Now in its sixth year of existence, the South African Literary Awards will open for the 2011 Call for Submissions on the 8th April and close on the 30th June 2011. Both fiction and non-fiction writers are invited to submit their work for these prestigious accolades. SALA has become one of the major literary awards in South Africa, having honoured over 90 South African authors. The recipients include Prof. Keorapetse Kgositsile, who was crowned the National Poet Laureate, succeeding the late Professor Mazisi Kunene. Others are Miriam Tlali, Professor Lewis Nkosi, Nontando Helen Jabavu, Phyllis Naidoo, Andre Brink, Chris van Wyk, Modikwe Dikobe, Maureen Isaacson, Victor Dlamini, Dr. Wally Serote and many more.
Founded by the wRite Associates, in partnership with the national Department of Arts and Culture, supported by the National Arts Council, Sowetan Aggrey-Klaaste Nation Building Projects, The SABC and Nutrend Publishers, the main aim of the South African Literary Awards is to celebrate literary excellence in the depiction and sharing of South Africa’s histories, value systems, philosophies and arts as inscribed and preserved in all the languages of South Africa, particularly the official languages. The Awards aim to become the most prestigious and respected literary accolades in South African literature.
Since its inception in 2005, these literary awards have grown in leaps and bounds. To date, the awards boast 8 categories:
1. National Poet Laureate Prize
2. Lifetime Achievement Literary Award
3. Posthumous Literary Award
4. Nadine Gordimer Short Story Award (for writing in African Languages in the RSA)
5. k. Sello Duiker Memorial Award
6. Literary Translators Award
7. Literary Journalism Award
8. First-time Published Author Award
9. Poetry Award
10. Chairperson’s Award
“We are very excited about the extension of the Awards criteria to include non-fiction work. Selections are made from published authors whose primary input is in imaginative writing - fiction as well as creative non-fiction, i.e. biographies/ autobiographies, letters, speeches and memoirs. This will go a long way in acknowledging and honouring writers in the non-fiction space who were hitherto not accommodated in SALA”, said Morakabe Raks Seakhoa, the SALA Project Director and Managing Director of the wRite associates.
Submission can be posted to PO Box 4488, Randburg, 2125 or delivered at 74 Mimosa Road, Randpark Ridge, 2165.
Download 2011 nomination form >>
Contact Information:
For inquiries: info@sala.org.za, or call 011 791 3585 or 011 791 4102
For submissions: PO Box 4488, Randburg, 2125; or delivered at 74 Mimosa Road, Randpark Ridge, 2165
Website: http://www.sala.org.za/
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