Cape Town Book Fair main programme announced

THE CONTROVERSIAL, THE CLEVER AND THE QUIRKY

Controversial biographer Ronald Suresh Roberts, quirky poet Lebo Mashile, best-selling writers John van de Ruit, Wilbur Smith, Anthony Horowitz and Marian Keyes, award-winning authors Kiran Desai and Shaun Johnson, presenter and playwright Fiona Coyne plus politicians, academics and publishers are all showcased on the Main Programme at the 2007 Cape Town Book Fair (CTBF).

A comprehensive and diverse roster of events will take place between 10am and 5pm from June 16-19 in lecture halls and at exhibitor stands in the Cape Town International Convention Centre, with the 2007 CTBF theme "More than Black on White" forming the springboard for many of the scheduled discussions and debates. Four major book collections, on Nelson Mandela, Wine, 25 Best South African Reads and Science Fiction and Fantasy, will also feature associated activities ranging from wine-tasting to dialogue sessions with, amongst others, Professor Njabulo Ndebele and Ahmed Kathrada.

The CTBF also hosts the prestigious Sunday Times literary awards, which are the richest literary prizes in South Africa with R75 000 going to each winner. The finalists in the Alan Paton Non-Fiction Award - John Allen (Rabble-Rouser for Peace), Glynis Clacherty (The Suitcase Stories), Denis Hirson (White Scars), Fred Khumalo (Touch My Blood) and Ivan Vladislavic (Portrait with Keys) - will be interviewed by Sunday Times Books Editor Michele Magwood pre-award ceremony, as will the contenders for the Sunday Times Fiction Prize - Imraan Coovadia (Green-Eyed Thieves), Shaun Johnson (The Native Commissioner), Christopher Hope (My Mother's Lovers), Lewis Nkosi (Mandela's Ego), and Marlene van Niekerk (Agaat).

"We have tried to strike a balance between literary and academic events, and more mainstream activities that will appeal to a wide range of readers," says Vanessa Badroodien, Director of the CTBF. "We received excellent feedback from visitors, trade delegations, booksellers and publishers after last year's event. Using this information, we have created a programme that should offer value to everybody who attends, whether they are wanting to engage in serious discussion about the quality of local literature or be entertained by an author such as Tom Eaton."

The scope of the programme is reflected in the some of the titles of the events: "Where Wilbur Reads Tonight" features popular fiction writer Wilbur Smith; "Islam, Feminism and art of novel writing" has authors Rayda Jacobs and Imraan Coovadia in discussion; "The importance of Memory and Dialogue using the life and values of Nelson Mandela as an example" features Verne Harris and Dr Mothomang Diaho; and "Poetic Licence: Is poetry the new black?" has various poets in discussion including Lebo Mashile and Gabeba Baderoon.

The CTBF has doubled its floor space this year to accommodate the increase in exhibitors and expected visitors. In addition, larger lecture halls and presentation rooms have been booked. Visitors are advised to arrive an hour before each scheduled event. Students with valid student cards and children accompanied by an adult will be admitted for free.

The CTBF is a joint venture between the Frankfurt Book Fair and the Publishing Association of South Africa (PASA), with headline sponsorship from the Sunday Times. Last year more than 26 000 people visited the fair, which hosted 418 exhibitors from 36 countries and attracted 2000 international trade visitors.

* The Cape Town Book Fair will take place in the Cape Town International Convention Centre From June 16 to June 19, 2007. The fair will host exhibitions by publishers from Africa, Europe the United Kingdom and elsewhere. More than 300 events including readings, book launches, panel discussions and seminars will take place during the Fair. Tickets are on sale at computicket.com.

Telephone 021 418 5493 or visit http://www.capetownbookfair.com/