South African Literary Awards (SALA)

The South African Literary Awards (SALA) are administered by the wRite associates (R/A Lit Consultants: an events and project management company specialising in the arts, culture and heritage realm, with particular focus on the literary arts), in partnership with the South African Department of Arts and Culture (DAC). The awards aim to pay tribute to writers who have "distinguished themselves as groundbreaking producers and creators of literature". The awards recognise a variety of literary forms written in any of the South African official languages.^[1]

Awards given in any year may include: the First-time Published Author Award, the Nadine Gordimer Short Story Award (for writing in African languages in the RSA), the K. Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award, the Literary Translators Award, the Literary Journalism Award, the Poetry Award, the Creative Non-fiction Award, the Lifetime Achievement Literary Award,the Posthumous Literary Award and the Chairperson’s Award.

Since 2012 the awards have been given at the annual Africa Century International Writers Conference, also run by the wRite associates in partnership with the DAC. The inaugural conference was hosted by the University of the Free State in 2012, supported by the SABC.^[2]

Award winners

2013^[3]

• First-time Published Author Award: English - Khalil’s Journey by Ashraf Kagee; Afrikaans - Die twee lewens van Dieter Ondracek deur André Krüger
• Nadine Gordimer Short Story Award: Afrikaans - Haai Karoo deur Etienne van Heerden
• K. Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award: For the Mercy of Water by Karen Jayes; The Murder of Norman Ware by Rosamund Kendal; SoPhia by Shafinaaz Hassim
• Literary Translators Award: Sesotho - Mangolo a nnake (Letter to My Sister) by Nhlanhla Maake
• Poetry Award: English - Bare and Breaking by Karin Schimke; Afrikaans - Om die gedagte van geel deur Petra Muller
• Creative Non-fiction Award: English - Transformations by Imraan Coovadia; Biko: A Biography by Xolela Mangcu; Afrikaans - Boerekryger by Albert Blake
• Lifetime Achievement Literary Award: PG du Plessis for his oeuvre

2012^[4]

• First-time Published Author Award: Afrikaans - SJ Naude (Alfabet van die voels); English - Yewande Omotoso (Bom Boy)
• Nadine Gordimer Short Story Award: Ishmael Motswasele ("Ithuteng ka Mofeie")
• K. Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award: Afrikaans - Sonja Loots (Sirkusboere); English - Diale Tlholwe (Counting the coffins); IsiZulu - Alpheus Themba Ndlovu (Izindlalifa zamalungel’ okufa nokuphila); Sesotho - Nhlanhla Maake (Manong a lapile)
• Literary Translators Award: Francois Smith (David Kramer: ‘n Biografie)
• Literary Journalism Award: - Jenny Crwys-Williams (her oeuvre)
• Poetry Award: English - Ingrid de Kok (Other Signs); Afrikaans - Johann Lodewyk Marais (Diorama); Tshivenda - Domina Napoleon Munzhelele (Zwo vha somela); Xitsonga - Themba Patrick Magaisa (Mavondzo I Vuloyi)
• Creative Non-fiction Award: English - McIntosh Polela (My Father My Monster); Afrikaans - Hannes Haasbroek (‘n Seun soos Bram)
• Lifetime Achievement Literary Award: Ndivhudzannyi Emelina Sigogo (Nandi Shenga)

2011^[5]

• First-time Published Author Award: Sifiso Mzobe (Young Blood)
• The K. Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award: Dan Sleigh (Afstande); EDM Sibiya (Ngiyolibala Ngifile)
• Literary Translators Award: Leon de Kock (Intimately Absent by Cas Vos)
• Literary Journalism Award: Sabata Mpho Mokae
• Poetry Award: Phillippa Yaa de Villiers (The Everyday Wife)
• Lifetime Achievement Literary Award: Chris Barnard (his oeuvre)
• Posthumous Literary Award: Jan Rabie (his oeuvre)

2010^[6]

• First-time Published Author Award: Alistair Morgan (Sleeper’s Wake)
• Nadine Gordimer Short Story Award: Xitsonga - MM Mabuza ("Khuluka Na Rtavi"); Sepedi - Bishop MT Makobe (“Nkune se, Mphe se!”)
• K. Sello Duiker Memorial Award: Sepedi - MV Molele (Mmaphefo le Maphefo); Afrikaans - Annelie Botes (Thula-thula) - withdrawn; English - Kgebetli Moele (The Book of the Dead);
• Literary Journalism Award: Kevin Bloom (Ways of Staying)
• Poetry Award: Sepedi - Bishop MT Makobe (Kekeretsane tsa bokgwalwe/Hlaa tsa tokologo); Afrikaans - Danie Marais (Al is die maan ‘n misverstand); English - Kobus Moolman (Separating the Seas)
• Lifetime Achievement Literary Award: MM Mabuza; Hennie Aucamp; Mandla Langa; Zakes Mda; Peter Horn; Marguerite Poland; David Robbins
• Posthumous Literary Award: Afrikaans - Elizabeth Eybers; English - Stephen Bantu Biko (I Write What I Like)
• Chairperson’s Award: isiXhosa: SEK Mqhayi (his oeuvre)

2009 ^[7]

• First-Time-Published Author Award: Diale Tlholwe (Ancient Rites)
• Nadine Gordimer Short Story Award: siSwati - JJ Ngcongwane (“Tikhatsi Letimatima”)
• K. Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award: English - Chris Marnewick (Shepherds and Butchers); Tshivenda - HR Tshianane (Vhuanzwo); Setswana - Kabelo D Kgatea (Monwana wa Bosupa); isiXhosa - Siphatheleni Kula
• Literary Translators Award: Dirk and Ingrid Winterbach (The Book of Happenstance)
• Literary Journalism Award: Karabo Kgoleng (SAfm); Maureen Isaacson (Sunday Independent)
• Poetry Award: Mxolisi Nyezwa (New Country); Loftus Marais (Staan in die algemeen nader aan vensters)
• Lifetime Achievement Literary Award: Abraham de Vries; Matthew J Mngadi
• Posthumous Literary Award: Sol Plaatje; Etienne Leroux; WK Tamsanqa

References