Leaving a legacy: Cullen Mackenzie writes for his children and generations to come
Cullen Mackenzie wrote Impi yeHlathi because he wanted other children to experience the stories he had told his own children and isiZulu students. Mabhengwane of
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: National Arts Council Awards R200,000 Grant to Zazi Books for Kubomntwana Author Development Programme
[Johannesburg, South Africa, June 21, 2023] – The National Arts Council (NAC) of South Africa has announced a generous grant of R200,000 to Zazi Books, an imprint of local independent publisher Clockwork Books, as part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme. The funding will be used to support the Kubomntwana Author Development Programme, which aims to produce three works of fiction for tweens in English, isiXhosa, and isiZulu.
The funding will enable Zazi Books to provide part-time employment to a total of 16 South Africans working in the creative and publishing industries.
Zazi Books specialises in publishing tween fiction in South Africa’s indigenous languages in commitment to preserving and promoting the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of our land. The Kubomntwana project is an extension of this mission, and it is set to make a significant impact on the local publishing landscape by nurturing a new generation of authors who write in their native tongues.
With the NAC’s grant, Zazi Books will identify, develop, and publish three talented authors, each representing one of the three languages in focus for the project. These novels will not only entertain and inspire young readers, but will also provide them with the opportunity to engage with stories that reflect their own linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
The Kubomntwana Author Development Programme is poised to play a pivotal role in transforming the South African publishing industry. By investing in the promotion of indigenous languages and empowering local authors, this initiative will help create a more inclusive and diverse literary landscape. It is expected that the programme will inspire other publishers and stakeholders to support similar projects, ultimately promoting the growth and appreciation of South African literature across all languages.
About Zazi Books: Zazi Books is an imprint of Clockwork Books, a local independent publisher based in South Africa. With a focus on publishing fiction for tweens in indigenous languages, Zazi Books seeks to provide young readers with engaging, relatable stories that celebrate the rich cultural and linguistic diversity of South Africa.
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