(Candice
Mama)
The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre
for Creative Arts (CCA), in partnership with eThekwini Municipality, will host
the 23rd Time of the Writer International Festival from March 16 to 21, 2020.
(Left: Fred
Khumalo)
The written word envelops Durban as South
African, African and International writers gather for a thought-provoking week
of literary dialogue, exchange of ideas and stimulating discussions. Time of
the Writer features a diverse gathering of leading novelists, social
commentators, activists, playwrights and short story writers.
(Right: Haska
Shyyan)
The festival partners with eThekwini
Municipality Libraries department to deliver a community engagement programme
that actively promotes reading and writing in four community libraries
(Craigieburn, Firwood, Mortoon and Chesterville ext). This programme involves
students, library users, librarians and community members. The day programme
also takes place in a variety of art centres and schools around Durban where
workshops and panel discussions will be hosted. The opening night, where all the
writers will be introduced, will take place at Ekhaya Multi-Arts Centre in
KwaMashu. Throughout the festival,
evening sessions will feature writers on panel discussions at the KZNSA in
Glenwood.
(Left: Keletso
Mopai)
First
confirmed writers
The festival is proud to announce the first
nine writers that will participate during Time of the Writer 2020:
-Forgiveness advocate, author and public
speaker Candice Mama (SA)
-Journalist and award-winning author Fred
Khumalo (SA)
-Writer and poet Haska Shyyan (Ukraine)
-Award-winning Ugandan fiction writer
Jennifer Makumbi (Uganda)
-Storyteller and short story author Keletso
Mopai (SA)
-Award-winning novelist Cynthia Jele (SA)
-Rwandan-born Namibian novelist, short
story writer, essayist, columnist, poet and photographer Remy Ngambije (Namibia)
-Sociologist and author Shafinaaz Hassim (SA)
-Literary critic, novelist, short story
writer and playwright Siphiwo Mahala (SA)
(Right: Cynthia
Jele. Pic Saaleha Idrees Bamjee)
Short
story competition
High school learners are encouraged to
submit their short stories for the annual short story competition held in
conjunction with Time of the Writer Festival. The competition 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 with
cash prices, book vouchers and festival tickets.
(Left: Remy
Ngambije)
Background
information
Time of the Writer is one of the largest
and longest-running literature festivals in Africa. Over the years, it has
hosted a wide variety of internationally-acclaimed thought leaders such as
Zakes Mda and NoViolet Bulawayo, from all over the world, with the main focus
on Africa.
(Right: Shafinaaz
Hassim)
In 2017, the City of Durban was awarded the
first African UNESCO City of Literature and at the fore is Time of the Writer.
Time of The Writer promotes South African and African writers in the current
cultural climate that sees literature as part of a bigger social process around
nation building and social cohesion within South Africa and our continent. This
festival has – and continues – to encourage debates and dialogue around all
forms of the spoken and written word as part of the Centre for Creative Arts’
agenda to celebrate contemporary culture and histories, both local and
international..
(Left: Siphiwo
Mahala)
The festival is made possible by the
support from eThekwini Municipality, National Department of Arts and Culture
and KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture.
To stay updated, follow @Timeofthewriter on
Twitter and Instagram or like the festival on Facebook at www.facebook.com/timeofthewriter
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