While plenty of people took the opportunity of the beautiful weather to spend some time in the Franschhoek restaurants and surrounds; the real heat was felt inside venues where hot topics such as The In-between 80s, Freedom of Information, and On Being Bolshy were debated to overflowing houses.

A third of the events sold out completely, with some reaching capacity well before the festival began.The inaugural Book Week for Young Readers took place this year, meaning that in the week prior to the Literary Festival, each of the 130 classrooms in the Franschhoek Valley received a visit from one of 50 children’s authors, who read to and interacted with over 4 000 learners.

As visiting writer Gus Silber tweeted, it’s “A wonderful festival of words and ideas.”

Captive audiences at the 2012 FLF. Image: Jesse Kate Kramer

Author: Fiona Gordon
Website: http://www.flf.co.za

In keeping with GIPCA’s interweaving of intellectual discourse with the experience of art, the weekend long event features a symposium, panel discussions, exhibitions, performances and film screenings.

The opening function includes an address by the highly respected writer and inspirational speaker Dr Sindiwe Magona, and a visit to the Fugard Theatre for the double Olivier Award-winning Kramer and Peterson musical, Kat and the Kings.

In addition to Dr Magona’s keynote speech, the opening evening will also be addressed by Deputy Vice Chancellor of UCT, Professor Thandabantu Nhlapo and Salley. Other discussions through the weekend feature speakers from a range of disciplines – taking place around the subjects of “Abundance”, “(Over) Abundance”, “Euphoria” and “Affinities”. Amongst several others are Wits University’s Thembinkosi Goniwe (Fine Art); Edgar Pieterse (UCT’s African Centre for Cities); Deborah Posel (Institute for Humanities in Africa); Nick Shepherd (UCT’s Centre for African Studies); Abdulkader Tayob (National Research Foundation Chair on Islam, African Publics and Religious Values) and Gabi Ncgobo (co-founder of the Centre for Historical Reenactments in Johannesburg).

Writer for The Sunday Independent and CNN African Journalism award winner Mary Corrigall speaks to the topic ReQuoting the Masters: Countering impoverishment through Dandyism; while internationally renowned scholar, curator, cultural theorist, and writer Jane Taylor looks at irrationality and excess in the face of destitution. The highly respected playwright and cultural activist Mike van Graan addresses the responsibilities of society in taking ownership of cultural production and its dissemination. Dr Zethu Matebeni, from HUMA (Institute of Humanities in Africa), considers notions of exuberance and female bodies, and same-sex interracial desire. Respected theatre director James Ncgobo will consider abundance and exuberance as perennial themes in his theatre productions; and artist, curator and academic Virginia MacKenny addresses issues of our natural world and environment.

The panels also feature several young award-winning artists and academics: Mamela Nyamza and Michael MacGarry (Standard Bank Young Artist Award winners and Donald Gordon Fellows), Christopher Swift (Spier Contemporary) and Mwenya Kabwe (Fleur du Cap).

The Exuberance Project points to a welcome turnaround in the enactment of all that emerges from the African continent; embracing themes that shift from lack to abundance, from Afro-pessimism to exuberance, from myths of a dark and brooding continent to vibrant, dynamic realism. Salley explains: “Exuberance is an abounding, effervescent emotion; but it is also a shining, flickering, fragile state”.

There will be performances by Mwenya Kabwe and Mamela Nyamza; and film screenings which include the acclaimed Grey Matter – set in Kigali, Rwanda; and directed by Kivu Ruhorahoza, it premiered at theTribeca Film Festival in 2011 and won both a Best Actor prize and a Special Jury Mention for its “audacious and experimental approach”.

Conference goers will also be treated to a visual feast with the opening of the Exuberance Project Exhibition at the Mandela Rhodes Gallery; as well as a walkabout around the city in an innovative project,The Callings; produced by Nicole Sarmiento, Memory Biwa, Toni Stuart and Tazneem Wentzel; featuring projections of art work on buildings, sound installations and performances.

Part of the vision for The Exuberance Project is to create an atmosphere of debate and discussion. At the symposium, audience will be seated at round tables and will also be posed questions for discussion for interactive, small group discussion. Also in keeping with GIPCA’s approach to create social spaces for disseminating ideas and for networking, the weekend’s conference features an opening cocktail event with supper, a Saturday evening social event, a Sunday brunch and a closing drinks event.

This weekend event will take place at Hiddingh Hall, University of Cape Town (UCT) Hiddingh Campus, Orange Street, Cape Town from 11 – 13 May 2012. The full programme is available from www.gipca.uct.ac.za. For more information, contact the GIPCA office on 021 480 7156 / fin-gipca@uct.ac.za.

Afrocartography Barcelona

Bookings and ticket sales through Computicket (www.computicket.com).
Ticket prices – Adults:

• R150 – includes all lectures, panels, performances and film screenings, transport to the Fugard Theatre, exhibition opening and walking tour, the opening cocktail function, Sunday brunch, teas and closing drinks.
• R100 – Friday 11 May includes as above where applicable
• R50 – Saturday 12 May includes as above where applicable
• R50 – Sunday 13 May includes as above where applicable

Ticket prices – Students:

• R100 – includes all lectures, panels, performances and film screenings, transport to the Fugard Theatre, exhibition opening and walking tour, the opening cocktail function, Sunday brunch, teas and closing drinks.
• R75 – Friday 11 May includes as above where applicable
• R30 – Saturday 12 May includes as above where applicable
• R30 – Sunday 13 May includes as above where applicable

Author: Gilly Hemphill
Website: http://www.computicket.com

This week is also Book Week for Young Readers, and 50 children’s authors are busy making their rounds to every class in seven Franschhoek schools, where they are talking to over 4 300 learners – engaging in readathons, writing workshops, spelling bees and book competitions. Early feedback indicates that this is a resounding success with teachers and learners blown away by the programme.

Some of the events already sold out, or nearly fully booked, include the following: Pieter, not Evita, Freedom of information?, Favourite poems, On being bolshy, Challenging Beliefs, The Garden of Evening Mists, State secrets, Shooting Angels, What do publishers want?, Letting the cat out of the bag, Learning from our mistakes and Rolling up our sleeves.

There are however a few seats left for other exciting events, including Heroes & zombies, Novels as entertainment?, Don’t fence me in, The Technology Tsunami, Cellphone fiction: MXit with M4Lit, Gay writing: niche to mainstream?, Angola’s long shadow, Aid to Africa under the spotlight and Growing up: Joburg.

The FLF is also proud to be associated with a publication that encourages mother-tongue creative writing, and celebrates the publication of This is My Land, the UWC Creates anthology in three languages in event [20]. Duncan Brown will introduce Sindiwe Magona and Meg Vandermerwe, UWC creative writing teachers who, together with Antjie Krog, compiled this multilingual anthology of student writing. Contributing students will read, followed by a discussion about the anthology’s themes of land and home, and how this next generation of writers perceives them.

Vir wie’s wat lief is vir die geskrewe word in Afrikaans, gesels Helen Naude met Deon Meyer (7 Dae), Dana Snyman (Hiervandaan) en Kerneels Breytenbach (Piekniek by Hangklip) in So sien ek dit.

Pre-bookings can still be made on www.webtickets.co.za, and the full programme is available onwww.flf.co.za. Tickets will also be sold at the Franschhoek Town Hall during the long weekend.

The FLF is presented in association with Porcupine Ridge Wines and the Sunday Times, and is further made possible through the generosity of Franschhoek guest house owners and voluntary workers who give their time and energy to make it an event to remember. Ticket proceeds and other donations go towards the FLF Library Fund.

Sarah Lotz

Author: Gilly Hemphill
Website: http://www.flf.co.za

During this week, more than 40 workshop facilitators and writers of books for children and young adults will visit every class (from Gr R to Gr 12) in seven Franschhoek schools, where they will talk to over 4 000 learners about topics relevant to their ages and home languages. The young readers will also take part in readathons, poetry, comic & lyric writing workshops, and book and poetry competitions. The week is supported by Nali’ibali, a reading club initiative soon to be rolled out country-wide by the Sunday Times, one of the FLF partners.

The FLF programme also includes events that young readers will enjoy. Student tickets are R20 for the first 6 events, available from Sheenagh at help@flf.co.za.

There are a few writers who have managed to lure younger readers into their imaginary worlds, and in Heroes and zombies, Edyth Bulbring finds out what the catch is when it comes to writing for teens from Sarah Lotz (Death of a Saint), Darrel Bristow-Bovey (SuperZero) and Palesa Morudu of Cover2Cover. Others have also managed to do crack the teen code, and in Cape voices Tracey Farren (Snake) chats to Yewande Omotoso (Bom Boy) and Maya Fowler (The Elephant in the Room), who more recently is an author of prizewinning teen fiction.

In Cellphone fiction: MXit with M4Lit, Arthur Attwell Hear talks about MXit was born and where books can be downloaded on cellphones, one short sizzling chapter a day, with Alan Knott-Craig Jnr of MXit, Gus Silber (author of The MXit Story) and Mignon Hardie of the FunDza Literary Trust.s. Gamers and geeks will enjoy tech wizard Arthur Goldstuck (World Wide Worx) and broadcaster Simon Dingle on the coming techno revolution in The Technology Tsunami.

In Growing up John Maytham talks to charismatic Chris van Wyk, Hawks spokesman McIntosh Polela and Kenyan writer Binyavanga Wainaina about their childhood memoirs.

In This is My Land: launch of UWC Creates anthology in three languages Professor Duncan Brown introduces Sindiwe Magona and Meg Vandermerwe, UWC creative writing teachers who, together with Antjie Krog, compiled this multilingual anthology of student writing.

Draw Your Life, Publish Your Self! is a double session for graphics enthusiasts with some of SA’s top cartoon and comix artists and publishers (cost: R120. Book via Webtickets)

The FLF is very informal and audiences are invited to ask questions towards the end of the session. In the half-hour between events, festival-goers can grab a bite and a cooldrink from the coffee stall in the Town Hall, vendors on the street corners, or Pick ‘n Pay. The full programme of the 2012 Franschhoek Literary Festival is online at www.flf.co.za, with bookings open on www.webtickets.co.za.

Author: Gilly Hemphill
Website: http://www.flf.co.za

“The use of ozone to clean fresh produce is nothing new globally, but those systems have always been large, expensive installations – which is why NOZ is such an exciting innovation,” says Stuart Gast, Executive Director at Invenfin. “The tremendous shift towards fresh, organic and unprocessed foods demands that more care is taken in preparation and storage, and NOZ is an effective, low-cost and chemical-free solution for all food preparation areas.”

The patented NOZ system comprises a control unit – a sealed, in-line chamber in which the ozone is generated by means of a corona discharge – and a nozzle through which the ozone is mixed with water to produce a fine spray for application to the produce. Ozone is a marvel of nature as the molecule rapidly destroys pollutants by attacking and oxidising the micro-organism’s cell wall and then reverting to oxygen. This sanitisation technology has been proven to kill 99.9% of all known bacteria, which besides reducing the risk of food poisoning, has the added commercial benefit of significantly extending the shelf life of fresh food – up to doubling it in certain instances.
“These results have sparked local and international interest from restaurateurs, industrial cleaning companies and hotel chains who have recognised the economic benefits, and that it is a green, chemical-free alternative to traditional sanitising solutions,” says ArcAqua MD, Crispin Russell.

“We recently appointed Hychem as our South African distributor. Hychem is well recognised in the hospitality industry as one of the leading suppliers of chemicals, environmental solutions, accessories and associated services in the market. Since the launch of our product became known, the international response has been overwhelming with a number of foreign companies expressing interest in our technology.”

While the food and hospitality industries are ArcAqua’s initial targets, the NOZ system can easily be adapted for application in a wide variety of industries from the medical and laboratory fields to public facilities such as factories, gyms, bathrooms and even in the home.
Gast says NOZ sparked immediate interest for Invenfin as it is a simple but innovative, environmentally friendly solution with global potential.
“When looking at potential investments, we are drawn to products or solutions that are at the intersection of global issues, and NOZ very clearly meets the macro trends of healthier eating and being environmentally-friendly head-on,” he says. “The nature and experience of our partners in ArcAqua added to our interest as they understand their business and market very well.”

Invenfin is a seed and early stage venture capital investment company and is part of Remgro Ltd. @Invenfin

Author: Renee Conradie
Website: http://invenfin.com/

Prof De Vos’s talk will engage with an article published by Rhodes University philosopher Samantha Vice entitled “How do I live in this Strange Place”, in which she reflects critically and sensitively on what it is to be white in a country like South Africa and how white people should live in this country – the “strange place” of her title.

The talk will explore ways in which South Africans can engage in an ethically responsible manner with the many complex issues faced by the country without trying to erase the past and the effects of that past that lingers still. Vice’s approach of working on the self to become a better person that feels appropriate shame for being white and being part of a system that has benefited one, and of turning away from an engagement with the political reality of South Africa; is both problematic and inadequate, argues De Vos. Relying on the concept of active citizenship, the talk will pose questions about the responsibility of white South Africans in particular to become ethically attuned citizens engaged in the difficult work of building a better society.

Prof Pierre de Vos, a widely respected authority in his field, holds the Claude Leon Foundation Chair in Constitutional Governance in the Department of Public Law at the University of Cape Town, where he teaches Constitutional Law. He has published widely in academic journals on a wide range of topics including affirmative action and equality, sexual orientation discrimination and the enforcement of social and economic rights. He writes a regular and widely read Blog called Constitutionally Speaking and is the chairperson of the Board of the Aids Legal Network, an NGO promoting a human rights approach to dealing with HIV and Aids.

This event will take place at Hiddingh Hall, University of Cape Town (UCT) Hiddingh Campus, Orange Street, Cape Town on Thursday 19 April at 17:30 and entrance is free. Refreshments will be served from 17:00. No Booking is necessary. For more information on the series, please contact 021 480 7156 or fin-gipca@uct.ac.za.

Author: Fiona Gordon
Website: http://www.gipca.uct.ac.za

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Daughter Luci, the “voice of Hirsch’s” kicked off the formal ceremony by welcoming all guests to the milestone event. She spoke about the Hirsch’s history, how the business was started and how it has grown to the successful retail empire it is today. She explained about Hirsch’s community involvement, Hirsch’s going green with revolutionary engineering concepts and the Hirsch family culture.

Managing Director of the company, Richard Hirsch spoke next about the Cape Town dream, the planning, the training, the hard work, and the determination that made the opening of the first branch in cape town a reality.

Margaret Hirsch, COE, then spoke about the Cape Town project, how it came about and how the dream was realised. She warmly thanked all involved, Isipani Construction, who through hard work and determination erected the great structure standing before our eyes today. Jandre Arangies from Isipani Construction was also awarded an ecological award for the exceptionally high ecological standards maintained throughout the duration of the project by the local community of Royal Ascot.

Allan Hirsch, CEO, was last to speak. Thanking the community of Cape Town for receiving the Hirsch’s family with open arms. He then assured the community that we were not here to take from anyone, but that we were here to grow with Cape Town and the community.

Author: Nardo van Eck
Website: http://www.hirschs.co.za