The 9 th Jozi Book Fair has a diverse range of people, institutions, organisations, social movements, activists and academics to thank. This diversity shapes the content of the JBF and gives the fair its distinctive and accessible character as a Fair for everyone. Entrance to the Fair is FREE for all sessions to ensure accessibility of everyone to literature and culture. This is made possible through the good will and contribution of all our participants in various ways. This has contributed to the development of the Fair and the common good.
Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has participated to make the Jozi Book Fair a success: our children, school youth, out of school youth, teachers, students, authors, artists, NGOs, all publishers, sponsors, partners, activists, organisations and social movements, and the public. Thank you all for your contribution throughout the year and for the annual festival.
Thanks to City of Joburg
Our thanks to the City of Joburg for their collaboration and support and all departments and officials who assisted us. We believe that your insightful support to the JBF and the movement of readers will contribute positively to the transformation of the City of Joburg. No city can grow sustainably without developing all its citizens, young and old.
We all thank Shaun Harrison (JOC), Zanta Nyembe (JRA), Obed Molebatsi (EMS), Steven Mudau (JMPD), Zola Mtshiza (Museum Africa), Belinda Hlaka (Workers Museum) and the JDA for all their assistance.
We extend our sincere thanks to following people:
All our Patrons for their support: Professor Zakes Mda, Luli Callinicos, James Matthews, and Poet Laureate, Keorapetse Kgositsile. Our legendary activist-artists for making their work available and accessible to the JBF series for youth, #Pass on the Word: Lushness of Love and Age is a Beautiful Phase by James Matthews; Homage by Keorapetse Kgositsile. and The Enigma and Other Stories by Lindsey Collen. All five books will be launched at the Fair..
Guests of the Fair, Kopano Matlwa and Shailja Patel for making time for the JBF and making their work accessible to us. We hope you enjoyed your time with the JBF and look forward to continued collaboration. Our sincere appreciation to activist-artist, Lindsey Collen, the first JBF Guest of the Fair (2010) for your highly treasured participation at the Fair this year.
Everyone who is participating in this year’s fair – authors, artists, musicians, theatre practitioners, panelists, moderators and facilitators, NGOS and exhibitors. Thank you all for your commitment and support for alternatives and the movement of readers. The Poetry Buddies (children) and Tshohang Batjha (youth) and all the coordinators from the ten Orphan and Vulnerable Centres that work with Khanya College throughout the year.
The 47 Schools, principals and teachers that the JBF works with throughout the year. The JBF Library Monitors who provide important support and leadership to their book clubs at various schools.
All the 120 entrants to the JBF School Short Story Competition this year. We commend all of you and thank you for building the movement of readers and your commitment to your writing. Keep on writing. Congratulations to the 10 JBF School Authors, the winners of the Short Story Competition.
The collection of short stories, Unbreakable & Other Stories – the women in our lives – will be launched at this Fair. Karuna Singh from the Wits Community Outreach for your continued support and partnership over the years. We value your modesty and commitment. Thank you for hosting Spelling Bees this year, one for Schools and one for OVCs.
Fellow activists, the Community Health Workers Gauteng Forum for participating in the Fair, and the volunteers for venue-support for the entire Fair. Thank you all for your thought-provoking Exhibitions at the JBF: Mazwi Mdima for his exhibition: Imbali Yo Mfazi/The Legend of Woman, at Workers Museum; Market Photo Workshop for The Four Dilemmas; Women of South Africa, by Peter Magubane; City of Joburg Demo Library, The Status of Women and Girls in South Africa, by Stats SA and Reading City Spaces by Vedhant Maharaj & Summaya Vally.
The moderators of the Schools Short Story Competition, Jenny Hatton, Sarah Motha, Neilwe Mashigo and Carol Mashigo, (Guest of the JBF 2016). Your work is extremely valuable in supporting JBF’s young authors and the movement of readers. Joan Rankin for consistent support to JBF and Khanya College through the years. Bridget Impey from Jacana for support to the JBF, making chapters and copies of Kopano Matlwa’s books, Coconut and Period Pain available to Tshang Batjha school youth and Community Health Care workers’ book clubs.
Thank you also for assisting to make Kopano Matlwa’s books more affordable at the Fair. Sunyoung Lee and Neelanjana Banerjee from Kaya Press and Shailja Patel for giving Jozi Book Fair the rights to publish Migritude. This assisted us to publish the book locally and to make it affordable and accessible at the Fair. Zola Maseko, film-maker and producer, for the screening of his film, Whale Caller, as a premiere at the JBF. Thank you for the honour.
For the translation of the JBF children’s book, Penny en Puffy by Zakes Mda and Mpapa Mokhoane into Afrikaans: Chante Petersen, Candice Pretorius, Harry May, Ilze Wolff, Tracy Lee Dennis and Hein Willemse. Thank you to the SAPS Central Police Station, Colonel Mhlaba. Our partners: Busara Institute for Research and Publishing, Bohlale ba Basebetse, Oxfam, Museum Africa, Workers Museum, Standing Ovation, Moses Molelekwa Art Foundation, Market Photo Workshop and Market Laboratory – for their support. We look forward to deepening the partnership in the future. For support with the development of the JBF Programme, thanks to our Reference Group: Neilwe Mashigo, Karuna Singh, Jeremy Daphne, Mondli Hlatswayo and Sarah Motha and Ayanda Seoka.
Thank you for your time, support and advice. Sthembele Ngobeni and Chris November for the distinctive JBF Wall Murals. Curators of the Museums: Zola Mtshiza (Museum Africa), Belinda Hlaka (Workers Museum) and Lekgetho Makola (Market Photo Workshop). Nicholas Whitcutt Architects for continued support to Khanya College and the JBF.
Thanks to Publishers for assisting us with authors: Colleen Higgs (Modjaji Books) and Neilwe Mashigo (Jacana). Oxford University Press for their gift of dictionaries to the winners of the JBF Schools Short Story Competition. Diana Ferrus for facilitating the writing retreat with Tsohang Batjha School Authors this year. The youth enjoyed themselves. Alexandra Roessingh and Kwathabisile Game Resort for support to Khanya College and the JBF School Authors’ writing retreat this year (2017).
Thank you also for contributing to the prize and one-week’s accommodation for a writing retreat in 2018, for the winners of the Tsohang Batjha Schools Short Story Competition. Marcus Tourien for assisting with the sport, and the 5-a- side soccer at the Fair. Monkey Fountain Nursery for their beautiful flora, contributing to make the JBF on Mary Fitzgerald Square a more relaxing, convivial and memorable experience. Oxford University Press for the donation of 20 dictionaries as prizes for the Schools Short Story Competition. JBF Solidarity partners: Busara Research and Publishing Institute, Bohlale ba Basebetse, Afrika Groups of Sweden, Brot fuer die Welt, Solidar Switzerland, Oxfam and Zenex Foundation.
The Khanya College Board of Trustees for consistent commitment and support for social justice. Lastly we thank the Director of Khanya College, Oupa Lehulere, the JBF team, all the staff at Khanya College, Itumeleng wa Lehulere, Thembani Luzipho, the workers, marshalls and volunteers for helping to make the Fair a memorable and enjoyable experience.
We take this opportunity to also thank the public for their support. We look forward to spending time with you and to making this the best Jozi Book Fair.
In solidarity
Maria van Driel
Director, JBF.
