SELEKE BOTSIME is Free State Columnist of the Year (2008)

How SELEKE BOTSIME was named “Free State Columnist of the Year (2008)”

The formal Citation on the Winner:

“We are very proud to present the inaugural edition of the ‘Free State columnist of the year’ Award. Let it be stated from the outset that we shall be having only one winner every year – the reasons for this are obvious; but suffice it to say that if we are having 2nd and 3rd prizes etc yearly, the columnists would be exhausted very soon!

Yes, this country (South Africa) is blessed with many marvelous columnists. We confess unashamedly that our emphasis are the black African columnists as a lot still has to be done to boost the morale of such columnists who we know are always assailed with multi-faceted doubts. Who is reading me? Do I have readers? Do I write and publish “nonsense”? Why don’t I get more feedback from readers? These are a few of the questions that often assail our columnists.

In the Free State here, we have admitted that we are particularly impressed with Mangaung Issue columnists; they have the grassroots touch with an ear to the ground as it were. But it has to be noted that regularity and longevity are important components of writing a column; there is a dearth of this with most black columnists.

Also, it must be admitted that we are still way, way behind the situation overseas, where many columnists are read by hundreds of thousands of people! In England for example, Julie Burchill has hundreds of thousands of readers writing in a popular newspaper, Sun. Burchill is famed for the wide reaching topics she dwells on and her intellectualism; yet she still has a powerful personal touch.

For 2008, our panelists have been very impressed with columnists who strengthen the moral fibre of the country; such columnists hardly revel in sensationalism or frivolities; they are more or less spiritual upholders and teachers. Hence Rolang Motlanke of THE WAY and Seleke Botsime of Free State news figured very high in the ratings.

Mr. Motlanke is a brilliant writer and columnist; quite international class, in the way he brings sundry ideas together, with adroit allusions and deductions. He has influenced the lives of many positively and hopefully his impact would continue to grow. The only drawback is that his magazine- and columns- come out only intermittently, not on a very regular basis.

Now we come to the Silhouettes column written by Mr. Seleke (SLK) Botsime. Virtually throughout 2008 the column came out on a weekly basis, celebrating the virtues of spirituality, intrinsic knowledge, and wisdom from the Bible, and intellectual spouting that we can enjoy on a regular basis.

The profundity of the column has to be specially commended. These are not just articles we can just pick up and read quickly. We have to savour slowly the special language and intellectualism that bedecks them; we ponder over the same, re-read and appreciate. Old fashioned values are celebrated – with society at large exhorted to be morally strong.

The Dec 12 (2008) edition of “Silhouettes” column serves as an example of a very outstanding, lustrous write-up. Virtually all the lines and sentences are polished, full of wisdom and philosophy, meant to enlighten and move us forward. Obviously this is a man who takes especial care in his writings, with unbelievable inspiration and intellect.

It must also be pointed out that Seleke Botsime, also known to many as a cerebral musician, already has a national and international profile of his own. On the world online encyclopedia, Wikipedia he is included amongst South Africa’s noteworthy jazz musicians. But our concern here is mainly his column.

In sum, we at Phoenix Press and Club are proud to announce that the winner of the inaugural ‘Free State Columnist of the year’ (2008) is Mr. Seleke Botsime, the man behind Silhouettes column in the Free State news. Congratulations!”
Courtesy of Phoenix Literary Press and Club