Lewis Nkosi’s influence as both writer and critic has been profound as numerous reviews, references to his work and interchanges with his contemporaries confirm. However, given his at times harsh criticism of South African writing during the apartheid era, together with his exile from South Africa, his reputation within the country was for some time less secure than it was in America and Europe. His significance stems from the fact that he was, until his death, one of the very few surviving members of the Drum generation of writers of the 50s, one who continued to write throughout the apartheid and post-apartheid decades. Even into his seventies, he recorded and commented upon an extraordinary period of South African history. Nkosi was also remarkable for using a wide variety of genres to express his forthright views: critical essays, short stories, plays, novels, poetry, even a libretto.

• Read the full obituary on KZN Literary Tourism …

The Department of Basic Education has called on parents and members of communities to promote the importance of books and a love for reading.

From 10 to 13 September, the department will showcase its reading initiatives at the Africa Museum in Newtown. Teachers and learners are invited to attend and participate in a range of activities which include the exhibition and display of different programmes and products that encourage reading.

Also taking part will be Blindlib which will be promoting their services. In the Reading Tents, they will run a Braille game that can be used by both sighted and blind people.

The Children’s Reading Tent will be a homely environment for children to enjoy storytelling at its best. Storytellers will provide exciting and interactive sessions for children between the ages of 4 to 13. Children will also be encouraged to enjoy silent reading time.

The Adult’s Reading Tent will provide an opportunity for adults to explore books through group reading sessions, demonstrations, book club information and quiet reading spaces.

The Gauteng North District has also identified 30 schools which will receive book donations for their classroom libraries.

The National Book Week is being co-hosted by the Department of Basic Education in-conjunction with the South African Book Development Council and the Department of Arts and Culture. - BuaNews

This year the run has been particularly impressive.  Project leader Betsie Greyling was there with her camera, the results of which can be viewed at the Ulwazi flickr group.

The aim is to celebrate the legacy of women from the 1950s to date in redressing imbalances. It will also facilitate and communicate awareness to the viewers about social issues that affect society particularly women and children such as crime, rape, discrimination, disease, poverty, human trafficking and xenophobia.

Female and male artists from around KwaZulu-Natal are invited to participate. The exhibition involves a variety of artworks ranging from paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, ceramics, textiles, basketry, etc.

Durban Art Gallery Acting Director, Musa Mncwabe, said, ‘The exhibition also appreciates the contribution played by artists in the South African economy especially tourism as we noticed their role in the 2010 World Cup. Lastly, it is designed to promote, support and appreciate our local art and heritage and make it accessible to the public’.

The exhibition will open on August 6, at 17.00 pm at the Durban Art Gallery, 2nd Floor, Antony Lembede (Smith) Street at City Hall.

Also featured is the launch of a book, written by US born Nomusa Xaba an international storyteller and social activist. Workshops for adults and learners will be conducted during and after the exhibition from August to November 2010. The exhibition is curated by Phumzile Dlamini.

For more information contact Acting Director Musa Mncwabe, Durban Art Gallery on (031) 311 2264 or e-mail StrettonJ@durban.gov.za

The exhibition will provide you with an excellent opportunity to get more information and a better understanding on how to make your home, your business and your city more sustainable.

The IKS Expo, which kicks off on Monday at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC), will be opened by Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor.

Through the IKS Expo, the department hopes to raise public awareness and understanding of IKS in South Africa. Indigenous knowledge is described as facts about medicinal plants, indigenous games, indigenous food crops and musical instruments to mention but a few.
The expo will further demonstrate the relevance of indigenous knowledge and technologies to the country’s economy and rural and community development. Information about what government departments, science councils, higher education institutions, civil society and communities are undertaking to promote, develop and protect indigenous knowledge will also be shared.

This will also include progress made with regulatory issues relating to Bioprospecting, access and benefit-sharing agreements.

The IKS Expo, organised by the department, in partnership with the Northern Flagship Institution and other government departments and science councils, will be held under the theme: “Our indigenous knowledge, our pride, ulwazi lwethu ukuzigqaja kwethu.”

As part of the expo activities, the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the Provincial Department of Health will host a national conference on traditional medicines and HIV and AIDS.

The minister will be accompanied by the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Zweli Mkhize and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Professor Malegapuru Makgoba. – BuaNews

In the festival’s wide selection of films from around the world is a selection of thrilling, edgy, thought-provoking and downright funny films from India and the Indian diaspora.

Zooming in on political accountability, Peepli Live explores the realities of poverty-stricken farmers whose only way out is committing suicide so that their families may receive government compensation. This surprisingly hilarious film was produced by the legendary Indian actor Aamir Khan.

Durban filmmaker Masood Boomgard’s Attack of the Indian Werewolf is a cheerfully irreverent spoof of the horror genre starring East Coast Radio deejay and stand-up comedian Neville Pillay.  Serious laughs are to be had.

At the other end of the spectrum, Jyoti Mistry comments on the commonalities of the human experience in various international urban spaces with her experimental feature, The Bull On The Roof (Le Beof Sur Le Toit).

Fans of the master Bengali filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta will thoroughly enjoy his latest work screening at the festival, The Window (Janala), a magical and remarkably frank commentary on modern Indian life.

This year’s DIFF also brings a triumph for Marathi cinema with Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni’s The Well which is a tender look at the loss of the innocence of childhood. The film is produced by Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, and the director Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni will attend the festival.

Alongside these fine feature-length films, the festival also celebrates topical Indian cinema through the short film medium. Homecoming explores the challenge in balancing modernity and traditional Indian values while The Floating Position sees a young man facing a dilemma between his caste identity and his high economic status.

Audience members will be spoilt for choice when it comes to Indian cinema at the 31^st Durban International Film Festival with screenings at movie theatres and other public arenas throughout Durban.

Programme booklets with the full screening schedule and synopses of all the films are available free at cinemas, Computicket, and other outlets.

The Durban International Film Festival is organised by the Centre For Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal) with support by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (principal funder), National Film and Video Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism, HIVOS, City Of Durban, German Embassy of South Africa, Goethe-Institut South Africa, Industrial Development Corporation, Commonwealth Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture, and a range of other valued partners.

General queries: Durban International Film Festival – diff@ukzn.ac.za or call 031 260 2506.

The Chatsworth Youth Centre, the Lenny Naidu Development Institute (LNDI), Imagine Chatsworth and the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) have banded together for an event in recognition of the struggle hero and the part he played in bringing the 2010 World Cup to South African shores.

The event is planned for July 18, to coincide with Mandela’s birthday.

• Read the full article at The Times …