South African Literary Awards 2021 winners announced.

The winners of the South African Literary Awards 2021 were announced in Johannesburg, South Africa on November 7, 2021.

The South African Literary Awards, popularly referred to as the SALAs, have honoured many authors since they were founded in 2005. Winning writers and poets have included Es’kia Mphahlele, Nadine Gordimer, Miriam Tlali, Lauretta Ngcobo, Keorapetse Willie Kgositsile, Wally Mongane Serote, Sindiwe Magona, Zakes Mda, Panashe Chigumadzi, Zukiswa Wanner, Sihle Khumalo, Nuruddin Farah, Yewande Omotoso, Sifiso Mzobe, Sabata Mpho Mokae, and Phillippa Yaa de Villiers.

The SALAs, organised by wRite Associates, honour writing and writers in all South African official languages across fourteen categories. For 2021, the shortlists in the different categories were revealed on September 30 before the winners were announced on November 7, the day of the African writer.

The winners for this year’s awards are;

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE AWARD

• Andre Trantraal, Keegan & Samier: Die sokkerfiasko (Afrikaans)

YOUTH LITERATURE AWARD

• Pamela Newham, The Boy and the Poacher’s Moon (English)
• Sipho Richard Kekezwa, Ubomi, ungancama! (isiXhosa)
• Jan Vermeulen, Baster (Afrikaans)

NOVEL AWARD

• Fred Khumalo, Ngenxa yeMendi (isiZulu)
• Ezra Mcebisi, Nkohla Zajik‘ izinto (isiXhosa)

FIRST-TIME PUBLISHED AUTHOR AWARD

• Reŝoketŝwe Manenzhe, Scatterlings (English)
• Lynthia Julius, Uit die kroes (Afrikaans)

K. SELLO DUIKER MEMORIAL LITERARY AWARD

• Karen Jennings, An Island (English)
• Lihle Sokapase, Yapatyalaka Ibhobhile (isiXhosa)
• Brian Fredericks, As die Cape Flats kon praat (Afrikaans)

POETRY AWARD

• Tshepiso Makgoloane, Tsa Mafrika (Sepedi)
• Johann de Lange, Die meeste sterre is lankal dood (Afrikaans)
• Ayanda Billie, KwaNobuhle Overcast (English)
• Kgwadi Kgwadi Gladwell, Ithuteng Mogolokwane (Setswana)
• Babalwa Fatyi, Hlahl’indlela Nohombile (isiXhosa)
• Nndanduleni Mulaudzi, Khonadzeo (Tshivenda)

NADINE GORDIMER SHORT STORY AWARD

• Madoda Ndlakuse, Mhla latsh’ iBhayi (isiXhosa)
• Nakanjani Sibiya, The reluctant Storyteller – A Collection of Stories (English)

CREATIVE NON-FICTION AWARD

• Sabata-mpho Mokae and Brian Willan, Sol T. Plaatje: A Life in Letters (English)
• Mzoli Mavimbela, MASIBUYEL’EMBO KONAKELE PHINA NA? (isiXhosa)

LITERARY TRANSLATORS AWARD

• Jeff Opland and Peter T. Mtuze, Limbali Zamandulo: Stories of the past (1838-1910) (isiXhosa)

LITERARY JOURNALISM AWARD

• Jean Meiring

CHAIRPERSON’S LITERARY AWARD

• Ntogela Masilela

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT LITERARY AWARD

• Lefifi Tlali

REGIONAL POET LAUREATE PRIZE

• Ronelda Kamfer
• Themba Patrick Magaisa

Reactions

“I still can’t believe that I won. I didn’t expect to win. But it is an awesome feeling especially when your publisher starts posting and you see SALA Awards posting and you see all these people actually won and we were three nominated for the award, so it’s a big honour for me. It’s still sinking in.”

Lynthia Julius

“Friends, Professor Brian Willan and I just won the South African Literary Award (SALA) in the category of Creative Non-Fiction. We thank our publisher Historical Publications Southern Africa (HiPSA), the readers of ‘Sol T. Plaatje: A life in letters’ and our institution Sol Plaatje University. Re a leboga.”

Sabata-mpho Mokae

“This is the book that won in the novel category at the South African Literary Awards last night…. Thanks to Ntate Raks Morakabe Seakhoa and the Write Associates for the award. And, yes, you may buy the book directly from me. IwuR250 nje kuphela, sekuhlangene nedelivery. Ehhene. Last year I won the same award for my short story collection, Talk of The Town. Ngiyavutha bhe! Ehhene.”

Fred Khumalo