The Stellenbosch University Wordfest, winner of the
2011 kykNET Fiesta award for the country’s most popular arts festival,
will be held in Stellenbosch from 2 to 11 March this year.
While
the Woordfees is primarily a literary and language fest with a focus on
Afrikaans, a choice of superb English and indigenous language productions are
on offer as well. This year’s festival boasts more than 250 productions,
ranging from visual arts, music and drama to discourse and word art events, a
student festival, kids entertainment and outdoor events such as moonlight walks
and trial runs.
Translator
and author Leon de Kock will be in conversation with multi-award winning poet
and writer Mongane Wally Serote. This is a rare chance to meet the literary
giant, Umkontho we Ziswe veteran and well-known Black Consciousness poet.
Serote will give an account of his exceptional journey.
Another
literary icon and internationally awarded author, Antjie Krog, presents a highlight
on the writers programme with the multi-language and multidisciplinary
production Inheems met Antjie Krog (“Indigenous with Antjie
Krog”), where Afrikaans mingles freely with indigenous sister tongues
such as Kwedam, isiXhosa and seSotho, accompanied by ethnic instruments.
The
US Discussion Forum for the Humanities and Social Sciences present an
intriguing visual lecture: Treasures of the Getty Villa, exploring the
fascinating Californian museum developed by oil tycoon J. Paul Getty. Besides
one of the finest art collections in the world, this museum boasts all the
splendour, drama, controversy and court cases befitting a Los Angeles cultural
gem.
On
the drama front there’s Thom Pain (Based on Nothing),the hit play
by Will Eno, considered by critics as the new Samuel Beckett. This Pulitzer
Prize finalist is a sad and disturbingly funny exploration of the difficulties
of mastering the basics of life. Albert Pretorius plays Thom Pain, an everyman
trying to make sense of the world and his place in it.
· The SU Wordfest takes place in Stellenbosch from 2 – 11
March 2012.
· Bookings can be made at Computicket.
