take the form of an in-depth interview that will feature activist, researcher and political economist Professor Patrick Bond. Bond is an academic with extensive research whose work draws from NGO work in urban communities and with global justice movements in several countries. He is currently the Director of the Centre for Civil Society at UKZN and is involved in research on economic justice, geopolitics, climate, energy and water. This panel discussion will be facilitated by Xolani Benedict Dube. 

Chronicling the Contemporary African Story

Time of The Writer has a strong history of spotlighting young talented writers dealing with contemporary topics. The festival aims to create an even greater focus on stories from the younger generation and this is highlighted in the second panel of the night. Chronicling The Contemporary African Story brings together two South Africa authors, Kgebetli Moele and Niq Mhlongo. Kgebetli Moele’s debut novel, Room 207, was published in 2006 by Kwela books and was short-listed for the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize for Best First Book (Africa) in 2007. It was the joint-winner of the Herman Charles Bosman Prize for English fiction as well as joint-winner of the University of Johannesburg Prize for Creative Writing in the debut category. His second novel, Book of the Dead received the South African Literary Award in 2010. He released his third novel Untitled-A Novel in 2013. Niq Mhlongo is a Soweto born journalist and author. Mhlongo has presented his work at key African cultural events, including the Caine Prize Workshop, and was a 2008 International Writing Program fellow at the University of Iowa.  He released his debut novel Dog Eat Dog in 2004, which has been translated into Spanish. He has since released two more novels, After Tears (2007) and the highly praised Way Back Home in 2013. The panel discussion will be facilitated by Duduzile Mabaso. 

Story-telling Programme

Understanding the rich history that storytelling carries on the continent, The Time of The Writer festival is excited to present a story-telling programme, in collaboration with the Gcinamasiko Arts & Heritage Trust, taking place on Friday, March 21. This will see two storytellers, Nomsa Mdlalose and Mshai Mwangola in a panel discussion that will look at the art of storytelling. Mdlalose is a South African storyteller with years of experience and is the Managing Director of Kwesukela Storytelling Academy with a Master’s Degree in Storytelling. Through her work at the Academy, she promotes the ancestral oral tradition as a heritage of sophistication, wisdom and philosophy. Nairobi-native Mshai Mwangola is talented performance scholar, storyteller, and oraturist. She has performed, conducted performance workshops, researched and worked with and for diverse performance ensembles and individuals in four continents with a career spanning over 25 years in acting, directing and story-telling. She is the chairperson of the Governing Council of the Kenya Cultural Centre. The panel will be facilitated by Dr. Gcina Mhlophe.

From The Mouth of Babes

The second panel of the night will focus on youth literature, From The Mouth of Babes, featuring youth literature writers, Lauri Kubuitsile (Botswana) and Khulekani Magubane (South Africa). Lauri Kubuitsile is a writer living in Botswana who has published three children’s books, two detective novellas and three collections of short stories for children co-written with two other Botswana writers. She has published three romance novels with Sapphire Press- Kwaito Love, Can He Be The One?, and Mr Not Quite Good Enough. Kubuitsile was the 2007 winner of the BTA/ Anglo Platinum Short Story Contest and the recipient of the Botswana Ministry of Youth and Culture’s Orange Botswerere Award for Creative Writing in the same year. In 2009 she won the Baobab Literary Prize (USA) in the junior category and in 2010 in the senior category. She was on the shortlist for the 2011 Caine Prize. Khulekani Magubane is a South African journalist and author. At the age of 23 has published more than 18 books in the past 8 years. Although he is a children’s author his work deals with issues such as class, race and religion. Saneliswe Ntuli will facilitate the panel discussion.

In addition, Time of The Writer and the Gcinamasiko Arts & Heritage Trust will host a special matinée for children to be held at the UKZN Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on Saturday, 22 March at 14h00 – 16h30. The matinée will feature Mdlalose and Mwangola where they will be joined by Gogo MaBhengu and Lwazi Thwala.

New African Women Writers Rising

The final day of the festival features a discussion entitled New African Women Writers Rising, will focus on the stories and work being produced by young female writers from Africa. This panel discussion will feature prolific authors, Hawa Jande Golakai(Liberia) and Chibundu Onuzo (Nigeria).  Born in Liberia, Hawa Jande Golaka moved around extensively with her family due to political and economic unrest. She lived in Togo, Ghana and Zimbabwe before coming to Cape Town as a student in 2003. She trained and worked as a medical researcher in immunology. Her first novel The Lazarus Effect is a gripping fictional drama set in Cape Town.  She will be joined by Nigerian author Chibundu Onuzo, a young author whose debut novel The Spider’s King Daughter has received critical acclaim. She has been shortlisted for this year’s Commonwealth Book Prize and the 2012 Dylan Thomas Prize as well as longlisted for the Desmond Elliot prize in the same year. This panel discussion will be facilitated by writer Sandile Ngidi. 

Finding the South African Funny Bone features South African writers, Sarah Britten and Zukiswa Wanner. Britten is a former journalist, artist and author from Johannesburg. She has been published extensively and wrote her Master’s research report on South African humour (with a focus on Madam and Eve) and has a doctorate in Applied English Language Studies. She has published three novels focussing on the colourful and unique art of South African insults, The Art of the South African Insult, McBride of Frankenmanto: The Return of the South African Insult, More South African Insults. Zukiswa Wanner is a journalist, author and blogger. Wanner’s works include The Madams: A Wildly Provocative Novel (2007), Behind Every Successful Man (2008) Men of the South (2010). Her latest work is Maid in SA: 30 Ways to Leave Your Madam (2013). She is a founding member of the ReadSA initiative, a campaign encouraging South Africans to read South African works. The panel discussion will be facilitated by writer and radio personality Ndumiso Ngcobo.

Seminars and WorkshopsIn addition to the nightly panel discussions at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, the festival’s Community Outreach programme features a broad range of day activities including seminars and workshops that aim to promote a culture of reading, writing and creative expression. The festival also conducts visits to schools, and presents a prison writing programme. Book launches take place at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre’s Wellington Tavern deck prior to the evening shows, from 18h45.

Tickets are R25 for the evening sessions, R10 for students, and can be purchased through Computicket or at the door one hour before the event. Workshops and seminars are free.

For more details about this years’ Time of the Writer, visit www.cca.ukzn.ac.za or call (031) 2602506.

Organised by the Centre for Creative Arts(University KwaZulu-Natal), the 17th Time of the Writer is supported by the City of Durban, the French Institute of South Africa, and the KZN Department of Arts and Culture. The Centre for Creative Arts is housed in the College of Humanities at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and is a special project of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cheryl Potgieter.

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Time of the Writer International Writers’ Festival Schools Short Story Competition

The 17th Time of the Writer International Writers’ Festival hosted by the Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal invites high school learners to submit their short stories for the annual Schools Short Story Competition by Thursday, 28 February 2014.

Held in conjunction with the festival, The Time of the Writer Schools Short Story Competition is open to all high school learners and aims to encourage creative expression in young people. This competition is the springboard for future storytellers of South Africa. With its long-standing commitment towards nurturing a culture of reading and writing, especially amongst the youth, this competition has received wide and growing appeal in previous editions of Time of the Writer. There is no particular topic for the short stories and they can be written in English, isiZulu or Afrikaans. A maximum of 5 pages (preferably typed) are to be written. Illegible entries will not be considered.

The Time of the Writer festival takes place from 17- 22 March 2014. As one of the country’s premier literature festivals, Time of the Writer brings together some of the world’s best authors, publishers, and editors; it also offers a platform to KwaZulu-Natal talent. The festival provides Durban with an educational yet entertaining programme of workshops, reading sessions and panel discussions. This year’s edition of the festival will also include a storytelling focus in partnership with Gcinamasiko Arts & Heritage Trust.

In addition to the nightly showcases, a broad range of free day activities including seminars and workshops are formulated to promote a culture of reading, writing and creative expression. This includes the educator’s forum with teachers, on the implementation of literature in the classroom, the community writing forum with members of the public interested in literature as well as visits to schools by the festival participants. 

For more information on the festival or the competition, please contact the Centre for Creative Arts on 031 260 2506/1816 or email cca@ukzn.ac.za.

Entries can be submitted via any one of the following methods:

Email: cca@ukzn.ac.za

Fax: 031 260 3074

Hand delivery: Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, Mazisi Kunene Ave, Durban, 4041, South Africa.

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