Stellenbosch University Wordfest

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.