Where South African literary events are happening, politics is sure to follow. Have a look at all the politically-minded debates and discussions that will be happening at this year’s 2015 Franschhoek Literary Festival, taking place from Friday, 15 May to Sunday, 17 May.
Highlights include Kenny Kunene – who is working on a book about his experiences in the EFF – who will be analysing the enigma that is Julius Malema with Dennis Davis, Fiona Forde and Richard Poplak on Friday.
On Saturday, Victor Dlamini, Mamle Kabu, Jackie Kay and Thando Mgqolozana will discuss whether, as black writers, they can avoid politics in their writing.
Sunday is jam-packed with what are sure to be riveting discussions, including Rattling Cages, in which Rebecca Davis, Zethu Matebeni and Malaika wa Azania tell Marianne Thamm why they will not hold their tongues, and The Art of Crafting Commentary, featuring Rebecca Davis, Darrel Bristow-Bovey, Tom Eaton and Richard Poplak.
The numbers in square brackets reflect the number for the event, for booking purposes.
Tickets can be booked on Webtickets.
FRIDAY, 15 MAY
[20] Fear and Loathing in SA
13h00 – 14h00 (Old School Hall)
What is a police state, and is South Africa becoming one? Ray Hartley (Ragged Glory) asks Jane Duncan (The Rise of the Securocrats), political risk consultant, as well as author Fiona Forde (Still An Inconvenient Youth) and Moeletsi Mbeki (Advocates for Change).
[28] The Politics of Bling (Church Hall)
14h30 – 15h30 (Church Hall)
Songezo Zibi (Raising the Bar) asks Anthea Jeffery (BEE: Helping or hurting?), journalist and author Bongani Madondo (I’m Not Your Weekend Special) and Herman Mashaba (Black Like You) about the impact of “new money” on the people who have earned it, those who have been given it, or those who have been left behind without it.
[36] What Makes One an African?
16h00 – 17h00 (New School Hall)
Is being an African a question of race, culture or attitude? Richard Poplak (Until Julius Comes) thrashes out the knotty questions with GG Alcock (Third World Child), Jonathan Jansen (Racism and Intimacy) and Moeletsi Mbeki (Advocates for Change).
SATURDAY, 16 MAY
[47] This Land is Your Land, This Land is Mine
10h00 – 11h00 (Old School Hall)
Richard Poplak quizzes two experts, Cherryl Walker (Land Divided, Land Restored) and Anthea Jeffery (BEE: Helping or hurting?) about the issues that are holding up land reform.
[49] The Age of Activism
10h00 – 11h00 (Congregational Church)
Jonathan Jansen engages with Glenn Moss (The New Radicals, about the anti-apartheid movement in the 1960s and ’70s) and one of today’s most vehement radicals, Malaika wa Azania (Memoirs of a Born Free), about the issues that motivate student activism, then and now.
[57] Is Freedom Just Another Word?
11h30-12h30 (Old School Hall)
Where does freedom start and end for journalists, cartoonists, artists (and novelists), and do they selfcensor? Eusebius McKaiser puts these questions, and more, to journalist/novelist Rehana Rossouw (What Will People Say?), Mike van Graan (African Arts Institute), and cartoonist Zapiro (DemoCrazy).
[60] Inside out: Writing South Africa
11h30-12h30 (Council Chamber)
Writing South African fiction, whether from inside the country or elsewhere, is fraught with literary and political sensitivities. Michele Magwood asks Craig Higginson (The Dream House) and Christopher Hope (Jimfish) how carefully they tread without sacrificing story.
[65] Economic Imperatives
13h00 – 14h00 (New School Hall)
What does South Africa need to do to weather the economic storms? Francis Wilson asks Moeletsi Mbeki (Gridlock), Greg Mills (Why States Recover) and Songezo Zibi.
[66] How Intelligent (or not) Are Racists?
13h00 – 14h00 (Old School Hall)
Gavin Evans (Black Brain, White Brain) and Jonathan Jansen (Racism and Intimacy) discuss the intriguing findings of their research into the science and sociology of racism.
[74] Just Julius
14h30 – 15h30 (New School Hall)
Dennis Davis asks Fiona Forde, Richard Poplak and Juju’s former political buddy Kenny Kunene (whose book about his experiences in the EFF is imminent, we’ve heard), how we solve an enigma named Malema.
[80] Living in the Public Eye
14h30 – 15h30 (Protea Hotel 1)
Staying on track when your life is lived in the limelight is an almost impossible task. Zelda la Grange, Pamela Nomvete and PJ Powers tell Africa Melane how they have survived the scrutiny.
[84] Bread Baskets or Basket Cases?
16h00 – 17h00 (Old School Hall)
Ray Hartley asks Jane Duncan, Greg Mills and Songezo Zibi whether the majority of African states can fairly be dismissed as lost causes. And, if not, what has saved them?
[88] Colouring in the Lines
16h00 – 17h00 (Hospice Hall)
Victor Dlamini asks Mamle Kabu, Jackie Kay and Thando Mgqolozana whether, as black writers, it’s possible to “just write”, or if they can’t escape the politics and language of writing for what Toni Morrison has described as the “white gaze”.
[92] A Weekend Special
17h30 – 18h30 (Church Hall)
Bongani Madondo (I’m Not Your Weekend Special) and Shado Twala tune in to I’m Not Your Weekend Special, Portraits on the Life + Style & Politics of Brenda Fassie, edited by Bongani, with links to her music to accompany the story of her life.
SUNDAY, 17 May
[95] Can the ANC be Mended?
10h00 – 11h00 (New School Hall)
After a tumultuous year for the governing party, Ray Hartley asks Anthony Butler (Remaking the ANC), Anthea Jeffery and Moeletsi Mbeki whether the ANC is permanently damaged.
[103] Race: Nature or Nurture?
11h30 – 12h30 (New School Hall)
As South Africans continue to grapple with the issue of race 20 years into our democracy, Francis Wilson asks GG Alcock, Gavin Evans and Jonathan Jansen to share their knowledge and understanding of exactly what race is.
[109] Rattling Cages
11h30 – 12h30 (Protea Hotel 1)
Refusing to temper their tongues, Rebecca Davis (Best White and Other Anxious Delusions), Zethu Matebeni (Reclaiming Afrikan) and Malaika wa Azania tell Marianne Thamm why they will not back down when it comes to expressing their opinions.
[112] A Sketch in Time
13h00 – 14h00 (New School Hall)
In this illustrated talk, writer Mike Wills and cartoonist Zapiro look back on two decades of life and politics in South Africa, as recorded in DemoCrazy.
[113] Throwing the Bones
13h00 – 14h00 (Old School Hall)
What does the future hold for our troubled country, politically, economically and creatively? Redi Tlhabi asks Jane Duncan, Greg Mills and Mike van Graan to speculate.
[114] Elephants in the Room
13h00 – 14h00 (Church Hall)
When contentious issues are made the subject of fiction, must writers tread sensitively? Victor Dlamini asks John Boyne, Mandla Langa and Eshkol Nevo about the considerations they made before embarking on their latest books.
[115] The Art of Crafting Commentary
13h00 – 14h00 (Congregational Church)
Political opinions are ten a penny in SA media, but writing commentary that is original, insightful and a delight to read is not so easy. Four of the best, Rebecca Davis, Darrel Bristow-Bovey, Tom Eaton and Richard Poplak, chat about what it takes to do what they do.
[116] War Stories
13h00 – 14h00 (Council Chamber)
Peculiar circumstances elicit peculiar tales, and war is the most peculiar of circumstances. Tim Couzens asks Dean Allen (Empire, War & Cricket) and Bill Nasson about the stories they have gleaned, and contributes some of his own.
Book details
- Ragged Glory by Ray Hartley
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EAN: 9781868425563
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- The Rise of the Securocrats by Jane Duncan
EAN: 9781431410750
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- Still an Inconvenient Youth: Julius Malema Carries On by Fiona Forde
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EAN: 9781770103962
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- Advocates for Change: How to Overcome Africa’s Challenges edited by Moeletsi Mbeki
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EAN: 9781770101203
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- Raising the Bar: Hope and Renewal in South Africa by Songezo Zibi
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EAN: 9781770103689
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- BEE: Helping or Hurting? by Anthea Jeffery
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EAN: 9780624071600
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- I’m Not Your Weekend Special: Portraits on the Life + Style and Politics of Brenda Fassie edited by Bongani Madondo
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EAN: 9781770103665
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- Black Like You by Herman Mashaba, Isabella Morris
EAN: 9780620456869
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- Until Julius Comes: Adventures in the Political Jungle by Richard Poplak
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EAN: 9780624070092
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- Third World Child: Born white, Zulu bred by GG Alcock
EAN: 9780620595346
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- How to Fix South Africa’s Schools: Lessons from Schools that Work by Jonathan Jansen, Molly Blank
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EAN: 9781920434625
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- Land Divided, Land Restored: Land Reform in South Africa for the 21st Century edited by Cherryl Walker, Ben Cousins
EAN: 9781431409679
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- The New Radicals: A generational memoir of the 1970s by Glenn Moss
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EAN: 9781431409716
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- Memoirs of a Born Free: Reflections on the Rainbow Nation by Malaika Wa Azania
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EAN: 9781431410224
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- What Will People Say: A Novel by Rehana Rossouw
EAN: 9781431420247
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- The Dream House by Craig Higginson
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EAN: 9781770104105
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- Why States Recover: Changing Walking Societies into Winning Nations – from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe by Greg Mills
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EAN: 9781770103252
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- Black Brain, White Brain: Is Intelligence Skin Deep? by Gavin Evans
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EAN: 9781868426065
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- Good Morning, Mr Mandela by Zelda la Grange
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EAN: 9780241014943
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- Unimportance by Thando Mgqolozana
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EAN: 9781431409525
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- Remaking the ANC: Party change in South Africa and the Global South edited by Anthony Butler
EAN: 9781431420193
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- Endings and Beginnings: A Story of Healing by Redi Tlhabi
EAN: 9781431404612
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- Empire, War & Cricket in South Africa by Dean Allen
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EAN: 9781770228474
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- Best White and Other Anxious Delusions by Rebecca Davis
EAN: 9781770104150
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