6TH ANNUAL NORTHERN CAPE WRITERS FESTIVAL (2015)

By Tiisetso M Thiba

Once again this year 2015 Northern Cape under the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture hosted the 6th annual Northern Cape writer’s festival start from 26 to 28 February 2015 with the Theme of ‘The doors of learning and culture shall be opened’.

The three day event was held in front of Kimberley Library. Since the origin of the Writers Festival, the festival has been growing strength to strength each and every year said MEC of Sports, Arts and Culture Lebogang Motlhaping in an interview.

This annual event engrossed national and international writers, poets and authors to share their experience and skills with the aspiring writers in the province and far beyond.

Writers, poets and authors attracted by festival this year included the renowned Dr Don Materra, Diana Ferrus, Prof Pitika Ntuli, Sabata Mpho Mokae, Prof Lesego Malepe, James Matthews, Ipeleng Tlhankana, Iyaba Ibo Mandingo from New York.

Others included Jowhari Trahan from California, Tina Schouw and Gontsewa Chaane. From the Free State came the likes of Hector Kunene, Nthabiseng “Jah Rose” Jafta, and Charmaine Kolwane

Aficionados of Literature from different provinces in South Africa visited Kimberley to form part of the unique festival, and some of them believe that the event will be much bigger next year and attract plenty of writers and public to celebrate the event together. 

The stage was open for all writers to read from their books and poets to bless the word-lovers with the unspoken words.

“When a reader enters the pages of a book of poetry he or she enters a world when dreams transform the past into knowledge made applicable to the present, and when visions shape the present into extraordinary possibilities for the future,” A memorable quote courtesy of Aberjhani.

Round table discussions were held and directed by Dr Don Mattera and the discussion topics included creative writing process and writing in the indigenous languages to restore our mother tongues for the present and future generations. Pupils from local schools benefited from the festival by forming part of skills development programme through creative writing workshops held by writers.

Writer, author Mark Kotze was the master of the ceremony of the writers festival and he was one of the five authors who launched their books during the festival. This added to the razzmatazz and excitement.

The event ended on high note when Iyaba Ibo Mandingo read from his book ‘Sins of my father’ and veteran poets such as James Matthews, Prof Pitika Ntuli, Dr Don Materra, Diana Ferrus and Tina Schouw rendered their splendid poems and left the audiences demanding for more!