ZONG READ IN SOUTH AFRICA

All roads seemed to lead to the Bloemfontein City Library on Monday (April 16)where book-length readings of the monumental poetic work, Zong!, took place.

Zong was written by the acclaimed Canadian author, NouberSe Philip, and readings from the work were being done simultaneously in Canada and South Africa.

The South African reading attracted a number of sterling poets and writers. They
included the formidable literary critic and poet, Pule Lechesa; author and poet, Charmaine Kholwane; award winning poet and essayist, Hector Kunene; celebrated journalist and book reviewer, Mpikeleni Duma; the flamboyant poet-performer, Dr Cool; renowned South African female poets: JahRose, and Rita Chihawa, among many others.

Also present was the phalanx of the media, both print and electronic, including the
award winning photo-journalists, Motshwari, and Thabang Lenko. They, together with teeming members of the public, basked at the occasion.

As the proceedings commenced, the significance of the occasion was pointed out, together with an Introduction to the works of the pertinent author, Nouberse Philip.

Thereafter the focus was on Zong itself, its historical and literary connotations and ramifications, with a bevy of readers reading straight from the riveting text.

An exhilarated Pule Lechesa enthused about the occasion: "It has been incredibly moving. Zong is a literary tour de force, haunting, moving, rhythmical, rather
zany, yet coherently comprehensive. The plight and travails of slaves at the time should never be forgotten. An empathetic, majestic work!" - O Bolaji