Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga to judge Graywolf Press African Fiction Prize 2023

Tsitsi Dangarembga is set to judge the manuscript entries for the US$12,000 Graywolf Press African Fiction Prize 2023. Entries are welcomed from February 1 – 28, 2023.Graywolf Press was founded with limited-edition chapbooks of poetry by Scott Walker in Port Townsend, Washington, USA in...

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Social worker mourns mother in poetry collection

The pain of losing a mother to cancer prompted United Kingdom-based social worker Nkosiyazi Kan Kanjiri to pen a poetry collection titled Looking For Mother, his debut book. Kanjiri’s mother elinah Hlongwane succumbed to cancer in 2008 the year that she was diagnosed with the deadly disease....

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Setswana novelist out to preserve language through writing

A novelist, Nkululeko Jackson, hopes that his Setswana novels will preserve the language especially among the younger generation that is slowly losing the grip on the language. The Francistown-born author says he will continue to do his part to ensure that the language does not disappear,...

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Brilliant Senegalese writer took to film making to make his writing more accessible

January 1 2023 marked the centenary of the birth of Ousmane Sembène, the Senegalese novelist and filmmaker hailed as the father of African cinema. Over the course of five decades, Sembène published 10 books and directed 12 films across three distinct periods. He has been celebrated for...

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South African readers intrigued by Prince Harry's book "Spare" as pre orders pile up

The British royal drama has been laid bare in Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, which broke sales records, selling millions during its first week on the shelves. However, once the secrets are known and there’s nothing left to read about, sales could drop. According to The Guardian, the book’s...

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Winners choose to mend - A forgiveness poem

Friendships are like tree trunks:They twist, they break, they bend.But you won't see much growing treesUnless we choose to mend.Well, what if it's your grandmother?Your neighbor or best friend?They soon could be a nobodyIf you don't choose to mend."It's not MY fault!" you shrug and scoff,"THEY...

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Poem of the day - A sadness in my soul

There’s a sadness in my soulA feeling I can’t controlThere’s a hurt in my heartAnd I don’t know where to startThe thoughts in my headHave become my daily dreadFor now I know it’s trueI cannot be with you.All the pain that I have causedOur lives being pausedThe things that have been saidKeep...

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Young writer wins publishing deal

For the young authors who won a publishing deal with the Charmza Literacy Club in Knysna, 2023 has presented itself as the year of opportunities. Charmza, in collaboration with the Knysna municipality, hosted the Emerging Writers Workshop on November 4-5 at the Masifunde Library. The...

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Visually impaired South African poet has inspired a nation for two decades

Visually impaired, she uses technology to record the words that have come to inspire so many South African women and children. Now, celebrating 20 years as a poet, Lelethu Mahambehlala, known as PoeticSoul, is paying it forward by developing future poets through her Umyalezo (Message)...

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Brazilian legend Pele celebrated in poetic words

There will never be another like himA Son of BrazilA Father to FootballThe Goat of all GoatsFearless at Heart Performing MiraclesTurning Football into something spiritualOn the Field Making him God's gift to ManThank You For The Beautiful Game!Author Unknown&nb...

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African poetry set to grow in leaps and bounds in 2023

The African poetry scene is set to grow in leaps and bounds in 2023. That is according to those who believe in the beauty of poetry on the continent. More attention is being thrust into this untapped spot. The intrigue and love for African poetry is growing.  The emergence...

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