19th Time
of the Writer
14 -19 March
2016
The Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN) has announced the lineup and
programme for the Time of the Writer festival, as well as new partnerships for
its 19th edition.
Ten writers from South Africa and Africa will meet for a week of
stimulating literary dialogue and exchange of ideas. Audiences can engage with
award-winning writers, from a variety of political and social contexts, on the
creative and technical processes and perspectives which shape their writing.
Evening readings and discussions will take place at 7pm at eKhaya Multi Arts
Centre (KwaMashu), Ohlange High School (Inanda), Umkhumbane Hall (Cato Manor),
Umlazi Cinema and Clermont Hall.
This year panel discussions couples authors whose writings share
semiotic marrow and are loosely titled after books and papers that echo their
literary sentiment.
The evening panels are:
The Madness of History – Tuesday 15th March (eKhaya
Multi Arts Centre -KwaMashu)
Ashwin Desai and Mishka Hoosen will have a conversation on the
importance of retrospective meditations on self, historical figures and the
family.
Why Must a Black Writer Write About Blackness? – Wednesday 16th March
(Ohlange High School)
In this Dany Laferrière inspired panel discussion Panashe
Chigamudzi and Eusebius McKaiser share their experiences as writers who write
without curiosity’s gaze.
They Write What They Like – Thursday 17th March
(Umkhumbane Hall - Cato Manor)
Crossing the borders from short stories to novellas to poetry to essays,
writer Niq Mhlongo gives insight into his unique take on the world across
genres and mediums.
Tuning In... – Friday 18th March (Umlazi Cinema)
Writing for listeners is an art that requires its own stage, a stage of
which Christa Biyela and Mandla Ndlovu are accomplished masters. These two
audio drama maestros open their lyrical vaults and with it the history and
depth of the Zulu audio drama.
The Alchemy of Fiction – Saturday 19th March (Clermont
Hall)
How pliable is truth? Can one measure the elasticity of the human
imagination and if pushed, would one ever erase the self from one’s own story?
In this panel, musician turned author Nakhane Touré and Nikhil Singh discuss
the roles fantasy, biography and imagination play in the erection of the worlds
they create.
As part of the festival’s focus on decolonizing South African literature
the festival will gather leading voices from every facet of literature in the
areas of writing, editing, publishing, translation, marketing, bookselling and
promotion (including events), to interrogate the central question of how to go
about decolonising literature in South Africa, from writing to readership.
Conversations that Matter is a daytime programme of roundtable
discussions, led by experts across the various fields of literature, that
provides a space for people to share and contribute towards this vital topic ofdecolonisation within
literature.
The following topics will be under discussion during the day
from 11am.
Conversations That Matter: The Book & Knowledge Production – Tuesday
15th March 2016 (KwaMashu Library)
Writers Niq Mhlongo, Panashe Chigamudzi, TO Molefe, Percy Zvomuya,
Nakanjani Sibiya and poet Mputlane wa Bofelo meet to expose the landmines that
await writers who render text that challenges literary traditions and their
inherent exclusion of certain voices.
Conversations That Matter: The Book & GateKeepers – Wednesday 16th March
2016 (Ohlange Library)
To probe the accessibility of literary institutions and the tribulations
of those tasked with creating that access, this conversation culls from the
experiences of both publishers and distributors. Has the South African literary
landscape shifted to accommodate previously poorly documented and valued
contributions? Which attitudes delay decolonising access? To open the
discussion are Prof. Sihawu Ngubane, Thabiso Mahlape, Kholeka Mabeta, Duduzile
Mabaso, Mandla Matyumza, Siphiwo Mahala.
Conversations That Matter: The Book & Readership – Thursday 17th March
2016 (UmKhumbane Hall – Cato Manor)
To explore questions on readership often posed to booksellers,
librarians and festival organisers are Cedric Sissing (Adams Books), Benjamin
Trisk (Exclusive Books), Fortescue Helepi (African Flavour Books), Sinenhlanhla
Buthelezi (Goethe Library), Tebogo Mzizi (eThekwini Municipality Libraries),
Mignon Hardie (FunDza Literacy Trust), Frankie
Murrey (Open Book Festival), Dr. Maria Van Driel (Jozi Book Fair) and Jennifer
Platt (Sunday Times). This conversation draws on the challenges of
pricing, public expectations and historical misconceptions on reading
cultures in South Africa.
Conversations That Matter: The Book & Language – Friday 18th March
(Umlazi Library)
An interrogation of the notion of linguistic hierarchies in print media,
literature and academic institutions requires contributions from academics and
cultural producers whose careers are dedicated to the preservation and
promotion of marginalized languages. This conversation will be initiated
by Eric Ngcobo, Dr. Mpho Monareng, Dr. Gugu Mazibuko, Dr.
Pamella Maseko, Prof. Nobuhle Hlongwa and Wangui Wa Goro.
Conversations That Matter: The Book & Intersectionality – Saturday
19th March 2016 (Qashane Library)
As a result of recent shifts in the quality of contributions produced
outside the academy, the topic of Intersectionality has relocated academics and
social commentators alike. The youth are proving to be the aorta of the
argument and keeping pulse with contemporary readings on Intersectionality
demands the voices of those who bravely tackle this pertinent and inflammatory
subject. To open the discussion are Eusebuis McKaiser, Milisuthando
Bongela, Nakhane Toure, Lindokuhle Nkosi, Mputlane Wa Bofelo, Mbali Matandela
and Zethu Matebeni.
The 19th edition of the festival is presented in partnership with
various organisations including the eThekwini Municipality Libraries department
whose involvement supports the community engagement programme of the festival
by hosting Conversations that Matter in public libraries.
All events are FREE to library or student cardholders.
For members of the public without either card, a nominal fee of R20 will be
requested at the box office from one hour before the event. The eThekwini
Municipal Libraries along with The Centre for Creative Arts will be on hand at
each venue in order to aid those without library cards to sign up for one on
the spot, all that it requires is a valid ID document and proof of residence.
Organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (University KwaZulu-Natal),
the 19th Time of the Writer is supported by eThekwini Municipality, the
National Department of Arts and Culture Alliance Française de Durban. The
Centre for Creative Arts is housed in the College of Humanities at the
University of KwaZulu-Natal and is a special project of the Deputy
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cheryl Potgieter.
