The Children’s Programme of the Book Fair involved school children from Diepkloof, Soweto and the inner-city in a wide range of activities. The workshops emphasised indigenous knowledge, traditional games and education, inspiring the children through readings and the joy of dance, games, oral narratives, poetry, and the creation of fan-zines. Thembi Majombozi from Africa One Education Enterprise, ran a child authors workshop attracting an attentive audience to listen to the chilren’s short stories and poems. Kerrie Barlow of Jacana Media read from the book “uNyama no Nyamazane” while the pupils created their own rock art painting. Nthabiseng Sibanda presented educational material from Puo Educational Products
The Soweto-based women collective, Mmala wa Sebilo, brought indigenous games to the crowd. The sessions were joyous, energetic and full of key lessons, with children dancing away stories, engaged in narratives and the joy of creativity. Girls from Venda and Meadowlands recited poetry of trauma, loss and love. Museum Africa felt like a village ceremony of sorts. Young adults were taught about author’s rights, and mentors Natalia Molebatsi and Raphael D’abdon provided in the Hungry Words Writing Circles passionate hands on participation, empowering the youth at the Jozi Book Fair
Keleketla Library’s Jabu and Ra facilitated a Fan-zine workshop. Children learnt how to bind an 8 page, A6 booklet for poems and drawings. Excited children delivered their products to their clearly surprised parents just to go back and to start another one! They kept making Zines throughout the dance and poetry sessions right until they were ushered out.