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Tafelberg Publishes it's First Youth Fiction in Sesotho sa Leboa

by Nonikiwe - Editor on 07 Sep 2010   |   

Ke a hwa, ke a ikepela by Motimele Goodwill is a light, humorous read and is the first work of youth fiction in Sesotho sa Leboa (Northern Sotho) to be published by Tafelberg.

Mmasetswetswepa makes a decision to go and visit Molatišwa whom he loves but he has not yet uttered a word about his love for her. He has reserved this for the New Year celebration and he does this at 12 o’clock midnight. He runs to Molatišwa’s home and surprises her family. He is clumsy and has a huge body that makes him look like a giant to his peers and others.

At Molatišwa’s home, Mmasetswetswepa claims that Molatišwa is his lover and that he will not leave until he talks to Molatišwa. Molatišwa’s father, a reverend, comes between the couple and they must do their best to convince him that they are truly in love.

Book details

• Ke a hwa, ke a ikepela by Motimele Goodwill
  EAN: 9780624049197
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The Winners of the 2010 Maskew Miller Longman Literary Awards

by Nonikiwe - Editor on 25 Aug 2010   |   

Note! This is an update from my previous post, Maskew Miller Longman actaully has quiet a few winners this year since the awards were open to all eleven South Africa languages. There are winners in the Afrikaans, English, IsiXhosa, Sepedi and Xitsonga categories. Read press release from MML here:

Maskew Miller Longman Literature Awards 2010 winners

Maskew Miller Longman is delighted to announce the winners of its Literature Awards 2010 for Children’s Stories in all official languages. The finalists include both well-known authors such as Carina Diedericks-Hugo, Jelleke Wierenga, Conny Lubisi and Gail Smith, as well as new authors. This year’s competition also included an illustration category.

Maskew Miller Longman places great emphasis on developing new writers and promoting indigenous literature. The Maskew Miller Longman Literature Awards, now in its fourth year, is the only competition to call for entries in all official languages.

To assist new writers in creating stories they could enter in the competition, Maskew Miller Longman ran workshops in several provinces presented by prominent writer Rachelle Greef.

The quality of many of the past winners is shown by the fact that several of them have gone on to win other awards, for example the novel Katy of Sky Road was nominated as an Honour Book by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) for 2009 and novels by Conny Lubisi and Mafori Charles Mphahlele won 2008 MNet Awards.

The judges of the Literature Awards 2010 included well-known writers and literary experts such as: Niki Daly, Sindiwe Magona, Marita van der Vyfer, Prof. M.J. Mojalefa and X.E. Mabaso.

In 2010, prizes were awarded in five of the eleven language categories and in the illustration category. The winner in each category receives a prize of R7 500, while the finalists receive R3 500. The winning stories were published by Maskew Miller Longman in July 2010.

Afrikaans

Winner: Kat in die pan vir die Fransman – Jelleke Wierenga

Finalist: Die Groenmambas en Shaka se spies – Carina Diedericks-Hugo

Finalist: ‘n Bosluis red die koningshuis – Jelleke Wierenga

English

Winner: Bongani’s Secret – Gail Smith

Finalist: Three Blind Dates – Pamela Newham

IsiXhosa

Winner: Unyanelizwe – Sivuyile Mazantsi

Sepedi

Winner: Kgetha Nna – Norman Mahlanya

Xitsonga

Winner: Lembe Lerintshwa – Conny Lubisi

Illustrations

Winner: Lizette Duvenage, Finalist: Dale Blankenaar

Ends

Bruno, ’n slimkop-boekwurm, sy beduiwelde rooikop-tweelingsuster, Bronnie, en hul maat, Ben, moet die misterieuse verdwyning van hul geliefde kat, Kattebol, oplos. Het die onderonsie tussen hulle ma en die sjef by die Volkskombuis dalk ’n rol gespeel in die hele drama? Hierdie is ’n opwindende avontuurverhaal wat behendige speurwerk vereis.

Bongani is a smart, funny, loveable young teenager, who is struggling to manage his tricky life. Someone in his class has discovered his terrible secret and Bongani must find him and silence him. This fast-paced, humorous story from established writer Gail Smith examines serious issues with wisdom and sensitivity. It will entertain and provoke even the most reluctant readers.

This fun and fantastical story will absorb young readers, making it easy for them to engage with the important moral and social values it addresses. Readers will relate strongly to this story, and will recognise many aspects of their own everyday and emotional lives. It will give rise to discussions of very current and crucial issues to do with human and social values, making this an excellent choice for young readers. Contains activities that can be done individually and groups.

All young readers will be fascinated from the very first page by this charming tale of hope, striving and celebration. Tsakani feels she missed out at last year’s New Year’s celebrations, so she starts preparing and saving. In the end she manages to celebrate her year end in a very special way, showing that money is far less important than our own happiness. Contains individual and group activities that can be used for assessment.

Book details

• Bongani’s Secret by Gail Smith
  Ages 10 to 13
  EAN: 9780636112056
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• Kat in die Pan ir die Fransman by Jelleke Wierenga
  Ages 10 to 13
  EAN: 9780636112223
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• Unyanelizwe by Sivuyile Mazantsi
  Ages 10 to 13
  EAN: 9780636112254
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• Lembe Lerintshwa by Conny Lubisi
  Ages 10 to 13
  EAN: 9780636112278
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University of Limpopo's Drive to Translate Books for Sepedi Children

by Bontle on 02 Jun 2010   |   

Limpopo University staff and students have begun to work towards increasing the literacy of indigenous languages through their BA in Contemporary English and Multilingual Studies degree (BA CEMS). BA CEMS is South Africa’s first and only dual-medium degree in which an African language, Sepedi, is used as a medium of instruction and assessment with English. Students and staff involved in the program have now begun to translate children’s story books from English to Sepedi.

“Apartheid is not over in South Africa,” says Finkie Molope, a recent graduate of Limpopo University’s BA in Contemporary English and Multilingual Studies BA CEMS. “We still have schools where English and Afrikaans are the only languages taught even though black students dominate.”

“Many pupils in high school can’t read or write their mother tongues, which results in a loss of identity,” Molope says. She chose the degree to preserve her language and “to prove that you can be just as competent learning in your mother tongue”.

• Read the complete article at mg