The main focus of the Franschhoek Literary Festival over the past five years has been on South African authors and stories. This year, many of the events on the programme cover different dimensions of local life.
From the Press Release:
“Peter Godwin (The Fear), James Clelland (Deeper Than Colour) and Jacques Pauw (Little Ice Cream Boy) take us back to ugly times in Southern Africa’s recent history in Bush Wars, conducted by former political journalist and author Edyth Bulbring. In Letters to South Africa (the title of a recent Umuzi book) Stellenbosch English professor Leon de Kock and some of the poets and rappers included in the book discuss and perform their South African versions of Allan Ginsberg’s famous poem Letter to America. In 1994 And All That Peter Harris (Birth), Carmel Rickard (Thank You, Judge Mostert) and Jonny Steinberg (Little Liberia) will tell behind-the-scenes stories about the lead-up to our first democratic election, with John Maytham in the chair. Durbs by the Sea has eThekwini writers Imraan Coovadia (High Low In Between), Barbara Trapido (Frankie & Stankie) and Shubnum Khan (Onion Tears) talking to satirist Ndumiso Ngcobo (Some of my Best Friends are White) about their ties with their Indian Ocean home town. Staying with the Sharks, Lindy Stiebel of the University of KwaZulu Natal will be presenting two free talks about the KZN Literary Trails, of which she is co-ordinator. In Writing Madiba Tim Couzens (coordinating editor of Conversations With Myself), Anna Trapido (Hunger for Freedom) and Mike Nicol (Mandela: the Authorised Portrait) discuss the challenges of writing about and collating the writings of our world icon Nelson Mandela, chaired by Max du Preez who is writing the Rough Guide. Press Freedom — The Write to Know will cover one of the hottest topics in SA, with Carmel Rickard (Thank You, Judge Mostert), Pearlie Joubert (former Mail & Guardian journalist and now a freelancer) and ex-Sunday Times editor Mondli Makhanya sounding off to media man Justice Malala. Does Mzansi mean our place, our country, our nation, or what? Karabo Kgoleng will be thrashing out the Mzansi concept on Sunday morning with Khaya Dlanga (In my Arrogant Opinion), Sifiso Mzobe (Young Blood) and Max du Preez (Pale Native). In Oh Cape Town! My Cape Town! novelists Rayda Jacobs (Joonie) and Henrietta Rose-Innes (Homing) and poet Gus Ferguson talk to Karin Schimke about capturing the Mother City and her foibles… The FLF is presented in association with Porcupine Ridge Wines and the Sunday Times, and is further made possible through the generosity of Franschhoek guest house owners and voluntary workers who give their time and energy to make it an event to remember. Ticket proceeds and other donations go towards the FLF Library Fund. The full FLF programme is available on www.flf.co.za. Bookings are open and tickets can be booked on www.webtickets.co.za. Ticket prices remain unchanged at R60 per event, unless otherwise indicated.”
