FASCINATING LITERARY GALLERY ATTRACTS TOURISTS

FASCINATING LITERARY GALLERY ATTRACTS TOURISTS

By Flaxman Qoopane

Tourists attended in large numbers the Qoopane Literary Gallery exhibited at Tsa Setso Arts and Craft 2010 Soccer World Cup South Africa, held at the Mangaung Information Centre in Bloemfontein from 10 June- 11 July 2010

Tsa Setso Arts and Craft 2010 soccer World Cup South Africa was presented by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture and Recreation in the Free State province and is supported by the Department of Arts and Culture Republic of South Africa

Flaxman Qoopane is the curator of the Qoopane Literary Gallery who exhibited one hundred photos of South African, Nigerian, Zimbabwean, and Malawian writers and their profiles. He has also added new exciting writers like Hector Kunene and Skietreker Seape to the Gallery.

James Agori, journalist of This day Nigeria, together with Jones Bamidele from News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and John Ebhota from The Nation newspaper in Nigeria visited the exhibition. “It is one of the best sources of literature in Africa that researchers can benefit a lot from it” said James Agori

Kgomotso Sekhabi, from the Department of Arts and Culture in Pretoria said: “A wonderful initiative that will really need to be supported as it promotes South African writers that have made a tremendous contribution to the literature of South Africa. Keep up the wonderful work, Mr Qoopane”

Jorge Arellana Lavanderos from Chile said: “This is a good development in preserving literature. It will be good for Chilean writers. South African writers can exchange experiences and do cultural exchanges in their works,”

Ing Milin Kamuscak from Bratislava, said: “This is the greatest collection of African writers I’m seeing for the first time in my life, I learnt a lot about literature in Mandela’s country birth”

“I am very excited that the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture and Recreation has given me an opportunity to showcase my gallery during the 2010 soccer World Cup. So far, my exhibition attracted tourists from Chile, Italy, Korea, Nigeria etc and we exchanged contact. I urge other tourists to visit Mangaung information centre” said Qoopane

Mangaung – Bloemfontein
South Africa
Cell: 073 565 7783
Email: qoopaneliterary@yahoo.com

BREAKDOWN OF 70 OF THE WRITERS FEATURED IN QOOPANE’S AWESOME GALLERY

1. WOLE SOYINKA
2. FLAXMAN QOOPANE
3. PULE LECHESA
4. KDP MAPHALLA
5. LETSHASE NAKELI
6. JIM MOKOENA
7. ANDRE BRINK
8. PROF LEWIS NKOSI
9. NADINE GORDIMER
10. PETER ABRAHAMS
11. LAURETTA NGCOBO
12. PROF PITIKA NTULI
13. DR. GOMOLEMO MOKAE
14. SABATA MPHO MOKAE
15. ERIC MIYENI
16. K.SELLO DUIKER
17. FRED KHUMALO
18. KAREL SCHOEMAN
19. PROF KEORAPETSE KGOSITSILE
20. LEBOGANG MASHILE
21. NAPO MASHEANE
22. NTSIKI MAZWAI
23. MPUTLANE OA BOFELO
24. NAPE’A MOTANA
25. LETLAPA MPHAHLELE
26. PROF MBULELO MZAMANE
27. DON MATTERA
28. KGAFELA OA MAGOGODI
29. FRED BILA
30. LESEGO RAMPOLOKENG
31. GCINA MHLOPHE
32. CHINUA ACHEBE
33. DAMBUDZO MARECHERA
34. SIPHO SIPAMLA
35. CHRIS VAN WYK
36. JESSICA MBANGENI
37. K.E. SELEBANO
38. DBZ NTULI
39. SUZAN SEFATSA
40. WINSTON MOHAPI
41. INGOAPELE MADINGOANE
42. MATSEMELA MANAKE
43. LEFIFI TLADI
44. SANDILE DIKENI
45. SINDIWE MAGONA
46. OMOSEYE BOLAJI
47. PROF ESKIA MPHAHLELE
48. BESSIE HEAD
49. JAMES MATTHEWS
50. MIRRIAM TLADI
51. MONGANE SEROTE
52. DR. ZAKES MDA
53. ANTJIE KROG
54. JACK MAPANJE
55. KEN SARO WIWA
56. ELLEN KHUZWAYO
57. PHASWANE MPE
58. TOEK BLIGNANT
59. JOHN MATSHIKIZA
60. TODD MATSHIKIZA
61. CAN THEMBA
62. NAT NAKASA
63. MYESHA JENKINS
64. MAKAAMOLE MANAKA
65. KOLE OMOTOSO
66. CREDO MUTWA
67. ZOLANI MKIVA
68. MATHEWS PHOSA
69. DR. J.J. MOILOA
70. MARIETA VAN ASWEGEN