2011 BESSIE HEAD LITERATURE AWARDS

PRESS RELEASE

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.

24 July 2011

2:30 pm

National Museum, Gaborone

Free Admission

FARAFINA WORKSHOP AND CAINE PRIZE for Botswana's Lauri Kubuitsile

Writer Lauri Kubuitsile who is also vice chaiperson of this association is travelling to Nigeria to attend the Farafina workshop. She has recently been shortlisted for the Caine Prize for African Writing and will be traveling on to London for prize related workshops and events.

All the best Lauri.

If you'd like to read a bit about Lauri or buy her books her blog is http://thoughtsfrombotswana.blogspot.com/


A recent interview with Lauri is on www.tjdema.blogspot.com/

Read-A-Thon

In conjunction with the Pan-African Reading Conference to be held at the University of Botswana from the 11-14 of July this year, WABO and the Reading Association of Botswana (RAB) have joined hands to run a nationwide Read-a-Thon for students around the country.

Entry forms will be run in The Voice newspaper from next week. Students should cut out the form and get reading! They will write down the title of each book read and their teacher or librarian will sign off for the book. At the end of the reading period they need to post the entry forms to the address listed. Cash and book prizes will be awarded to the students in primary and secondary who have read the most books. The prize giving will be part of the opening ceremony of the Reading Conference which will be attended by 700 international participants and opened by Hon. Minister Masisi.

Without readers there can be no writers, so we need to re-instill a love of books in our children. So spread the word! It is hoped that the Read-A-Thon might become an annual event.

Go Tell The Sun- a new short story collection by Motswana writer Wame Molefhe

Award winning Motswana writer, Wame Molefhe's new collection of short stories, Go Tell the Sun, published by Modjaji Books, is getting a lot of buzz in South Africa.

Read an interview with Molefhe at LitNet- HERE.

Short Story Day South- Let's Celebrate it!!

The 21st June is scheduled as Short Story Day. In the UK there are plenty of events taking place which you can read about here. All around Southern Africa publishers, writers and short story enthusiasts will be participating in events around the wonderful short story. Join the Facebook page about the day here.

The Writers Association of Botswana (WABO) intends to celebrate the day. When plans are finalised you'll find all of the details here on the blog. But what about celebrating the day where you are? Are you a teacher? How about having your class read and discuss a short story? Or even write one! What about holding a short story writing day at your local community centre? There are plenty of ways to celebrate this very important type of narrative.

Let us know what you've come up with!!!

The 2011 Commonwealth Short Story Contest Open for Submission

The Commonwealth Short Story Contest is now open for submissions. Stories must be under 600 words. There is no entry fee and stories can be submitted online. The deadline for submission is 1 March 2011.

For complete submission guidelines and prizes on offer go HERE. Click rules on the right hand side for a PDF with detailed guidelines.

Free Global Poetry Contest

Are you a poet? Here's a contest for you. You must sign-up to be a members but the contest is free to enter and there are cash prizes.
Click HERE for details.