Friday, June 27, 2008

Imraan Coovadia in conversation with Damon Galgut at Kalk Bay Books

Kalk Bay Books & Penguin SA invite you to an authors' discussion

Imraan Coovadia
in conversation with
Damon Galgut
at the Kalk Bay Books' launch of
The Imposter*

(RSVP not necessary if you have already replied to this invitation via the Kalk Bay Books newsletter or website.)

When: Saturday 5 July 2008
Where: Kalk Bay Books, 124 Main Road, Kalk Bay
Time: 6.30 for 7pm (please note starting time)
RSVP: books@kalkbaybooks.co.za or 021 788 2266 by 4 July.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Ghost Writer, a collection of poems by Jane Fox

GHOST WRITER a collection of poems by JANE FOX published by Snailpress in its UMS series launches at Clarke’s Bookshop 211 Long Street Cape Townon Friday 4 July from 6pm

The poet will be introduced by Gus Ferguson. Wine and aqua frizzante
RSVP: snaily@pulsar.co.za or
021 762 3714 (leave message)

Jane Fox’s writing life took off when she first met her late husband and mentor, Lionel Abrahams. On his advice she tries to obviate the obvious, accentuate the positive, to be socially irrelevant, politically insignificant and hopefully unpredictable. She believes in the supreme value and spiritual dimension of the individual. She lives with children and grandchildren in an extended family home near Johannesburg.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Whiplash comes to the Book Lounge

Modjaji Books and the Book Lounge invite you to what promises to be a
fascinating discussion:

On Thursday 3rd July, 2008
At 6 for 6.30
Tracey Farren, author of "Whiplash" will be in conversation with Henry
Trotter, author of "Sugargirls and Seamen" (Jacana)
Tracey will also read a short excerpt from Whiplash and answer questions.

Whiplash is a gripping, funny, gritty story about Tess, a Muizenberg
street prostitute who changes her life in unexpected ways.

RSVP to the Book Lounge
Tel: 021 462 2425
booklounge@gmail.com

Friday, June 20, 2008

Sarah Lotz launches "Pompidou Posse" at The Book Lounge

SA PEN member members Sarah Lotz and Lauren Beukes will be involved in a further launch of Sarah's book, "Pompidou Posse" at The Book Lounge on Tuesday, 24th June 2008, 6.00 for 6.30 p.m. Lauren will be introducing Sarah and grilling her on her book, a black comic romp based on her real-life experience of living homeless in the city of lights in the 80s. RSVP to booklounge@gmail.com if you would like to attend.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

How to write a screenplay course for Kalk Bay

This course is offered by Karin Johnstone, lecturer at AFDA Filmschool, in the quaint French bakery C'est La Vie in Kalk Bay (voted by Marie Claire one of the 20 best Cafes in South Africa)

Course content
Discover all of the elements involved in writing a great Screenplay for film. In a concise one-day course, discover everything that you need to know about screenwriting for feature film.

Structuring your story
Constructing a dramatic story
What is a screenplay?
Developing characters
Script format

When
28 June 2008 - from 09:30 until 16:30

Cost:
500 Rand includes materials, Mid-morning snack and lunch, as well as coffees, teas and cool drinks

Book now as numbers are limited.
Chris 083-4123480
email: info@thetranslationagent.com

Monday, June 09, 2008

The Book Lounge hosts Rustum Kozain, Isobel Dixon and Kelwyn Sole

Wednesday, June 11, 2008
6:30pm - 7:30pm
The Book Lounge
Cnr. Roeland and Buitenkant Streets
Cape Town, South Africa

021 4622425
Email: booklounge@gmail.com

The Book Lounge provides wine, fruit juice and some snacks. The host also needs an idea of numbers for seating arrangements, so please RSVP at: booklounge@gmail.com

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Lit-blitz, dinner & jazz fund-raising gig for refugees

Some of Cape Town's finest wordmongers, cooks & musicians get it on for

Lit-blitz, dinner & jazz fund-raising gig for refugees

On Sunday June 15

Baobab Books & Joburg Country Club

host an evening of literary, musical and culinary delight

** The
Lit-Blitz ** featuring :

Lauren Beukes

Finuala Dowling

Gus Ferguson

Hugh Hodge

Sarah Lotz

Epiphanie Mukasano

Patricia Schonstein

Mary Magdalene Yuin Tal

Sam Wilson

and Klean Kut by Terry Westby Nunn

with MC Ace Raconteur Guy Willoughby

starts in Baobab Bookshop @ 6 pm & ends @ 7:30 pm

followed by a three-course African feast in Joburg Country Club with live jazz:

Andrew Ford on keyboard

Lucrecia Rodrigues on vocals

Graham Beyer on double bass

COST: Entry by donations of 30 Rand or more

Optional dinner @ R100 a head
(Please book to secure a table.)

VENUE: Baobab Mall, 210 Long Street
(opposite Adult World)

Free entry to after-party @ Joburg Bar, 218 Long Street,

featuring The Lonesharks with Dave Ferguson.

Funds raised go to the Whole World Women Association

(founded in 2002 as a self-help and support group for refugee women)

FOR FURTHER INFO & TO BOOK, CONTACT:

Tania: 0712913337/ tvs@uskonet.com OR Julie: 0834111004/ firsted@iafrica.com

WE ARE COLLECTING TINNED FOOD, BABY SUPPLIES, BLANKETS & CLOTHES ON THE NIGHT.

PLEASE BRING ANY DONATIONS.

*****************

PERFORMERS’ BIOS -- in alphabetical order:

Lauren Beukes: is the author of Moxyland, a pyrotechnic urban thriller and Maverick: Extraordinary Women from South Africa's Past. She's also the head writer at Clockwork Zoo Animation and a freelance journalist.

Graham Beyer: is a double bass player, the new Head of Music at Bergvliet High and he often plays with the likes of Jimmy Dludlu.

Finuala Dowling: is the author of two novels – What Poets Need and Flyleaf – and two volumes of poetry — I Flying (awarded the Ingrid Jonker Prize) and Doo-Wop Girls of the Universe (joint winner of the SANLAM award). She has read her poetry at international festivals both locally and overseas. Her short stories, poems and essays have appeared in several anthologies.

Gus Ferguson: Cape Town’s much-loved poet, cartoonist, cyclist and publisher. He has received numerous poetry prizes. Under the imprints Snailpress and Firfield Press, Ferguson has published 97+ collections of poetry.

Andrew Ford: is a swinging piano player, old school style. This top jazz pianist studied music for 16 years, is the owner of 2 recording studios, he's worked with many artists and conducted the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra.

Hugh Hodge: writes computer programs for a living, but poems for a life. Despite being commonly left-brained, and occasionally no-brained, Hugh writes poetry that is sometimes published. He hosts the Off-the-Wall poetry gig Mondays in Obz, and edits New Contrast.

Sarah Lotz: warps children's minds as a screenwriter for children's television and hopes to corrupt even more minds with her much anticipated, already acclaimed novel, Pompidou Posse, published by Penguin, launched on the 14th of June.

Epiphanie Mukasano: is a teacher with a Masters in English Literature, also a contributor to Living on the Fence: Poems by Women who are Refugees from Various Countries in Africa, she has performed her work at various venues, including the Spier Poetry Exchange.

Lucrecia Rodrigues: is a devilish diva-licious jazz vocalist. Listening to her iconoclastic renditions of favourite jazz classics certainly gives audience members some "fever". But, "what a lovely way to burn"! A regular act at the Grand West casino, Lucrecia has performed at various City venues including Kennedy's and the Green Dolphin.

Patricia Schonstein: is a novelist, poet and author of children's books. Her works, while being richly descriptive and opulent, question, at core, the recurrence of war and genocide. “If I have succeeded, through my novels and poetry, in highlighting the futility of war and the need to engender peace, not only among ourselves but also towards the earth and all living things; and if I have adequately described the plight of refugees, and the emotional carnage left by genocide, then I would consider these to be my greatest achievements as an author.”

Mary Magdalene Yuin Tal
: is an activist, writer and lawyer, co-ordinator of the Whole World Women Organisation, an NGO working with refugee women, as well as an editor and contributor to Living on the Fence: Poems by Women who are Refugees from Various Countries in Africa.

Guy Willoughby: Raconteur, writer and witty after-dinner mint, Guy has made plays, caused trouble and started people laughing on three continents. He is not continent. Be warned.

Sam Wilson:
is a television writer and comedian. He has written sitcoms and cartoon shows, and performed stand-up in various cities around the country. He was born in England and raised in Zimbabwe.

Klean Kut Barbing Salon:
Khayalitsha 1999: 7 minutes.

In an environment hostile to foreigners, Notemba from South Africa and Robert, a Ghanian, share not only a love for hairdressing, but also their Pan-African wisdom of integration.

Directed by Terry Westby-Nunn:
For 14 years Terry Westby-Nunn has been directing, filming, editing, and scripting. She’s worked on projects for The Nelson Mandela Foundation, the BBC, National Geographic, Discovery, the SABC, e-tv and M-Net… Her latest documentary “Tripping Down Long Street” was broadcast on SABC in 2007.

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

South African community libraries receive over R300 million

Community libraries in South Africa have been allocated R338 million for the current financial year in an effort to promote a culture of reading.

Presenting his Budget Vote on Monday, Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan announced that the national library will receive R65.3 million while national museums will receive R409.9 million.

The minister also allocated R1 million towards the building of a library in Timbuktu, Mali.

Mr Jordan explained that the donation follows the signing of a Bi-National Agreement between South Africa and Mali.

He said this stipulates commitment to fund-raising and providing assistance toward the construction of a new library and archive for the Ahmed Baba Institute.

Other aims are to assist in marketing the heritage value of the Timbuktu Manuscripts, especially their conservation.

"We are pleased to announce that a separate trust fund was set up to fund raise from private and other donors towards the realisation of this project.

"Significantly, the Timbuktu Manuscripts are the first New Partnership for Africa's Development [NEPAD] Cultural Project which requires the support of government departments, including Arts and Culture," Minister Jordan said.

Timbuktu is the historic city in Mali where ancient manuscripts dating back to the early 13th century were found.

After visiting Mali in 2001, President Thabo Mbeki pledged to assist with the restoration and conservation of the ancient manuscripts in Timbuktu, which were in poor conditions.

An inter-governmental agreement between South Africa and Mali was signed in 2002 and the project to restore the Timbuktu manuscripts was officially launched in 2003.

The project has since been declared an official South African Presidential Project and has also been endorsed by the NEPAD as its first cultural project.

The agreement expresses the two countries' commitment to undertake a government-to-government project aimed at conserving the manuscripts at the Ahmed Baba Centre and at rebuilding the library and archival infrastructure of the institute.

Speaking during the SA-Mali Timbuktu Project fundraising dinner, three years ago, President Mbeki said that African countries must contest the colonial denial of their history and initiate their own conversations and dialogues about their past.

"We need our own historians and our own scholars to interpret the history of our continent, and to undertake, with a degree of urgency, a process of reclamation and assertion," the President said at the time.