The Africa Century International African Writers Conference provided a four-day, one-of-a kind literary experience that brought together writers, academics, as well as intellectual and cultural workers from around the African Continent and elsewhere to celebrate a century of literary and cultural production across the Continent and Diaspora. This programme also marked the 21st anniversary of the then-OAU (now-AU) declared International African Writers’ Day (i.e. 7th November). The theme of this is: From Resistance to Creative Mediation: Celebrating a Century of Writing and Literary Intellectuals’ Influence on the Liberation Struggles & Political Impact on Literary Discourse and Development.
DAY 1: Wednesday 7th November 2012
| WEDNESDAY 7TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 05H00 – 05H45 | Registration | New Education Building (EDU) |
| 06H00 – 09H00 | Conference Opening Ceremony:Welcome address: John Samuel, University of Free StateOverview: Morakabe Seakhoa, wRite associates | The Reitz Hall, Centenary Complex |
| 09H00 – | ExhibitionsBooks, Music, Arts and Crafts, Clothing | New Education Building |
| 09H30 – 10H30 | Keynote speaker: Dr Taiwo Adetunji OsinubiPresentation: Critical Mediation and Achebe’s Outcasts | New Education BuildingAuditorium |
| 11H00 – 13H00 | PANEL 1Chair: Margaret RafteryTopic: Resistance and Creative Mediation of Identities | New Education BuildingAuditorium |
| Domesticating Ivorité: Equating Xenophobic Nationalism and Women’s Marginalisation in Tanella Boni’s Matins de couvre-feu, 2005 (Ivory Coast)Polo Belina Moji, University of KwaZulu Natal | ||
| The Figure of the Child in African Literature: Yorùbá Literature as ExampleLere Adeyemi, University of Ilorin, Nigeria | ||
| Lunch | ||
| TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 14H00 – 16H00 | PANEL 2 Chair: Kamoji WachiiraTopic: Gender and Justice in African Literature | New Education BuildingAuditorium |
| Women and Self-Subordination in Unity Dow’s Far and Beyon’Fani-Kayode Omeregie, University of Botswana | ||
| Defining Freedom: Social Justice and Human Rights in Toni Morrison’s Paradise and Bessie Head’s When Rain Clouds GatherAlma Jean Billingslea, Spelman College, USA | ||
PRIMARY SCHOOL PROGRAMME/SESSIONS
Theme: Tsebo le Thabo
| WEDNESDAY 7TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 10H00 – 13H00 | Kiddies’ Fun World: Lourier Park Library | Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) Building |
| 10H00 – 11H00 | Story-telling: Tinah MnumzanaPuppetry in Sesotho: T.E. Gxaba | EMS Building (Room A101) |
| 11H00 – 12H00 | Library talk and poetry: Magic Khotseng Puppetry in Sesotho: T.E. Gxaba | EMS Building (Room A101) |
| 12H00 – 13H00 | Book ReadingBook title: Song of Success and Other Poems for ChildrenAuthor: Ikeogu Oke | EMS Building (Room A101) |
HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMME/SESSIONS
Theme: Tsebo le Thabo
| WEDNESDAY 7TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 10H00 – 11H00 | Poetry performances by Flo Mokale and Quaz | EMS Building (Room A102) |
| 11H30 – 12H30 | Literary Talk and Poetry Session: Charmaine Mrwebi | EMS Building (Room A102) |
| 12H30 – 13H30 | Book Discussion and open Mic performancesBook title: THAKGOHA – Anthology of Sesotho PoetryAuthor: Tinah Mnumzana | EMS Building (Room A102) |
CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
| WEDNESDAY 7TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | GENRE | VENUE |
| 10H00 – 15H00 | PoetryFacilitators: Keorapetse Kgositsile Walter Chakela | EDU (Room 12) |
| 10H00 – 15H00 | Short StoryFacilitator: Oswald Mtshali | EMS Building (Room A103) |
BOOK READING AND DISCUSSION
| WEDNESDAY 7TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 17H30 – 18H30 | Reading and DiscussionBook title: Letters To My SisterAuthor: Nhlanhla Maake | EDU (Room 12) |
ZWELAKHE SISULU MEMORIAL RECEPTION DINNER
| WEDNESDAY 7TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 19H30 – 21H30 | Zwelakhe Sisulu Memorial Reception Dinner: Speakers: Elinor SisuluProf. Nhlanhla Maake | Centenary Complex, The Reitz Hall |
DAY 2: Thursday 8th November 2012
| THURSDAY 8TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 08H00 – 09H00 | Registration and breakfast | New Education Building |
| 9H00 – | ExhibitionsBooks, music, arts & crafts, clothing | New Education Building |
| 9H00 – 10H00 | Keynote Speaker: Prof. Andries OliphantPresentation: The Roles of Literary Journals in African Struggles for Cultural and Political Liberation | New Education BuildingAuditorium |
| 10H30 – 12H30 | PANEL 3 Chair: Mariza Brooks Topic: Historical Landmarks of the Twentieth Century in African Literature | New Education BuildingAuditorium |
| The Global Stage for Humanity and the African Disposition. A Case Study of Efo Kodjo Mawugbe’s Upstairs and DownstairsFaith Ben-Daniels, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana | ||
| The Poetry of Dennis Brutus and the Dynamics of Africa’s Liberation StrugglesIkeogu Oke, Independent Author, Nigeria | ||
| Lunch | ||
| TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 14H00 – 16H00 | PANEL 4Chair: Mariza Brooks Topic: Media for Dialogue and Resistance: African Life-writing and Memorialisation | New Education BuildingAuditorium |
| Black Autobiography, Resistance and the DiasporaNeville Choonoo, University of New York | ||
| Alan Paton and Chinua Achebe: Revisiting Africa’s Ugly Pasts through Novel WritingBheki R. Mngomezulu, Durban University of Technology | ||
PRIMARY SCHOOL PROGRAMME/SESSIONS (Free entrance)
Theme: Tsebo le Thabo
| THURSDAY 8TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 09H00 – 13H00 | Kiddies’ Fun World: Lourier Park LibraryLibrary talk | EMS Building |
| 09H00 – 10H00 | Story-telling: Sisi Zulu Puppetry in English: T.E Gxaba | EMS Building (Room A101) |
| 10H00 – 11H00 | Library talk and PoetryHost: Magic Khotseng / Charmaine Morwebi | EMS Building (Room A101) |
| 11H00 – 12H00 | Book title: THAKGOHA – Anthology of Sesotho PoetryBook Reading by Tinah Mnumzana | EMS Building (Room A101) |
HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMME/SESSIONS
Theme: Tsebo le Thabo
| THURSDAY 8TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 09H00 – 10H00 | Poetry performance: JahRose, Lebo and RitaLibrary Talk: R Van Rensburg | EMS Building (Room A102) |
| 10H00 – 11H00 | Literary Talk and Poetry Session: Icebound Serame and Quaz | EMS Building (Room A102) |
| 11H00 – 12H30 | Book Discussion: Alinah MorakeOpen Mic, Reading is Cool by: Flo Mokale | EMS Building (Room A102) |
CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
| THURSDAY 8TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | GENRE | VENUE |
| 09H00 – 15H00 | PoetryFacilitators: Keorapetse Kgositsile Walter Chakela | EDU (Room 12) |
| 09H00 – 15H00 | Short StoryFacilitator: Oswald Mtshali | EMS Building (Room A103) |
NOBEL LAUREATE, NADINE GORDIMER DISCUSSES HER LATEST WORK, “NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT”
| THURSDAY 8TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 17H30 – 19H00 | Africa’s first and only woman Nobel Literary Laureate, Nadine Gordimer, heads a round table discussion and reading from her latest book, No Time Like The Present | EDU (Room 12) |
POETIC CONVERSATIONS WITH MUSIC
| THURSDAY 8TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | ARTIST | VENUE |
| 19H30 – 22H00 | Tina MnumzanaIcebound SerameLebo MashileLesego MotsepeCharmaine MrwebiBelinda van ZweindrechFlo Mokale, QuazVangile Gantsho
and many more |
New Education BuildingAuditorium |
AN EVENING WITH THE NATIONAL POET LAUREATE
| THURSDAY 8TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | ARTIST | VENUE |
| 19H00 – 22H00 | An evening with the National Poet Laureate: Poetry Reading by Prof. Keorapetse Kgositsile and guest poets | New Education BuildingAuditorium |
DAY 3: Friday 9th November 2012
| FRIDAY 9TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 08H00 – 09H00 | Registration and breakfast | New Education Building |
| 09H00 – | ExhibitionsBooks, music, arts and crafts, clothing | New Education Building |
| 09H00 – 10H00 | Keynote Speaker: Prof. Zodwa MotsaPresentation: ‘Journeying Back 50 Years’: Reflections on Agit-Prop and Guerrilla Theatre as Wole Soyinka’s Dramaturgy for Liberation in Africa | New Education Building Auditorium |
| 10H30 – 12H30 | PANEL 5 Chair: Nhlanhla MaakeTopic: The Promotion and Reception of African Literature | New Education Building Auditorium |
| Polycentric Receptions: Reading Dennis Brutus, Athol Fugard and Bessie Head in West Africa.Tade Ipadeola, PEN International, Nigeria Center | ||
| Who Wins the Prize? – Ways of Judging Literary and Academic TextsMarlies Taljard, North-West University | ||
| The Challenges Facing the Modern Writer and the Benefits of the Proper Use of CopyrightBramwel Akileng, Director of Jacaranda Intellectual Property Business Consultants | ||
| LUNCH | ||
| TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 14H00 – 16H00 | PANEL 6 Chair: Patrick EbewoTopic: Language and Power: Translation, Adaptation and Archiving | New Education BuildingAuditorium |
| Intercultural Knowledge Production and Management through Translation and Traducture. In Memory of Neville Alexander and Michel Henry HeimWangui wa Goro, University of London | ||
| Opening a Closed Book: Rediscovering Black South African LiteratureAndrew Martin, National English Literary Museum, SA | ||
PRIMARY SCHOOL PROGRAMME/SESSIONS (Free entrance)
Theme: Tsebo le Thabo
| FRIDAY 9TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 09H00-13H00 | Kiddies’ Fun World: Lourier Park | EMS Building |
| 09H00 – 10H00 | Story-tellingSisi Zulu | EMS Building (Room A101) |
| 10H00 – 11H00 | Library talk and PoetryHost: Lesego Motsepe | |
| 11H00 – 12H00 | Book ReadingBook title: Song of Success and Other Poems for ChildrenAuthor: Ikeogu Oke | |
HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMME/SESSIONS (Free entrance)
| FRIDAY 9TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 09H00 – 10H00 | Poetry performances: K.G. and Alinah Morake | EMS Building (Room A102) |
| 10H00 – 11H30 | Book Discussion:Book title: MophemeAuthor: S MatlosaPoetry Performance: Icebound SerameComedy | |
| 11H30 – 13H00 | Reading Campaign: Reading is CoolHosted by: Flo Mokale, Quaz and TcapComedy | |
CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
| FRIDAY 9TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | GENRE | VENUE |
| 09H00 – 15H00 | PoetryFacilitators: Keorapetse Kgositsile Walter Chakela | EDU (Room 12) |
| 09H00 – 15H00 | Short StoryFacilitator: Winston Mohapi | EMS Building (Room 103) |
BOOK READING AND DISCUSSION (Free entrance)
| FRIDAY 9TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 17H30 – 18H30 | Reading and DiscussionBook title: Don’t Kill the DeadAuthor: Vusi Gumbi | EMS Building (Room A102) |
DAY 4: Saturday, 10th November 2012
| SATURDAY 10TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 07H00 08H00 | Registration and breakfast | New Education Building Auditorium |
| 08H00 – | Books, music, arts and crafts, clothing | |
| 08H00 – 8H30 | Keynote Speaker: Prof. OKELLO Oculi “AYET: SONG FOR LEADERS” | |
THE AFRICA CENTURY INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN WRITERS DAY PUBLIC LECTURE: FORMER PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI
| 11H00 – 13H00 | The Africa Century International African Writes Day Public Lecture: by Former President Thabo MbekiFeaturing:Praise poetry – Jessica Mbangeni | New Education Building Auditorium |
BOOK READING AND DISCUSSION (Free entrance)
| SATURDAY 10TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 12H00 – 13H00 | Book title: Eloquent BodyAuthor: Dawn Garisch | EMS Building (Room A102)EMS Building (Room A103) |
| 13H00 – 14H00 | Book title: In the Wings of WaitingAuthor: Ikeogu Oke | |
| Book title: Infinite GraceAuthor: Yvonne Busisiwe Kgame | ||
| 14H00 – 15H00 | Book title: African DelightsAuthor: Siphiwo Mahala | |
PRIMARY SCHOOL PROGRAMME/SESSION (Free entrance)
Theme: Tsebo le Thabo
| SATURDAY 10TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 09H00-13H00 | Kiddies’ Fun World: Lourier Park | EMS Building |
| 09H00 – 10H00 | Story-telling and Talking Drums:Sisi Zulu | EMS Building (Room A101) |
| 10H00 – 11H00 | Library Talk and PoetryHost: Tinah Mnumzana | |
| 11H00 – 12H30 | Book ReadingBook title: Audience’s choice from ten selected titlesWin a book CompetitionEunice Molefe | |
HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMME/SESSIONS (Free entrance)
| SATURDAY 10TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | EVENT | VENUE |
| 10H00 – 13H00 | Poetry Gig:Theme: Strictly PoetryReading Competition: Reading is Cool, Read Fun! A cocktail of poetry, short stories and novel/novella reading, by the audience and established authors, poets, teachers and parents, music byLesego MotsepeVangile GantshoIcebound SerameTcap
Charmaine Mrwebi |
Outdoor programme |
CREATIVE WRITING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
| SATURDAY 10TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | GENRE | VENUE |
| 09H00 – 13H00 | PoetryFacilitators: Keorapetse Kgositsile Walter Chakela | New Education Building (Room 12) |
| 09H00 – 13H00 | Short StoryFacilitator: Winston Mohapi | |
SALA Awards (South African Literary Awards & Africa Literary Music Concert)
| SATURDAY 10TH NOVEMBER | ||
| TIME | ARTIST | VENUE |
| 18H30 – | A world-class state of the art Africa Literature Music Concert, as we celebrate the 7th annual South African Literary Awards, comprising succulently crafted marriage & dialectical interplay between literature and music by some of Africa’s iconic literati and musicians & other art genres, including dance, visual art, comedy, disc jockeying and many more. | Callie Human Hall |
