My Mind Words Paper [Search results for botswana literature] 

Date (awarding): 24 July 2011 (2:30pm)

The BESSIE HEAD HERITAGE TRUST, together with Pentagon Publishers, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 BESSIE HEAD LITERATURE AWARDS.

In the category of NOVEL, the winner is Ms. Tlotlo Pearl Tsamaase for her manuscript Unlettered Skies of the Sublime. The first runner-up is Mr. Service Motsamai Monyamane for Mma-Shirley’s Children, and the second runner-up is Mr Moreetsi Pius Gabang for Cryout. The winner will receive a cash prize of P2, 500.00, the first runner-up will receive P1 200.00, and the third runner up will receive P800.

In the SHORT STORY category, the winner is Mr Boikhutso Robert for a story entitled “The Zambezi Crocodiles”. The first runner-up is Ms. Rebaone Kenanao Motsumi for her story “Incestous Scandal ... saving Grace”; the second runner-up is Ms Jocasta Tshomarelo Bobeng for “The War of Animals and Plants”. The prize for the short story winner is P1, 500.00; for the second runner-up it is P900.00; and for the third runner-up it is P600.00.

The POETRY winner is Mr. John Hutcheson for a set of poems (“The Massacre of Innocents”, “The Man”, and “Curse”). The first runner-up is Ms Lisa Reed for a set of poems (“Buffalo Sunrise”, “Campfire”, and “The Joy of Africa”). The second runner-up is Ms. Bernice Tiny Letlhare also for a set of poems (“Wisdom”, “Allegory of a Strong Being”, “What is Life” and “People in the Street”). The poetry prize for the winner is P1, 200.00; for the first runner-up it is P800. 00 and for the second runner up it is P500.00.

On 24 July 2011, Ms Penelope Moanakwena, President of the Botswana Reading Association, will award the above prizes in the National Museum in Gaborone, in a ceremony beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the National Museum in Gaborone. The event will include readings by the winners and runners-up, a launch of the works of the 2010 winners in book form, and an open mike session. Pentagon Publishers will promote the titles of their BESSIE HEAD SERIES of writing in English from Botswana.

Contact Information:

For inquiries: bessiehead@gmail.com

Website: http://www.bessiehead.org/

Deadline: 30 June 2011

Writers are reminded that Sanlam and Tafelberg are once again awaiting entries for the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature. This time round the organisers are looking for a story in which hope plays a role. Manuscripts in any of the official languages will be accepted.

Categories are:

* English,
* Afrikaans,
* Nguni-languages,
* Sotho-languages,
* Tshivenda,
* Xitsonga and
* SiSwati.

In each category there are two prizes: Gold (R12 000 in cash and publication) and Silver
(R6 000 in cash and publication). The deadline for entries is 30 June 2011. Unfortunately e-mail submissions are not allowed. The organisers request entrants to keep a copy of their entry. The names of the finalists will be announced before the end of 2011, and the names of the winners and the launch of the winning books will be in 2012.

Rules:

1. The competition is presented in six categories: Afrikaans, English, Nguni languages, Sotho
languages, Tshivenda and Xitsonga.

2. There are two prizes in each category: Gold prize: R12 000, Silver prize: R 6 000

3. Requirements: A story in which hope plays a role. It should be suitable for young readers
(between 12 and 18 years). Length: 25 000 to 45 000 words.

4. Tafelberg undertakes to publish the winning entries and reserves the first option to publish
any of the other entries.

5. While under consideration entries may not be submitted for publication elsewhere until the
publishers have confirmed in writing that the manuscript has been turned down for publication.

6. The judges reserve the right to withhold one or more of the prizes should the quality of the entries not be up to standard.

7. The competition is open only to citizens of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and
Swaziland.

8. Entries should be typed or printed out on A4 paper, with double spacing and broad
margins, on one side of the paper only, and clearly numbered. Do not bind. The organisers cannot accept e-mail entries.

9. As entries are judged anonymously, writers are requested to ensure that their names
appear only on the title page of the entry and nowhere else.

10. Each entry must be accompanied by a signed entry form or a copy thereof.

11. Entries may not be submitted under a pseudonym.

12. Entrants are requested to keep copies of their entries. The organisers cannot accept final
responsibility should an entry go astray.

13. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

14. Closing date: 30 June 2011.

Download entry form >>

Contact Information:

For inquiries: Contact Danita van Romburgh at NB Publishers at (021) 406 3412 or dvanromb@nb.co.za.

For submissions: Danita van Romburgh, PO Box, 879, Cape Town, South Africa 8000

Website: http://www.nb.co.za/

Deadline: 25 July 2011

Verbana Servicing Outfit, an upscale brand management and public relations outfit, is organizing a free creative writing interactive community as part of its empowerment CSR initiative, in partnership with various organizations, NGO’s and corporate bodies, with logistics support from Art World. The forum will be hosted by Ebi Akpeti, author “The Perfect church”.

The set goals and objectives is to develop the basic understanding of the literary genre, especially in the dynamics of plots, styles and theme, fiction or nonfiction, with an aim to “preserve Nigeria’s literary tradition which was made world famous by Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Ben Okri, Niyi Osundare, Chimamanda Adichie etc.

The series which is scheduled to take place on the 30th of July 2011 would be an avenue to address the creative writing challenges faced in Nigeria such as degenerating reading culture, plagiarism and poor copyright protection – all of which rob writers and artists of their benefits and several other challenges.

Various creative writing modules will be implemented at this workshop such as Narrative theory practice, Narratives from life, Individual writing project, reading and writing, discussion of creative writing process and the role of literature in the society and also be an opportunity to get published.

The work shop is a part of a developmental campaign that will be implemented across the nation to harness skills and potentials.

How to Register?

Send your name, age, phone number and a one page explanation about your motivation to attend the forum as well a short description of any story your currently working on, to GOTASTORY@EBIAKPETI.COM, not later than the 25th of July 2011.

About the host:

Ebi Akpeti is an alumnus of the Massachusetts institute of Technology (MIT) professional education. She has a master’s degree in Media and Communications from the Pan African University in Nigeria and also in Finance from the University of Calabar. Ebi has three novels to her credit and currently works in the corporate affairs department of one of Africa’s biggest banks.

A 2006 nominee of the Capital Market Reporter of the prestigious Nigerian Media Merit Award NMMA Award, NMMA for her story "Trigger for Fraud", Ebi is also the author of "The Perfect Church which was recently adapted into a screen play by multiple award winning producer, Mr Wale Adenuga. The movie is reputed to be one of the most expensive movies in recent time showing all over Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Botswana. She is currently working on a fiction story on the indigenes and militancy in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria entitled "For the Sake of Peremoboere

Contact Information:

For inquiries: gotastory@ebiakpeti.com

For submissions: gotastory@ebiakpeti.com

Website: http://www.ebiakpeti.com/

Announcement of winner: 11 July 2011

The shortlist for the 2011 Caine Prize for African Writing has been announced today (Monday 9 May). The Caine Prize, widely known as the ‘African Booker’ and regarded as Africa’s leading literary award, is now in its twelfth year. The chair of judges, the award-winning Libyan novelist Hisham Matar, said "choosing a shortlist out of nearly 130 entries was not an easy task – one made more difficult and yet more enjoyable by the varied tastes of the judges – but we have arrived at a list of five stories that excel in quality and ambition. Together they represent a portrait of today’s African short story: its wit and intelligence, its concerns and preoccupations.”

Selected from 126 entries from 17 African countries, the shortlist is once again a reflection of the Caine Prize’s pan-African reach. The winner of the £10,000 prize is to be announced at a celebratory dinner at the Bodleian Library, Oxford, on Monday 11 July.

The 2011 shortlist comprises:

· NoViolet Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) ‘Hitting Budapest’ from ‘The Boston Review’ Vol 35, no. 6 - Nov/Dec 2010

· Beatrice Lamwaka (Uganda) ‘Butterfly dreams’ from ‘Butterfly Dreams and Other New Short Stories from Uganda’ published by Critical, Cultural and Communications Press, Nottingham, 2010

· Tim Keegan (South Africa) ‘What Molly Knew’ from ‘Bad Company’ published by Pan Macmillan SA, 2008

· Lauri Kubuitsile (Botswana) ‘In the spirit of McPhineas Lata’ from ‘The Bed Book of Short Stories’ published by Modjaji Books, SA, 2010

· David Medalie (South Africa) ‘The Mistress’s Dog’ from ‘The Mistress’s Dog: Short stories 1996- 2010’ published by Picador Africa, 2010

As always the stories are available to read online on our website.

Joining Hisham on the judging panel this year are Granta deputy editor Ellah Allfrey, publisher, film and travel writer Vicky Unwin, Georgetown University Professor and poet David Gewanter and the award-winning author Aminatta Forna. Once again the winner of the £10,000 Caine Prize will be given the opportunity of taking up a month’s residence at Georgetown University, Washington DC, as a ‘Caine Prize/Georgetown University Writer-in-Residence.’ The award will cover all travel and living expenses.

Last year the Caine Prize was won by Sierra Leonean writer Olufemi Terry. As the then Chair of judges, Fiammetta Rocco, said at the time, the story was “ambitious, brave and hugely imaginative. Olufemi Terry’s ‘Stickfighting Days’ presents a heroic culture that is Homeric in its scale and conception. The execution of this story is so tight and the presentation so cinematic, it confirms Olufemi Terry as a talent with an enormous future.”

Previous winners include Uganda’s Monica Arac de Nyeko, for ‘Jambula Tree’ from ‘African Love Stories’, Ayebia Clarke Publishing, 2006, and Binyavanga Wainaina, from Kenya, who founded the well-known literary magazine, Kwani?, to publish work by new Kenyan writers.

This year the shortlisted writers will be reading from their work at the Royal Over-Seas League on Friday, 8 July at 7pm and at the London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre, on Sunday, 10 July at 7pm.

Contact Information:

For inquiries: jenny@raittorr.co.uk

Website: http://www.caineprize.com/

Date: 1 -31 March 2012

With the participation of about 30 invited countries worldwide and over 80 events planned around the world, will take place throughout the month of March 2012 the 2dn International Poetry Festival " Woman’ Scream" will be coordinated worldwide by the Women Poets International Movement (MPI) with the support of our good-will ambassadors, supporters, institutions, etc. This festival aims to bring together men and women poets, musicians, actors and artists and others in various countries, to pay a fitting tribute to the woman during the entire month of March and extending a cry of "Enough!" to the violence perpetrated against her. "Woman’ Scream" was conceptualized and designed by the Dominican writer Jael Uribe, President and direct Coordinator of the Movement based in the Dominican Republic.

This year's calling has been translated into five languages (English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Italian) but has managed to include many other languages in different countries that have joined this calling, capturing a great reception in other countries not only speak Spanish as it was the case of last year festival.

The event not only for local and international poets (men and women), but there are also made from March 1st. to 31, all kinds of cultural activities such as: Music, theater, lectures, exhibitions, fairs, debates, among others. We have the support of cultural institutions, foundations, ministries, businesses, educational institutions and municipalities, as well known figures in the field of literature and art in their respective host nations.

Participating countries at the time are:

Dominican Republic, Haiti, Spain (Málaga, Murcia City, Eagles-Murcia, Granada, Barcelona (2 events), Toledo, Bajadoz-Extremadura), Mexico (DF (2 events), Puebla, Ciudad Victoria-Nuevo Laredo, Chihuahua, Monterrey, Mérida-Yucatán, Morelia-Michoacán, Veracruz, Tijuana, Jalisco-Guadalajara), Argentina (Buenos Aires (2 events), Santa Fe, Unquillo, Jujuy, Chacabuco, Patagonia-Rio Negro, Santiago del Estero and Rosario), Colombia (Barranquilla, Bucaramanga and Bogota), Peru (Lima, Trujillo), Panama, Chile (Valparaiso, Santiago (2 events), Ovalle), USA (NY, Miami, Seattle, California, Connecticut, Indiana), Guatemala (2 events), Venezuela, Puerto Rico (San Juan, Humacao), El Salvador (3 events), Cuba (Havana, Las Tunas), Ecuador (Loja), Costa Rica (San Jose), Uruguay, Bolivia (Santa Cruz), Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), Luxembourg, France (Paris (4 events), Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Omer), Germany (Berlin (2events)), Kosovo (Prishtina), Africa (Morocco (Larache), Botswana-Gaborone, Maseru-Lesotho, Port Elizabeth-South Africa), England (London), India, Finland, Russia (San Petersburgo), Switzerland. This list continues to grow until March 2012.

The Women Poets International Movement (MPI) has its center of action over the network in its different aspects, with thousands of fans everywhere and a direct follow up to over 350 Latin American poetesses.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries: mujerespoetasinternacional@gmail.com

Website: http://womanscream.blogspot.com