Writers win big: Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature 2005

Press release

Two well-known authors of youth novels have won big money with their latest youth novels in the Sanlam competition for youth literature - and both of them are previous winners!

In the category for Nguni languages Dumisani Sibiya has been awarded the Gold Prize for his manuscript Ngidedele ngife, which is the story of Ndabayakhe, a talented young musician who belongs to a highly successful music group that consists of himself and two other musicians.

"Ngidedele ngife is a novel that is going to have strong appeal for the youth," commented adjudicator Danisile Ntuli, lecturer in isiZulu at UNISA. "It is modern, and the author has skillfully used the so-called celebrities to make the youth aware that Aids does not discriminate - it can cut one's life and aspirations short if one does not take responsibility for one's own behaviour."

Interestingly, this concern is echoed in one of the prizewinners in another category, Praise Song by Jenny Robson. This whodunnit, which starts off with the murder of a popular schoolteacher, is also concerned with Gaone's desperate attempts to keep her beautiful but irresponsible younger sister Precious out of the claws of the local Don Juan, who loves them and leaves them faster than you can count.

Dumisani's previous Sanlam winner, Kungasa ngifile, is currently prescribed for Grade 10 isiZulu students across the country and is selling like hot cakes. It is obvious that young readers like his work and respond to his stories.

Just as remarkable is the feat of Kabelo Kgatea, who has won his third Sanlam prize in succession: he was first awarded the prize in 2000 for his Setswana novel Njeng manong fa ke sule!, and then followed this up with Leba seipone in 2002. And now there is Ntshware ka letsogo, his latest prizewinner.

This is the story of Neo, who is not only orphaned but also blind. Nevertheless, through the strength of his spirit and the determination with which he confronts and overcomes the obstacles facing him, he finds a place in the sun for himself with his beautiful singing.

Of Ntshware ka letsogo one of the judges, Prof Johan Lenake, says: "The title, apart from the literal meaning of 'take me by the hand', also contains a deeper meaning, namely: help me to be self-sufficient; let us take each others' hands and do something for the new South Africa."

Kabelo Kgatea's previous two novels are currently prescribed for Grade 10 Setswana readers across the country.

The other winners in the 2005 competition are Darrel Bristow-Bovey, with SuperZero, Jenny Robson with Praise Song, Fanie Viljoen with BreinBliksem, Engela van Rooyen with Vuvuzela and François Bloemhof with Nie vir kinders nie.

The winning manuscripts were selected from a total of 114 entries: 6 in Nguni languages, 6 in Sotho languages, 50 in English and 52 in Afrikaans. In each category there were two prizes up for grabs: a Gold Prize of R12000 and a Silver Prize of R6000.

The judges were Danisile Ntuli and Dr Thabs Ntshinga for Nguni languages and Prof Johan Lenake and Dr P.M. Sebate for Sotho languages, while Elinor Sisulu, Penny Hochfeld and Barbara Ludman looked after the English category and Elfra Erasmus, Kirby van der Merwe and Petra Grütter were responsible for the Afrikaans.

All the prizewinning books are being published by Tafelberg Publishers and are to be launched at functions in Cape Town and Johannesburg in the course of August and October.

LitNet: 02 September 2005

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