Archive for the ‘Biography’ Category
March 16th, 2010 by Chris
Author André P Brink is a man with a lot to say – as Alan Yu found out at the recent Man Hong Kong Literary Festival. Yu caught up with Brink to chat about South African letters post-Apartheid. It makes for insightful reading:
“Language,” André Brink says, “is the starting point of literature, an invention in and through language.” As someone who writes in both English and Afrikaans, he should know. He tells me that since the transition to multi-racial democracy in South Africa, more literature is written in Afrikaans, often seen to be the language of racial oppression. It is perhaps not so surprising, since Afrikaans was, in the words of Brink, “shaped in the mouths of slaves” which in a process of “creolisation” became the language of the bourgeoisie in the 19th century.
In a wide-ranging, erudite and stimulating lecture at the 2010 Man Hong Kong International Festival, held recently at the University of Hong Kong, Brink talks about South African fiction after apartheid.
He begins by observing that apartheid has not been eliminated, but is “receding”. “The road to freedom for the creation of literature,” he says, “still has to be walked.”
Book details
Cats: Afrikaans,
Biography,
News,
Non-fiction,
South Africa Tags: 'n Vurk in die Pad,
A Fork in the Road,
Afrikaans,
Alan Yu,
Andre Brink,
Andre P Brink,
Autobiography,
Biography,
Harvill Secker,
Hong Kong Literary Festival,
Human & Rousseau,
Interview,
NB,
News,
Non-fiction,
Publisher,
South Africa
March 5th, 2010 by Chris
Die pen (of dalk eerder die sleutelbord) van skrywer Herman Giliomee was onlangs weer druk besig met die skryf van briewe aan sy dogter Adrienne wat in London bly. Die brief is in Beeld gepubliseer as ‘n uittreksel uit Kroniek – ‘n manuskrip in wording – volgens Giliomee. Die skrywer het bekendheid verwerf met Die Afrikaners: ‘n Biografie.
Ons het Vrydagaand ’n wonderlike ervaring gehad.
In November verlede jaar was ek in kontak met Athol Fugard in die VSA oor sy woorde op die voorblad van die tweede uitgawe van my boek The Afrikaners , wat pas verskyn het.
Hy nooi ons toe uit na die opening van die nuwe Fugard-teater, ’n ou pakhuis op die rand van die ou Distrik Ses wat in ’n teater omskep is.
Boekbesonderhede
Cats: Afrikaans,
Biography,
Non-fiction,
Politics,
South Africa Tags: 'n Biografie,
Afrikaans,
Biography,
Die Afrikaners,
Herman Giliomee,
NB,
Non-fiction,
Politics,
South Africa,
Tafelberg
March 4th, 2010 by Chris
Herman Giliomee recently released an updated version of his definitive work The Afrikaners: Biography of a People in which he discusses some of the latest challenges facing a group all too often mistaken as a monolithic bloc. In a recent article, Giliomee points out that Afrikaners represent a minority with little experience of fighting for its rights. That, however, is changing now he says: Afrikaners, represented by various groups and leaders, are staging a political comeback, and not necessarily always within the framework of the New South Africa. The Afrikaner’s last chapter, concludes Giliomee, is far from ready to be written:
For most Afrikaners, the past 20 years of politics have been traumatic. They have lost four institutions in which they had vested their hopes of retaining some control of their future: the state, the Government of National Unity, and the National Party, while trust in the constitution has faded.
Formerly powerful Afrikaner organizations have also withered. By 2009 the Afrikanerbond retained only one-tenth of its 1994 membership (and a quarter of its 2001 membership). The gatvol (fed-up) factor among northern Afrikaners became so great than in a recent Beeld poll more than half indicated that they would prefer to live in a volkstaat. The late Chris Louw grasped the feeling of alienation when he wrote in his Beeld column that Afrikaners political influence has been reduced to their demographic proportion – a mere six percent.
Book details
Cats: Biography,
Non-fiction,
South Africa Tags: 'n Biografie,
Afrikaans,
ANC,
Biography,
Biography of a People,
Die Afrikaners,
English,
Herman Giliomee,
National Democratic Revolution,
NB,
NDR,
Non-fiction,
Politics,
Politicsweb,
Reference,
South Africa,
Tafelberg,
The Afrikaners
February 10th, 2010 by Chris
“Chris Louw, who has died at the age of 56, was an Afrikaans journalist who sparked one of the hottest and most heartfelt debates in contemporary Afrikaner history.”
- Sunday Times
Nuut van Human & Rousseau: ‘n heruitgawe van die skreiende lewensverhaal van Chris Louw, Boetman en die swanesang van die verligtes en sy analise van hoe hy en sy generasie verkul is deur die apartheidsleiers.
*
New from Human & Rousseau: a reprint of the bestselling true story of controversial Afrikaner journalist and commentator Chris Louw, who shot himself on his farm outside Hartebeespoortdam. The book analyses how Louw and his generation were sold out by apartheid leaders. It resonates even more deeply after his shocking death.
“Chris Louw was besig om so ikonies te word soos Orwell nadat Animal Farm en 1984 gepubliseer is. Hy was sekerlik die beste Afrikaanse koerantman van sy generasie.”
- Rapport
Oor die skrywer
Chris Louw, gewese SAUK radioredakteur en gereelde bydraer tot Beeld en Rapport, het in Desember sy eie lewe geneem. Dit het tot voorbladberigte en grootskaalse debatte in die media gelei. Louw was ‘n opspraakwekkende openbare figuur en kommentator wat niemand koud gelaat het nie. Sommige het hom beskou as die beste Afrikaanse joernalis vandag.
Hy was destyds deel van die groep Suid-Afrikaners wat die ANC, tóé nog verban, in Dakar ontmoet het. Hy het ook geskryf vir die Mail & Guardian, Farmers’ Weekly, Vaderland en Oggendblad.
Boekbesonderhede
Cats: Afrikaans,
Biography,
Non-fiction,
South Africa Tags: Afrikaans,
Biography,
Boetman en die swanesang van die verligtes,
Chris Louw,
English,
Heruitgawe,
Human & Rousseau,
NB,
Non-fiction,
Reprint,
South Africa
February 8th, 2010 by Chris
Singer, songwriter and author Koos Kombuis had a huge hit with his “Fokkol” song a few years ago. He’s back with a new version – but this time his gripe isn’t with service delivery, it’s with our trashing of the environment. Listen to “Die Groen Fokkol Song”:
(NB: Parental guidance is advised for young listeners.)
Koos Kombuis se Groen Fokkol song:
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DownloadAfter a creative spurt of two books and two CDs in the space of two years, Koos Kombuis has come to the point in his life where he needed to step back and look at the bigger picture.
“I have had some surprising reactions to my recent biography of the Voelvry era,” he admitted. “Instead of bringing musicians together for a common purpose, it has caused more divisions. It seems as if not everyone remembers that era in the same way, and the differences of opinion are far greater than I imagined.”
Koos says that he felt that musicians needed a larger focus to help them forget about local politics, the past, and the old forms of protest. “The issues at stake right now are so much bigger than the things which divided us in the past. It is no longer relevant to worry about who did what to whom, and who disliked whom, for whatever reason. We are living in a time of global crisis.”
For those who wish to reminisce, here’s a clip of Kombuis’ original, wildly popular “Fokkol” song (recorded live at Oppikoppi):
Book details
Photo courtesy Channel24
Cats: Afrikaans,
Biography,
Green,
South Africa Tags: Afrikaans,
Biography,
Die Groen Fokkol Song,
Die tyd van die kombi’s,
Fiction,
Green,
Human & Rousseau,
Koos Kombuis,
NB,
Podcast,
Short Drive to Freedom,
South Africa,
Video,
Voelvry
January 14th, 2010 by Jani
Koos Kombuis is dalk ‘n doring in menigte se vlees met sy kritiese uitlatings oor mede-sangers en skrywers. Maar een ding kan jy van hom se – hy se ‘n ding soos hy dit sien, prontuit, sonder stories of fieterjasies. Kombuis praat dan onlangs ook weer so reguit in ‘n artikel vir Beeld: hierdie keer oor die pad wat hy gestap het na wysheid, erkenning en aanvaarding van sy erfenis as Afrikaan. Lees meer oor hierdie tog in sy nuutste boek In die tyd van die kombi’s. Die boek is ook beskikbaar in Engels as Short Drive to Freedom.
In sy heel eerste bekende roman, The Alchemist, vertel Paulo Coelho ons van ’n jong man, Santiago, en sy desperate soektog na ’n verborge skat.
Dis ’n soektog wat hom wegneem van sy tuisdorp na onbekende streke en verafgeleë plekke. Wanneer hy op die ou end die skat vind waarna hy so naarstiglik gesoek het, ontdek hy dat dit al die tyd in sy tuisdorp was. As hy uit die staanspoor gebly het waar hy was, sou hy dit dalk in elk geval ontdek het!
Maar sou hy dan die wysheid gehad het om dit reg aan te wend?
Boekbesonderhede
Foto te danke aan Rapport
Cats: Afrikaans,
Biography,
South Africa Tags: Afrikaans,
Biography,
Die tyd van die kombi’s,
Fiction,
Human & Rousseau,
Koos Kombuis,
NB,
Rapport,
Short Drive to Freedom,
South Africa
December 17th, 2009 by Ronel S
This new, updated edition of Anton Rupert: A Biography portrays the life of a man who rose from the depths of the Depression – he was born in the modest Karoo town of Graaff-Reinet – to become an African millionaire.
Rupert’s Rembrandt Group (now Remgro) would gain international renown with glittering brands like Cartier, Dunhill and Rothmans. A family dynasty was built up within a few decades, making the Ruperts, next to the Oppenheimers, Africa’s wealthiest family.
Author and newspaperman Ebbe Dommisse’s extensive international research and in-depth interviews of Rupert, his family and those who knew him well, make for an inspirational portrait of an enigmatic man.
Now in soft cover with additional information on his death, the details of his will, and what Mbeki and Mandela had said about this local legend.
About the Author
Ebbe Dommisse is well known as political journalist and former newspaper editor for Die Burger. He has written a number of books on South African politics, including the best-selling Broedertwis en Leierstryd (Dommisse).
Praise for the Book
“A must-read biography … the story of a small town boy who scaled remarkable heights as a businessman, reaching Forbes’ list of the 500 wealthiest people worldwide.” www.ever-fasternews.com
“I encourage everyone and anyone who is interested in South African business to go and get a copy … Factual…with some wonderful anecdotes … a really good book.” Alec Hogg, Moneyweb
“The ultimate adman … Marketers should be compelled to read the chapter entitled ‘The Oracle of Trademarks’.” Jeremy Maggs, Financial Mail
Book details
Cats: Biography,
Non-fiction,
South Africa Tags: A Biography,
Anton Rupert,
Biography,
Ebbe Dommisse,
English,
NB,
Non-fiction,
Rembrandt Group,
Remgro,
South Africa,
Tafelberg
December 15th, 2009 by Ronel S
Herman Giliomee has recently released an updated version of his book The Afrikaners: Biography of a People. This new edition has added chapters looking at the often strained, relationship between Afrikaners and the ANC, as well as the changes the past decade has wrought in South Africa. The author answered 16 questions about his work and the circumstances that lead to the update for Politicsweb:
1. Why a second edition with the first one having appeared as recently as 2003?
The book sold remarkably well (25,000 in both the English and Afrikaans editions) and it was out of print at the beginning of the year after having gone through six reprints. To reprint it again would not make much sense. Simply too much has happened in the last ten years. A substantial new chapter was needed to take developments up to the present time.
2. Does it often happen that a history book gets a second edition so soon?
Not really, but it is South Africa's fate to have too much history and too much politics, particularly for a country with a relatively small population (only six million a century ago). Over the past ten years too much has happened and the public mood has changed drastically. It is almost similar to what happened in the four years before the Great Trek (1832 -1836), the four years between the Jameson Raid and the Anglo Boer War (1895-1899), the five years between the Depression and Fusion (1929 -1934), the five years after becoming a republic (1961-1966), and the nine years after P.W. Botha's Rubicon speech in 1985.
Book details
Cats: Biography,
Non-fiction,
Politics,
South Africa Tags: Biography,
Biography of a People,
English,
Herman Giliomee,
NB,
Non-fiction,
Politics,
Politicsweb,
Reference,
South Africa,
Tafelberg,
The Afrikaners
December 1st, 2009 by Ronel S
Cats: Afrikaans,
Biography,
Misc,
Non-fiction,
South Africa Tags: Actress,
Afrikaans,
Biography,
Charlize,
Charlize Theron,
Chris Karsten,
Ek leef my droom,
English,
Human & Rousseau,
Life's One Helluva Ride,
Misc,
NB,
Non-fiction,
Publisher,
South Africa,
Subtitle
November 20th, 2009 by Ronel S
Zubeida Jaffer’s memoir Our Generation is now available in the UK. To mark its appearance there, her old schoolmate and activist friend Janice Warman reminisces about the heady, terrifying days of the late 70s at Rhodes University. An unforgettable piece featuring some unforgettable characters – including Marion Sparg and Guy Berger – in The Observer:
In 1979, three middle-class students in the Eastern Cape joined the ANC’s war with Apartheid. They were tortured, jailed and branded traitors. Thirty years on, they are national heroes.
For heaven's sake,” my father said, seeing me off at the airport, “don't get drunk, don't get pregnant – and don't get involved in politics.” He was right to be concerned. Rhodes University in the late 1970s, with its Sir Herbert Baker-designed campus and its lush green lawns, looked prosperous and sedate. But the Sunday papers had been full of the escapades of its notorious drinking clubs and loose morals; the Eastern Cape was, after the riots of 1976, a place of turmoil and desperate poverty; and the campus was thought by most conservative parents to be a hotbed of political activity.
Nearby, the Nationalist policy of forced removals meant thousands of black people had been moved from the cities into the black “homelands” of Transkei and Ciskei, and dumped there with only a standpipe and a couple of huts for company; two out of three children died of malnutrition before the age of three .
I arrived in 1977, the year after the Soweto riots, to study journalism. Months later, Steve Biko was murdered in custody. The campus tipped over into turmoil. There were demonstrations and hunger strikes. For most of us, Rhodes was a revelation. We had been brought up to respect authority. Here, we could forge a whole new identity, personally and politically.
I arrived in 1977, the year after the Soweto riots, to study journalism. Months later, Steve Biko was murdered in custody. The campus tipped over into turmoil. There were demonstrations and hunger strikes. For most of us, Rhodes was a revelation. We had been brought up to respect authority. Here, we could forge a whole new identity, personally and politically.
Out of that class of 1979 came two women whose identities merged with the painful birth of the new South Africa: two journalism students whose journey was to take them through defiance, imprisonment and torture during the apartheid years. One of the quietest girls in the class, Marion Sparg, joined the ANC’s military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), trained in exile in Lusaka, and was eventually convicted of bombing two police stations. An Asian journalist, Zubeida Jaffer, was imprisoned and tortured for her writing and union activism, yet ultimately chose not to prosecute her torturer.
Book details
Cats: Biography,
Feature,
Non-fiction,
South Africa Tags: Biography,
Feature,
Guy Berger,
Janice Warman,
Kwela,
Marion Sparg,
MK,
NB,
Non-fiction,
Our Generation,
Politics,
Rhodes University,
South Africa,
Steve Biko,
The Observer,
Zubeida Jaffer
