Jozi Book Fair Programme 2011

As with its two predecessors, the Jozi Book Fair 2011 activities at the book fair include:

A programme of seminars, roundtable discussions and public lectures featuring fiction and non-fiction writers from South Africa, Africa and around the world
Book launches, conversations with writers/authors, art and literature exhibitions and film screenings
Training workshops on various issues including reading and writing skills
Debates and events on Women and Literature to coincide with Women’s Month
A Children’s programme to encourage reading and writing among children

The programme outline below outlines topics, panelists, venues, dates and times for the event on the 6^th to 8^th August 2011. The programme outlined here is valid as at the time of the catalogue going to press, and may be subject to change. A final programme will be issued on the 6^th August 2011.

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To download programme schedule please click here

1. Roundtables

1.1 Xenophobia Resurgent: shame and dilemmas of anti-African sentiments among South Africa’s poor

Panelists: Janet Munakawe; tbc

Date and Time: Saturday 6^th Aug, 1130-1230

After the low intensity war against African immigrants that followed the xenophobic attacks of 2008, there is a new resurgence of xenophobia in various parts of South Africa. As in the past, the violence is concentrated against small traders from immigrant communities who trade in South Africa’s black working class townships. This discussion will explore the persistence and the depth of these anti-African sentiments, and the implications for the way South Africa is viewed in the rest of Africa.

1.2. Arab Spring – will the winds blow south?

Panelists: Michael Kaiyatsa; Naeem Jeena; Thomas Wheleer; Maria van Driel

Date and Time: Saturday 6^th Aug, 1400-1500

By far the most dramatic and far-reaching events of the last 6 to 7 months have been the wave of struggles for democracy that have swept across north Africa and the Arab world. The significance of this Arab Spring will be explored at an historical, geopolitical and human rights levels will be explored in this discussion. In particular, this discussion will look at the impact of these developments in Africa south of the Sahara. The panel will explore the possible influence of the Arab Spring on the struggles for democracy and social justice in Africa south of the Sahara.

1.3 South African Publishing – an elite project in crisis

Panelists: Frank Meintjies; Vonani Bila; Mandla Matyumza; tbc

Date and Time: Saturday 6th Aug, 1600-1700

Against the backdrop of the economic crisis, an under-resourced public library system, an under-resourced small publishers industry, low levels of literacy, rising numbers of imported book on the country’s bookshops, the closure of Exclusive Books in South Africa’s largest metropolis (Soweto), and the suspension of the Cape Town Book Fair for 2011, South African publishing is in crisis. This discussion will explore the nature of South African publishing and the sources of its current state of crisis.

1.4 Social Media, Reading and Writing

Panelists: Malaika wa Azania; Lebogang Ngwatle; Mangaliso Khonza; tbc

Date and Time: Sunday 7^th Aug, 1130-1230

The explosion of social media in the world in the last decade, and the increasing access that many young people in South Africa – and young women in particular – have to this media has revolutionised leisure, communication and relationships in general in South Africa and the world. Coming against the background of a poor education system, low levels of reading in general, the various social media platform and their forms of writing and reading raise important challenges for reading among young people. This panel will explore the implications of the explosion of social media on reading and writing in SA today.

1.5 Communities under siege: women, poverty, survival and resistance

Panelists: Sarah Mosoetsa; Maria van Driel; tbc

Date and Time: Sunday 7^th Aug, 1400-1500

South African women, and in particular black working class women, are the poorest section of the South African population, and yet they bear the burden of feeding families in a deteriorating economic environment. We see a rise in families headed by women, and a struggle for survival that strikes at the heart of communities in South Africa. This panel will explore the sources and nature of this paradox, will explore the socio-economic environment and government policies that underpin this struggle, and will also explore responses by women to the conditions in which they find themselves. The panel will be organised around a recently published book by Dr Sarah Mosoetsa, called ‘Eating from one pot’.

1. 6 Women and South African publishing: between gloss and literature

Panelists: Ellen Banda Aaku; Lerato Mogoathle;

Date and Time: Sunday 7^th Aug, 1600-1700

Women in South Africa constitute the biggest target of the magazine industry, with tens of titles published every month. Against the background of the struggle to promote reading among South Africans in general, and women in particular, this discussion seeks to explore the influences that shape South African women’s reading habits, and in particular the factors that influence how much and what black working class women read. The panel will engage the question of whether magazine reading culture makes a positive contribution to a transition to other genres in reading cultures and habits.

1.7 Freedom of Expression – journalism under siege?

Panelists: Glenda Daniels; Michael Schmidt; Kate Skinner; Ido Lekota

Date and Time: Monday 8^th Aug, 1130-1230

Against the background of political attacks against press, and debate on institutional mechanism contemplated by the ANC to control the press and the nature of freedom of expression, this discussion seeks to engage in a debate on the nature of the journalistic cadre that has been produced, and that produces news in post apartheid SA: is this cadre up to the challenge of freedom of expression in South Africa today, are they able to deal with the political pressure that comes with the structures of media ownership, the dominant political elite, and the absence of alternative for publishing in South Africa today?

1.8 Mother Earth on the brink? - Economy, society and the challenge of climate change

Panelists: Patrick Bond; tbc

Date and Time: Monday 8^th Aug, 1400-1500

The coming meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 17) in Durban later this year, and the sometimes sharp shifts in climatic conditions in various parts of the world, including South Africa, has cast the spotlight on what is probably the most important challenge facing humanity for the next century: climate change. This discussion will explore the debate on climate change, and its intersection with nature of 21^st century capitalism and its models of economy development, societyand culture. The panellists will engage on the prospects for success in Durban later this year, and on the implications of failure for the poor all over the world.

1.9 The South African Economy in Debate: the return of nationalisation and the planned economy

Panelists: Mafika Mndebele; Zuko Godlimpi; tbc

Date and Time: Monday 8^th Aug, 1600-1700

The adoption of resolutions on the nationalisation of the mines at the recent conference of the ANC Youth League, and publication of the diagnostic report of the National (or Central) Planning Commission, has rekindled the debate on the nature and future of the South African economy. Not since the publication of GEAR in 1996 has the public been in the grip of a debate on economy and society. This panel will explore the different standpoint in this debate, and will also explore the implication for the direction of the ANC in the next few years.

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2. Book Launches

2.1 Title: Go Tell the Sun

Author: Wame Molefhe

Time: 6^th Aug, 1030-1130

Venue: Board Room

2.2 Title: The Right to Mourn

Author: Masingitha Masiye

Time: 6^th Aug, 1100-1200

Venue: Conversation Room, 4^th Floor North

2.3 Title: No Land! No House! No Vote!

Author: Symphonyway Pavement Dwellers

Time: 6^th Aug, 1200-1300

Venue: Arena

2.4 Title: Rose Coloured Thoughts

Author: Wiann Janse van Rensburg

Time: 6^th Aug, 1330-1430

Venue: Arena

2.5 Title: Qabula – Poet and Organiser

Author: Khanya History Project

Time: 6^th Aug, 1330-1430

Venue: Conversation Room, 4^th Floor North

2.6 Title: Is Malema a Mugabe?

Author: Andile Mngxigtama

Time: 6^th Aug, 1500-1600

Venue: Arena

2.7 Title: The Foster Child

Author: Frankie Panaino

Time: 6^th Aug, 1500-1600

Venue: Conversation Room, 4^th Floor North

2.8 Title: Tshohang Batjha!

Author: Setsi sa Mosadi Teenagers Group

Time: 7^th Aug, 1030-1130

Venue: Arena

2.9 Title: A Tribute to our Forefathers

Author: Tholsi Mudley

Time: 7^th Aug, 1030-1130

Venue: Conversation Room, 4^th Floor North

2.10 Title: Voice of the Town Crier

Author: Themba Zulu

Time: 7^th Aug, 1230-1330

Venue: Arena

2.11 Title: Drag 17

Author: Huw Edwards

Time: 7^th Aug, 1230-1330

Venue: Conversation Room, 4^th Floor North

2.12 Title: Hard Lessons of Life and Self-healing

Author: Raphael Ogbuagu

Time: 7^th Aug, 1200-1300

Venue: Board Room

2.13 Title: A Traumatic Revenge

Author: Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Time: 7^th Aug, 1500-1600

Venue: Conversation Room, 4^th Floor North

2.14 Title: The Young Gay Guy’s Guide to Safe Gay Sex

Author: Robin Malan

Time: 7^th Aug, 1500-1600

Venue: Arena

2.15 Title: Patchwork

Author: Ellen Banda Aaku

Time: 7^th Aug, 1730-1900

Venue: Auditorium

2.16 Title: Where Angels Fear

Author: Sandile Memela

Time: 8^th Aug, 1000-1100

Venue: Arena

2.17 Title: Manservant Mysteries

Author: Lee Herman

Time: 8^th Aug, 1230-1330

Venue: Arena

2.18 Title: My Right to Write and be Read

Author: Mokutu Moeketsi

Time: 8^th Aug, 1230-1330

Venue: Conversation Room, 4^th Floor North

2.19 Title: The Way of Love

Author: Mphutlane Bofelo

Time: 8^th Aug, 1430-1530

Venue: Library Corner, 4^th Floor

2.20 Title: Launch of Forum of Activist Journalists

Host: Jozi Book Fair

Time: 8^th August, 1500 – 1600

Venue: Conversation Room, 4^th Floor North

3. Conversations and Readings

3.1 Title: Sol Plaatjie’s Contribution to African Language Literature

Panelists: Sabata Mokae

Time: 6^th Aug, 1230-1330

Venue: Conversation Room, 4^th Room North

3.2 Title: The African Humanism of Es’kia Mphahlele

Panellists: Simphiwe Sesanti

Time: 6^th Aug, 1430-1530

Venue: Arena

3.3 Title: My Dream to be Bold

Panelists: Sipho Mthathi and others

Time: 7^th Aug, 1030-1130

Venue: Board Room

3.4 Title: To be confirmed

Host: Apartheid Museum

Time: 7^th Aug, 1400 – 1500

Venue: Arena

3.5 Title: The Romance Novel in South Africa

Panelists: Romance Association of South Africa

Time: 7^th Aug, 1400-1500

Venue: Board Room

3.6 Title: Youth Unity in South Africa

Panellists: Black Wash

Time: 7^th Aug, 1430-1530

Venue: Arena

3.7 Title: Publishing in a Southern African Context

Panelists: Lesotho Publishers Association and others

Time: 8^th Aug, 1000-1100

Venue: Conversation Room, 4^th Floor North

3.8 Title: The Literature of Heritage in South Africa

Panelists: Ali Hlongwane, Kwezi Gule and others

Time: 8^th Aug, 1230-1330

Venue: Board Room

3.9 Title: New Frank Talk no 9: A conversation

Panellists: Sankara Publishing

Time: 8^th Aug, 1500-1600

Venue: Arena

3.10 Title: Children’s Literature in an African Context

Panelists: Ellen Banda Aaku and others

Time: 8^th Aug, 1500-1600

Venue: Board Room

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4. Workshops

4.1 Title: Challenges of Reading Clubs in Townships

Facilitator: Jozi Book Fair

Time: 6^th Aug, 1100-1200

Venue: Library Corner, 4^th Floor East

4.2 Title: Self-publishing in South Africa

Facilitator: Porcupine Press

Time: 6^th Aug, 1200-1300

Venue: Board Room

4.3 Title: Hip-hop as a Form of Writing

Facilitator: Thobile Disemelo

Time: 6^th Aug, 1500-1600

Venue: Board Room

4.4 Title: The Responsibility of Authors

Facilitator: Frankie Panaino

Time: 7^th Aug, 1530-1630

Venue: Board Room

4.5 Title: Creative Writing for Young Girls

Facilitator: Ellen Banda Aaku

Time: 8^th Aug, 1030-1130

Venue: Boardroom

5. Free Reading: Poetry and Short Stories

5.1 Title (s): Various

Authors: Various

Time: 6 Aug, 1430 – 1530

Venue: Library Corner, 4^th Floor East

5.2 Title (s): Various

Authors: Various

Time: 7 Aug, 1130 – 1230

Venue: Library Corner, 4^th Floor East

5.3 Title (s): Various

Authors: Various

Time: 7 Aug, 1600 – 1700

Venue: Library Corner, 4^th Floor East

5.4 Title (s): Various

Authors: Various

Time: 8 Aug, 1030 – 1130

Venue: Library Corner, 4^th Floor East

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Jozi Book Fair Programme 2011

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