jozi book fair press kit 2014

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Jozi Book Fair Press Kit April 2014

6th ANNUAL JOZI

BOOK FAIR, 26-27

September 2014,

Central Johannesburg

College (Ellis Park

campus)

Welcome to the 6th Annual Jozi Book Fair (JBF). This

year the dates of the fair have been changed to include

all tertiary institutions. Although the JBF maintains its

partnership with the City of Johannesburg, the venue

has been changed to Central Johannesburg College to

accommodate the demands of a larger audience.

This year the theme of the Fair is: Reading the word and

the world: the role of book clubs and the Guest of the Fair

is acclaimed Southern African author, musician, painterand lm-maker, Zakes Mda. The Guest is someone

who is chosen because they reect the aims and values

of the JBF. Mda has written 26 books, including plays

and poetry, and his work has been translated into 20

languages.

Last year the 2013 Fair brought together almost

3000 children, youth and adults. For the rst time the

JBF had a comprehensive children and school youth

programme, a conference on libraries and seminars on

publishing. The programme consisted of a variety of

events including: exhibitions by publishers and ngos,

book launches, conversations with authors, seminars,

photographic and art exhibitions and workshops. Of the

100 events held, 70% were hosted by the public based,

reecting the grassroots and inclusive orientation of the

JBF.

1. Background & History of the Jozi Book

Fair

In recognition of the importance of a strong culture ofreading and writing to meet the various challenges of

post-apartheid South Africa, Khanya College launched

the rst edition of the Jozi Book Fair (JBF) in 2009. TheJBF provides a public and visible platform to take up

the challenges of creating a reading and writing culture.

Some of the major challenges facing post apartheid

South Africa are social inequality, poverty, unemployment,

skills development and the generalised improvement

in the quality of life for communities. These and other

challenges can be linked to a weak culture of reading and

writing.

For instance:

Most black households do not have books in their

homes; book shops in townships are few and books are

expensive.

Few people read during their free time, and do not

recognise reading as important outside of school.

Despite its importance to the countrys development,

Johannesburg and Gauteng had no signicant and visible

book fair that can also link South Africas book trade

especially historically disadvantaged publishers - to Africa

and the world. The JBF sought to take up this challenge.

In its rst two years of existence the JBF attracted over

a hundred small publishers, over 120 emerging and

established authors and over four thousand members of

the public. Since 2009,the JBF is a fair with a difference:

a fair for readers, writers, small and indigenous language

publishers and the public, reecting a growing and

deepening relationship. . .

The JBF builds on the 28-year history of Khanya

Colleges involvement in organising educational festivals,

publishing educational and popular books and materials;

providing platforms for debates and discussion, and

assisting in the development of various social justice

movements.

Through the JBF Khanya College seeks to contribute

positively to challenges facing South Africa.

2. Aims of the Jozi Book FairThe objective of the JBF is to provide a public platform for

key social partners to promote a culture of reading and


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April 2014 Page 3

Creating partnerships with small publishers to publishwriting by children.

b. The Jozi Book Fair Readers Project assists with

Reading Workshopsto overcome barriers to readingamongst readers of all ages.

Reading Circles or Book Clubsfrom varioustownships in Gauteng and other parts of the country

throug publications on how to set up and run reading

circles; and develop good reading and writing skills.

Reading, Spelling and General Knowledge Competitions

to promote interest in reading.

High School Literature Circlesthat include teachersand students and promote literature at schools.

c.The Jozi Book Fair Writers Project

A programme of interactions between local andinternational writers, especially those from Africa.

Writing Workshopsto develop writing skills for diverseMediums.

Creative writing workshops for readers toencouragereaders to tell their stories.

A Meet the author programme to provide interactionbetween established writers and new writers.

d. The Jozi Book Fair Small Publishers Project

Workshops will be hosted to build the capacity of small

publishers and networking, and include:

* Marketing, Publicity and Distribution Workshops for

Small Publishers;

* Financial Management and Training for Small

Publishers;

* Legal Issues for Small Publishers (such as intellectual

property rights); and

* Digital Publishing: Challenges and Opportunities.

The JBF will participate in international publishingeventsto prole South African products, especiallyfrom small publishers.

e. My Class the Jozi Book Fair newsletter

JBF will produce a newsletter to provide a space for

reading circles, new authors, established authors and

publishers to keep in on-going communication aboutnew initiatives and activities. Reading circles will publish

reviews of books read, new books from small

publishers will be advertised; and new writing (short

stories, poetry, prose) will be published.

f. Jozi Book Fair Website

Access to the web is vital to grow a culture of

reading and writing, and to build a strong

publishing movement. The JBF website will provide:

Assistance in the listing (and updates) of the

Reading Circles or book clubs, their activities, what they

reading, and their requests to authors and publishers.

A platform where readers, authors, and small publishers

can post their events and writing.

A marketing platform for new authors and small

publishers.

g. The Jozi Book Fair Facebook page

The JBF runs a lively facebook page to keep

readers, writers and small publishers in touch with each

other, and to promote networking among the

partners of the fair.

5. About Khanya College

Khanya College, the organiser of the Jozi Book Fair,

is an independent, non-governmental organisation

based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Established in

1986, the primary aim of Khanya College is to assistvarious constituencies within working class and poor

communities to respond to the challenges posed by the

forces of economic and political globalisation. Khanya

College offers assistance through providing educational

and training workshops, publications and research to

organisations and individuals in these communities.

PurposeThe mission of Khanya College is to provide education

which is relevant to the needs of historically oppressed

communities, to contribute to the strengthening of

community based organisations, trade unions and

nongovernmental organisations, to contribute to a

process of social change and development, and to

operate democratically, accountably and efciently.

Khanya College sees the Jozi Book Fair as one way

of continuing its social justice work, which includes


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Page 4 September 2013

IMPRINT

Jozi Book Fair

c/o Khanya College

5th floor, House of Movements

123 Pritchard Street

Johannesburg 2001

South AfricaTel: +27 (0)11 336-9190

Fax: +27(0)11 336-9196

Email: jozibookfair@khanyacol-

lege.org.za

Web: www.jozibookfair.org.za

promoting development and democratisation.

Khanyas approach emphasises the strengthening of

collective voices as a way to advance development and

democratisation.

6. Jozi Book Fair 2014: Information &

Contacts

The 6thedition of the Jozi Book Fair will be heldon the 26 and 27 September,at Central Johannesburg

College (Ellis Park campus), in Johannesburg.

The Fair will open at 0900 and close at 1700. Special

events may be held beyond 1700 by arrangement with

the organisers.

Contacts

Dr. Maria van Driel: [email protected]

082 829 6043

Ashton Ncube: Inquiries and Exhibitors Coordinator

[email protected]

084 377 3011

Sthembele Ngobeni: Marketing Coordinator:

[email protected]

084 377 3013

Khanya College5th Floor, House of Movements123 Pritchard Str, (Corner Mooi)

Johannesburg, 2001

* Postal Address

P.O. Box 5977

Johannesburg, 2000

South Africa

Telephone:011 336 9190

Fax:011 -336 9196

Fax: +27 +27 (0)86 566 3891

Email:[email protected]

Website: www.jozibookfair.org.za

26 & 27 September 2014

www.jozibookfair.org.za

011 336 9190DESIGN

BY JON

BERNDT

DESIGN

@ Central Johannesburg College, Ellis Park Campus

jozi book fair press kit 2014

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