A band of South African writers with a mission descended on the city last Friday to encourage Grahamstonians to read.
A band of South African writers with a mission descended on the city last Friday to encourage Grahamstonians to read.
The writers are part of ReadSA, a national campaign to promote a reading culture and their aim is to emphasize that it is hip to read, and to be well read. In this particular campaign they are encouraging South Africans to read South African literature.
“I will put my money on South African writers,” said Zukiswa Wanner, ReadSA founder member and author of Men of the South. She believes that South African literature is very rich and diverse. Fiona Snyckers, author of Trinity Rising thinks it is a pity that most South Africans read mainly overseas books. “It is sad that if a book in South Africa sells 5000 copies, it is considered a best seller,” she said.
According to Wanner, apart from there being a poor reading culture in the country, many South Africans don’t even know about books written by South African authors. She said that South African writers also need to consider why South Africans don’t read their books.
“Our writers need to write books that people can relate to.” Ndumiso Ngcobo, author of Some Of My Best Friends are White said another reason for the poor take-up of South African literature was marketing. “Whenever you go to bookshops you find Danielle Steel and other overseas books, not much of South African literature.”
He said people assume that just because these books are displayed it means there are no other books. The writers visited Mary Waters High School, the National English Literary Museum (NELM), Duna Library and the Hill Street Library where they read from their books and answered questions.
They took part in book signings and copies of their books were donated to the libraries. Other writers present included Siphiwo Mahala author of When A Man Cries, Angela Makholwa author of Red Ink, Kevin Bloom who wrote Ways of Staying and Thando Mgqolozana author of A Man Who is Not a Man.
At the schools, writers engaged with learners and encouraged them, asking questions as to why they don’t read. Mgqolozana said it is important to read as it informs the choices one makes, adding that one can tell if a person reads by the way they speak and vote.
A highlight for the initiative was the formation of a book club at Duna Library by seven students from different high schools of the city. Some of the club members had never heard of a book club before and ReadSA hopes this first step will encourage more clubs to be formed.
Wanner said the ReadSA event is something that they hope to duplicate in different towns on a monthly basis.
Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth were selected as a pilot projects because they already had a connection with the Department of English at Rhodes University that hosted them. “We have 75 published writers who are members and are willing to visit schools, workshop teachers, read at libraries to further the cause of literacy in South Africa,” said Wanner.
