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One of the events on the festival calendar is the Women in Writing Workshop which takes place on Tuesday April 5 from 2pm to 3.30pm in the Philip Russell Room at Diakonia Centre in St Andrews Street in Durban.
The subject of women’s writing evokes some of the most vigorous and intense discussion at the Time of the Writer Festival. Drawing on the skills and experience of women writers at the festival, the workshop attracts a vociferous audience who engage in issues around the specific challenges that women face as writers, and the way in which publishers view women’s writing and the reading market. A large number of women writers do not want to be labeled or categorized but general perceptions about women’s writing persist. The women’s voice and the positioning of the woman writer in predominantly patriarchal societies, are subjects that continue to engender debate.
Writers of the calibre of Nawal El Saadawi will add a special dimension to the women’s workshop this year and a writer such as Siba Shakib, who has done groundbreaking work on the plight of women in Afghanistan will raise immense interest. Outspoken writers, Bessora and Tanella Boni bring an interesting and unconventional dimension to women’s literature in Africa. The acclaimed South African writer, Rayda Jacobs and exciting newcomer Henrietta Rose-Innes add to the impressive line-up. Writers will engage audiences on issues pertaining to women and writing in an African context.
Publishing forum
The festival will host a Publishing Forum, which has become an established feature of the Time of the Writer Festival. Drawing an enthusiastic audience of eager writers, the forum brings together a range of individuals who are at the forefront of publishing in South Africa. Publishing continues to evoke hotly contended discussion over a number of issues. The publishing forum this year highlights the strongly debated issue of publishing in indigenous African languages in South Africa. A panel of nine writers writing in IsiZulu, Isixhosa, SiSwati, Tshivenda, Sesotho and Shona address this topic from their point of view. The publishing forum will also feature a display of a range of African language books and publications.
A number of speakers presenting different perspectives appear on the programme, offering audiences a varied and in-depth understanding of the challenges and opportunities in publishing. An important component of the forum is a workshop entitled Preparing your Manuscript for Publishing. Facilitated by Maggie Davey of Jacana Press, the workshop provides invaluable information for aspirant writers who need guidance as to what publishers look for in a manuscript.
Of added interest is the address by Karachi-based publisher Ajmal Kamal, who will speak on publishing issues in Pakistan under the title 'A View from Abroad'.
Creative writing
One of the features of the festival, the Prison Creative Writing Project held at Westville Prison, has developed significantly over the past four years of its existence. Organised in partnership with the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Creative Writing Department, the workshops are co-ordinated by the poet and writer, Kobus Moolman. The workshop assistants are Brian Fulela and Bandile Gumbi. The programme has received invaluable support from Poobhan Pillay and Dominic Zulu, of the Westville Prison Education and Training Department, who see the creative writing workshops as being of enormous benefit to prisoners who show an interest in creative expression. A series of three preliminary workshops are held prior to Time of the Writer and one workshop is held with festival writers. This year, Hari Kunzru, Ncamisile Makhambeni and DBZ Ntuli will participate in the prison programme.
Writing for social transformation
One of the writers at this years festival is outspoken activist, Nawal El Saadawi, who will address an audience on the University of Natal’s Westville Campus on the topic of writing as a means for social transformation. El Saadawi is currently one of the presidential candidates for the forthcoming elections in Egypt. Facilitated by the Centre for Civil Society at the University the forum provides a platform for those who see writing as a vital tool in the advancement of human rights.
The workshop takes place in the Senate Chamber on Wednesday (6 April) from 12:30pm to 1:30pm.
University of KwaZulu Natal on 031260 2506 or e-mail Participant biographies and the full programme of festival events can be viewed on www.cca.ukzn.ac.za
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