Press Release 22 May 2017: Launch of Jozi Book Fair’s Guests of Fair
OnSaturday,3June,JoziBookFairtogetherwithKhanyaCollegewillrevealthemuchanticipatedGuestsoftheFairfor2017. Celebratingits9thyearthemedWomenandLiterature,theJoziBookFairbringstogethertwoliterarypowerhouses,KopanoMatlwatheauthorofthecriticallyacclaimednovelCoconut,andShailjaPatelaninternationallyacclaimedKenyanpoet,politicalactivistandauthorofMigritude(migrantswithattitude). ThethemeWomenandLiteratureinformstheFestival’scontent,historicisingdepictionsofwomenandmeninliteratureandthearts,inSouthAfrica,Africaandinternationally. Kopano MatlwastoleSouthAfrica’sheartwithherdebutnovelCoconut,awardedtheEuropeanUnionLiteraryAwardin2006/07.Withherfollow-upnovel,SpiltMilk,shecontinuedtoaddresscomplexpoliticalissuesthroughrelatablecharacters.ShecompletedSpiltMilkbeforeshegraduatedfrommedicalschoolin2010andmadeitontotheprestigiouslonglistforthe2011SundayTimesFictionPrize.In2016shebroughtusanothernovel,PeriodPain,anovelaboutayoungwoman’sstruggletofindherplaceincontemporarySouthAfrica. CriticshavehailedherasoneofthedefiningvoicesofSouthAfrica’s“bornfree”generation. Inadditiontoherworkasawriter,Matlwaisaphysician.Sheisthefounder&Co-DirectorofTransitionsFoundationanorganizationthatseekstohelpSouthAfrica’syouthtransitionfromhopelessnesstopersonalfulfillment.Shealsoco-foundedWREMS(WaitingRoomEducationbyMedicalStudents),ahealthpromotionorganizationeducatingpatientsandtheirfamiliesoncommonhealthconditionsinthewaitingroomsofmobileclinics.KopanoisaWorldEconomicForumGlobalShaper,wasselectedasaYoungPhysicianLeaderbytheInteracademiesMedialPanelin2014,formspartofthe2015classofTutuFellowsandisoneoftheAspenInstitute’s2015NewVoicesFellows.
ExcerptfromKopanoMatlwa'sCoconut“Divorce?Youmustnever.DonotbeselfishGemina.Youmustthinkmychild.Think.Useyourhead.HuhGemina?HaveyouforgettingyourresponsibilitiesGemina?Youhavetwoyoungchildrenyoumustforthemcare.Two.WheredoyouthinkyouwillgoifyouleaveJohn?Backhome?WhereGemina?Wheredoyouhavetogo?Whatwillbecomeofallofyou?Huh?Nothing.Withouthimmygirl,youisnothing.” Shailja PatelwasbornandraisedinKenya.ShegrewupinNairobiandattendedcollegeinEnglandbeforemigratingtotheUnitedStates.Patel'spoetry,performanceart,andessaysareoftencenteredonthethemesofEmpire,migration,globalisation,colonialism,women,andtheAfricanandSouthAsiandiasporas. CNNcallsShailjaPatel“thepeople-centeredfaceofglobalization”.Herpublishingdebut,Migritude,basedonheracclaimed,internationallytouringone-womanshow,wasa#1Amazonpoetrybestseller,aSeattleTimesbestseller,
andwasshortlistedforItaly'sCamaiorePrize.In2011,MigritudewontheawardforBestBookDesignintheAmericanDesignAwards.Migritudeistaughtinover80collegesanduniversitiesworldwide. Patel'spoemshavebeentranslatedinto17languages.HeressaysappearinLeMondeDiplomatique,TheNewInquiry,InternazionaleandCounterpunchamongothers.ShehasappearedonBBC,Al-Jazeera,andNPR.HonorsincludeaSundanceTheatreFellowship,aVoicesofOurNationspoetryaward,theFanny-AnnEddyPoetryAward,andtheNordicAfricaInstituteAfricanWriterFellowship.Herperformanceshavereceivedstandingovationsonfourcontinents. PatelisafoundingmemberofKenyansForPeace,TruthandJustice,acivilsocietycoalitionwhichworksforanequitabledemocracyinKenya.TheAfricanWomen'sDevelopmentFundnamedheroneofFiftyInspirationalAfricanFeminists,ELLEIndiaMagazineselectedherasoneofits25NewGuardInfluencers,andPoetryAfricahonoredherasLettersToDennisPoet,continuingthelegacyofrenownedanti-apartheidactivistpoetDennisBrutus.SherepresentedKenyaattheLondonCulturalOlympiad'sPoetryParnassus.HerworkcurrentlyfeaturesintheSmithsonianMuseum'sgroundbreaking"BeyondBollywood"exhibition.www.shailja.comPerformance:http://youtu.be/3aTpS4gjDsscdFormoreinformationandinterviewspleasevisittheJBF. Contact:Nosipho–0843773003/0113369190/Fax:0865663891 Email:[email protected]:www.jozibookfair.org
