Books & arts

fifty authors confirmed for africa book fair

2002-06-27, Issue 70

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/books/8499

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Preparations for the Africa's 100 Best Books of the 20th Century celebrations and awards presentation ceremony are on course. At least 50 of the 100 authors have confirmed their participation in the event due to be held at the Civic Centre in Cape Town. Also expected to attend are the patron of the project, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and the founding father of the project, Prof. Ali Mazrui. This event is also expected to be attended by former President Nelson Mandela and senior officials and dignitaries from UNESCO and the OAU. In his letter of acceptance, Mazrui said; "I am delighted that plans are going in full-stream ahead for the Literary Centennial Gala in Cape Town in the last week of July."

NEWS RELEASE - Please note the change of venue for the Gala dinner from Robben Island to the Civic Centre
Preparation for celebrations in Cape Town on course
21 June 2002

Preparations for the Africa's 100 Best Books of the 20th Century celebrations and awards presentation ceremony are on course. At least 50 of the 100 authors have confirmed their participation in the event due to be held at the Civic Centre in Cape Town. Also expected to attend are the patron of the project, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and the founding father of the project, Prof. Ali Mazrui. This event is also expected to be attended by former President Nelson Mandela and senior officials and dignitaries from UNESCO and the OAU. In his letter of acceptance, Mazrui said; "I am delighted that plans are going in full-stream ahead for the Literary Centennial Gala in Cape Town in the last week of July."

Commending the organisers of the project, the Zimbabwe International Book Fair, for organising an Indaba (conference) to complement the celebrations. He described ZIBF's Indaba as an event which has always been "a major intellectual event at the Book Fair". The Indaba is being held for the 7th consecutive year. The event is usually held to preceded the Zimbabwe International Book Fair in Harare.

The Africa's 100 Best Books of the 20th Century Project was born in Harare, launched in Abuja, London and Frankfurt announced in Accra - and will be celebrated in Cape Town. It is a truly Pan-African initiative, organised by the Zimbabwe International Book Fair (ZIBF) in association with the African Publishers' Network (APNET), the Pan African Booksellers Association (PABA) and the Pan African Writers' Association (PAWA). Mazrui's vision when he challenged ZIBF to run the project at the Indaba in 1998 to was to find a way to direct the spotlight of the world on the achievements of African writers.

The jury, chaired by Professor Njabulo Ndebele, came from thirteen countries representing all the regions of Africa and from other continents. Each member had expertise in African writing and publishing. Books were considered in three categories: Children's' writing, non-fiction/scholarship and creative writing - and the final list comprises works in Afrikaans, Arabic, English, French, Gikuyu, Portuguese, Sesotho, Shona, Swahili, IsiXhosa, Yoruba and IsiZulu.

Titles were nominated by individuals and institutions from all over the world and were subjected by the jury to rigorous criteria which included, inter alia, assessment of quality, ability to provide new information or insight, continuing contribution to debate, and the extent to which a book breaks boundaries. The jury was particularly concerned to ensure that the final list would reflect a balance of regional representation, gender, historical spread and genres of writing.

A list such as this is bound to generate controversy but the Project organisers and the jury welcome debate and hope that it will lead to a re-evaluation of Africa's significant contribution to world literature. Among the books represented are several from South Africa including Country of My Skull by Antjie Krog, Life and Times of Michael K by J M Coetzee, Die Swerfjare van Poppie Nongena by Elsa Joubert, Ingqumbo Yeminyanya by A C Jordan, Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela, Native Life in South Africa by Sol Plaatje and Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton.

The celebrations to be held in Cape Town on 26th and 27th July will be attended by hundreds of Africa's best writers and their publishers and will go some way towards consolidating the spirit of the African Union and the African Renaissance.

"The choice of Cape Town as the venue for the Awards Presentation Gala demonstrates the Pan Africanism of the Project which is a public relations exercise for Africa's book industry. South Africa has diverse media and publishing houses" said Moses Samkange, Executive Director of ZIBF.

The theme of the Indaba will be 'The impact of African writing on world literature' and topics to be discussed will include 'African fiction in a world setting', ' Human rights and democracy - the writer's responsibility' and 'The African scholarly contribution to world knowledge'. Among the presenters will be Njabulo Ndebele, Ali Mazrui, Kole Omotoso, Mia Cuoto and Niyi Osundare and it is hoped that the distinguished South African authors, André Brink and Charles Van Onselen (who are both represented on the final list) will also participate, along with prominent scholars and publishers. The Indaba is to be held at the Baxter Theatre in Rosebank and the foyer of the Theatre will be given over to a book exhibition. Exhibition stands have already been booked by many local publishers as well publishers from other African countries, the United Kingdom and Europe. Both events will be open to the public - entrance to the Indaba will be by paid registration. On Saturday evening the Gala Awards Presentation ceremony, Africa's first books "Oscars", will be hosted by the City of Cape Town.


Moses Samkange
Executive Director


Zimbabwe International Book Fair
Harare Gardens
P.O. Box CY1179
Causeway
Zimbabwe
Tel: 263 4 702104, 702108, 707352, 705729, 704112
Fax: 263 4 702129
Email: information@zibf.org.zw
Website: http://zibf.org

Cape Town
Exhibition: 26 - 28 July 2002
Indaba Dates: 26 & 27 July 2002
Indaba Theme: The Impact of African Writing on World Literature
Africa's 100 Best Books of the 20th Century Awards Presentation Gala : 28 July 2002

ZIBF2002 (Harare) Theme: A Celebration of Africa's Best
Indaba Dates: 29 - 30 July 2002
Theme: The Impact of African Writing on World Literature
Focus: Africa's 100 Best Books of the 20th Century
Writers Workshop Dates: 31 July - 1 August, 2002
Book Fair Dates: 30 July - 3 August 2002
Setting up day: 29 July 2002

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