Once upon a time there was an old woman who collected books
but she couldn't read or write. She had a desire to one day encounter the contents
of books, so she diligently collected these books until they filled up a
suitcase. She took good care of them.
Her name was Nozincwadi, Mother of Books, the prolific storyteller Dr Gcina Mhlophe’s great grandmother. Mama Gcina as she is affectionately known, has done exceptionally well in bringing her great grandmother's legacy to life on local and international stages.
Every year in October, as director of the Gcinamasiko Arts and Heritage Trust, they host the Nozincwadi Storytelling and Book Festival. This is done to shine a special light on the joy of reading and the powerful art of storytelling in celebration of her birthday and this year is no different.
The Festival draws to a close in Umgungundlovu on Friday October 28 at the Bessie Head Library Gardens from 10h00 until 13h00. Learners from Pietermaritzburg-based schools and crèches have invited who have been briefed to prepare an item that will showcase their respective talents. The festival kicked off in Harding on October 21, followed by a “Nozincwadi mother of Books” book launch at Bargain Books in Musgrave on October 22.
On Dr Gcina Mhlophe’s birthday there were festivities under the Storytelling Tree in Bluff on Monday and the eShowe leg took place on October 26.
Nozincwadi Literacy Campaign was conceived in 2001 as a tribute to reading and writing in South Africa and has travelled to the most remote areas of the country, promoting reading and inspiring future young writers. The story of Nozincwadi is such that young and old people will be drawn in and the book packages given away during this ongoing “reading road show". Let’s all enjoy our Oral Storytelling Tradition as well as great literary wealth for children, youth and recently literate adults.
Nozincwadi's mission is to reignite and promote the pleasure of reading and promote South African and African authors. To encourage young people to start creating their own stories and their own books so they can have a say in the future of writing and reading in this country. The Literacy Campaign has distributed books in communities that would otherwise have no access to books.
Nozincwadi Storytelling and Book Festival 2022 is brought to you by Gcinamasiko Arts and Heritage Trust in collaboration with eThekwini Parks, Recreation and Culture, Umlalazi Municipality, Umuziwabantu Municipality, Nature Environment Independent Filmmakers, Msunduzi Library Services and Hot Toffee Communications“Until we see a brighter future in our children’s eyes not much of what we do today has any value”. – Dr Gcina Mhlophe
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