INAUGURAL MBALI LITERARY AWARDS

Mbali Press Literary Assn has confirmed that the inaugural Mbali Literary Awards will commence this year. The award would initially be restricted to the Free State.

Mbali Press is an internationally respected publishing firm which inter alia churns out quality books in both South Africa and Lesotho, books which are distributed globally. This year the firm has published a number of top quality works.

Papa Kimenyo of Mbali told Free State News this week that the firm has always intended to orchestrate such awards. “In more advanced countries there are countless awards for writers to give them a boost, to encourage them to enhance their work. Whilst it is true that relatively we have few creative writers here, we should acknowledge and honour the outstanding ones”.

Free State News learnt that this inaugural award will honour writers who have distinguished themselves this current year (2012).

Kimenyo said: “A number of books have been published this year, and they are being considered. We are also excited that we’ll also be honouring other writers who are not necessarily authors of books, but who have contributed to pure literature (this year) by way of their critical articles or reviews, columns or blogs”.

Already, Free State writers are excited about the awards. “Yes, it is a good idea. It’s about celebrating literacy and literature, showing writers that their efforts are at least appreciated”, frontline poet Lebohang Thasi said.

Kimenyo also said that the awards are scheduled for November this year, also disclosed some other details pertaining to pertinent categories and those short-listed thus far.

SHORT-LISTED FOR AWARDS…

Book of the year category:

Free State of mind (by Jah Rose Jafta, Rita Chihawa)

From where I stand (by George Rampai)

Landscape from within (by Seipati Thomas).

Writers/Commentators on Literature category:

Paul Lothane

Kgang Abel Motheane (The Bookshelf column)

Tiisetso Thiba.

Promising newcomer of the year category:

Sam Mothupi

Mayibongwe Mpanda

Ishmael Soqaga.