Time of the Writer 2018 book launches at Ike’s Books, Durban

The launches for the books by Time of the Writer 2018 writers Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh, Jennipher Zulu, Refiloe Moahloli, and MK Asante happened at Ike’s Books and Collectibles in Durban, South Africa on Saturday, March 17, 2018.

Literary Festivals and book launches go hand in glove and you had better believe that there was going to be launches at Time of the Writer 2018. The book launches of writers at the festival were done at one go at Ike’s Books on the Saturday morning and featured Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh, Jennipher Zulu, Refiloe Moahloli, and MK Asante.

Ike’s Books and Collectibles described as “South Africa’s Best Independent Book store” was founded by Ike Mayet and opened its doors in 1988. The authors who would be showcasing their work would join a long list of many of the most well-known in South Africa. Here were there highlights of their presentations.

Refiloe Moahloli: Tulula

Refiloe read from her book Tulula. She went on to explaining that the book started from an embroidered pillow, then onto a project involving the women doing the embroidery, then it became a book with hand woven illustrations before becoming the book we could see.

Jennipher Zulu: It’s Hard To Keep A Secret

Jennipher the Zambian writer spoke about her journey before she gave the world It’s Hard To Keep A Secret. There were questions from the audience about her journey in writing, Zambia publishing industry as well as the book cover which many were confused by when she read from the book.

Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh: Democracy & Delusion: 10 Myths in South African Politics

The Oxford PhD candidate gave a list of the topics of his book and the one that many in the audience seemed to gravitate towards was the myth that “Elite Schools don’t help” (I’m paraphrasing here). People really got their teeth into the topic about the schools that people take their kids to give them a head start and their suitability.

MK Asante: Buck: A Memoir.

MK Asante would be talking to the audience about his experiences and the things that were in his book including entries from his mother’s diaries, letters from his brother who was in jail and more. He amused everyone with an anecdote of how just outside Ike’s a few minutes before he had an incident with some crazy white dude that could have happened anywhere in the US to show how universal the Buck concept was.

At the end of their presentation, the writers would sign books for those who had bought their books.