Jozi Book Fair Press Kit April 2014

6th ANNUAL JOZI

BOOK FAIR, 26-27
September 2014,
Central Johannesburg
College (Ellis Park
campus)
Welcome to the 6th Annual Jozi Book Fair (JBF). This
year the dates of the fair have been changed to include
all tertiary institutions. Although the JBF maintains its
partnership with the City of Johannesburg, the venue
has been changed to Central Johannesburg College to
accommodate the demands of a larger audience.
This year the theme of the Fair is: Reading the word and
the world: the role of book clubs and the Guest of the Fair
is acclaimed Southern African author, musician, painter
and flm-maker, Zakes Mda. The Guest is someone
who is chosen because they refect the aims and values
of the JBF. Mda has written 26 books, including plays
and poetry, and his work has been translated into 20
languages.
Last year the 2013 Fair brought together almost
3000 children, youth and adults. For the frst time the
JBF had a comprehensive children and school youth
programme, a conference on libraries and seminars on
publishing. The programme consisted of a variety of
events including: exhibitions by publishers and ngos,
book launches, conversations with authors, seminars,
photographic and art exhibitions and workshops. Of the
100 events held, 70% were hosted by the public based,
refecting the grassroots and inclusive orientation of the
JBF.
1. Background & History of the Jozi Book
Fair
In recognition of the importance of a strong culture of
reading and writing to meet the various challenges of
post-apartheid South Africa, Khanya College launched
the frst edition of the Jozi Book Fair (JBF) in 2009. The
JBF provides a public and visible platform to take up
the challenges of creating a reading and writing culture.
Some of the major challenges facing post apartheid
South Africa are social inequality, poverty, unemployment,
skills development and the generalised improvement
in the quality of life for communities. These and other
challenges can be linked to a weak culture of reading and
writing.
For instance:
Most black households do not have books in their
homes; book shops in townships are few and books are
expensive.
Few people read during their free time, and do not
recognise reading as important outside of school.
Despite its importance to the countrys development,
Johannesburg and Gauteng had no signifcant and visible
book fair that can also link South Africas book trade
especially historically disadvantaged publishers - to Africa
and the world. The JBF sought to take up this challenge.
In its frst two years of existence the JBF attracted over
a hundred small publishers, over 120 emerging and
established authors and over four thousand members of
the public. Since 2009,the JBF is a fair with a difference:
a fair for readers, writers, small and indigenous language
publishers and the public, refecting a growing and
deepening relationship. . .
The JBF builds on the 28-year history of Khanya
Colleges involvement in organising educational festivals,
publishing educational and popular books and materials;
providing platforms for debates and discussion, and
assisting in the development of various social justice
movements.
Through the JBF Khanya College seeks to contribute
positively to challenges facing South Africa.
2. Aims of the Jozi Book Fair
The objective of the JBF is to provide a public platform for
key social partners to promote a culture of reading and
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writing. These social partners are:
Readers in the form of the general public and specifc
constituencies within this broad public,
Writers and authors, in particular emerging new
writers, and publishers in particular small and
emerging
Publishers
The creation of a common meeting space for all the
partners is crucial to strengthen small publishers, create
a market for writers, and to create an opportunity for
readers to signal to authors and publishers the kinds of
stories they are interested in.
The JBF overall purpose is therefore to create an ongoing
cycle where partners can reinforce each other and create
a strong reading and writing
culture.
The specifc objectives of the Jozi Book Fair project are
to:
Develop a reading and writing culture among the
broad public, and in particular among South Africas
poor communities;
Promote indigenous language publishing
Provide space for small, progressive publishers to
showcase their work;
Rebuild a progressive publishing network, especially
of small publishers in the South and Southern Africa;
Profle and promote the emergence of new writers,
and those who are generally marginalised, and non-
mainstream writers and publications;
Stimulate / Encourage publishing within social
movements and NGOs
Stimulate and encourage publishing among and
by women, and promote a publishing movement
that deals with promoting a gender and feminist
movement
Provide information about publishing opportunities so
as to stimulate new publishing initiatives;
Provide a platform for publishers and agents to
network, debate, discuss, and plan new projects; and
Develop an alternative book trade and Translations.
3. The Annual Jozi Book Fair
The Jozi Book Fair is held over two days in September
and activities are organised around the readers, writers
and authors and publishers, and events that promote this
partnership. The Jozi Book Fair annual events hosts:
Exhibitions of between 50 and 80 small publishers,
libraries and bookshops;
A programme of seminars, roundtable discussions
and public lectures featuring fction and non-fction
writers from South Africa, Africa and around the
world;
Book launches, conversations with writers/ authors,
art and literature exhibitions and flm screenings;
Training workshops on various issues including
reading and writing skills;
A Childrens programme to encourage reading and
writing among children;
A networking space for small publishers;
A discussion forum of Reading Circles, especially the
youth, from townships in South Africa; and
A space for local writers to interact with writers from
Africa and the world.
4. Projects to develop a culture of reading and
writing and support small publishers
The Jozi Book Fair has a number of ongoing projects to
further its aims and these include:
a. The Jozi Book Fair Childrens Project
A Childrens Programme to encourage reading, writing
and art.
Story-telling and Reading events for children which also
emphasise indigenous language literature and stories.
Reading and writing circles at primary schools and pre-
primary Schools.
April 2014 Page 3
Creating partnerships with small publishers to publish
writing by children.
b. The Jozi Book Fair Readers Project assists with
Reading Workshops to overcome barriers to reading
amongst readers of all ages.
Reading Circles or Book Clubs from various
townships in Gauteng and other parts of the country
throug publications on how to set up and run reading
circles; and develop good reading and writing skills.
Reading, Spelling and General Knowledge Competitions
to promote interest in reading.
High School Literature Circles that include teachers
and students and promote literature at schools.
c.The Jozi Book Fair Writers Project
A programme of interactions between local and
international writers, especially those from Africa.
Writing Workshops to develop writing skills for diverse
Mediums.
Creative writing workshops for readers to encourage
readers to tell their stories.
A Meet the author programme to provide interaction
between established writers and new writers.
d. The Jozi Book Fair Small Publishers Project
Workshops will be hosted to build the capacity of small
publishers and networking, and include:
* Marketing, Publicity and Distribution Workshops for
Small Publishers;
* Financial Management and Training for Small
Publishers;
* Legal Issues for Small Publishers (such as intellectual
property rights); and
* Digital Publishing: Challenges and Opportunities.
The JBF will participate in international publishing
events to profle South African products, especially
from small publishers.
e. My Class the Jozi Book Fair newsletter
JBF will produce a newsletter to provide a space for
reading circles, new authors, established authors and
publishers to keep in on-going communication about
new initiatives and activities. Reading circles will publish
reviews of books read, new books from small
publishers will be advertised; and new writing (short
stories, poetry, prose) will be published.
f. Jozi Book Fair Website
Access to the web is vital to grow a culture of
reading and writing, and to build a strong
publishing movement. The JBF website will provide:
Assistance in the listing (and updates) of the
Reading Circles or book clubs, their activities, what they
reading, and their requests to authors and publishers.
A platform where readers, authors, and small publishers
can post their events and writing.
A marketing platform for new authors and small
publishers.
g. The Jozi Book Fair Facebook page
The JBF runs a lively facebook page to keep
readers, writers and small publishers in touch with each
other, and to promote networking among the
partners of the fair.
5. About Khanya College
Khanya College, the organiser of the Jozi Book Fair,
is an independent, non-governmental organisation
based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Established in
1986, the primary aim of Khanya College is to assist
various constituencies within working class and poor
communities to respond to the challenges posed by the
forces of economic and political globalisation. Khanya
College offers assistance through providing educational
and training workshops, publications and research to
organisations and individuals in these communities.
Purpose
The mission of Khanya College is to provide education
which is relevant to the needs of historically oppressed
communities, to contribute to the strengthening of
community based organisations, trade unions and
nongovernmental organisations, to contribute to a
process of social change and development, and to
operate democratically, accountably and effciently.
Khanya College sees the Jozi Book Fair as one way
of continuing its social justice work, which includes
Page 4 September 2013
IMPRINT
Jozi Book Fair
c/o Khanya College
5th foor, House of Movements
123 Pritchard Street
Johannesburg 2001
South Africa
Tel: +27 (0)11 336-9190
Fax: +27(0)11 336-9196
Email: jozibookfair@khanyacol-
lege.org.za
Web: www.jozibookfair.org.za
promoting development and democratisation.
Khanyas approach emphasises the strengthening of
collective voices as a way to advance development and
democratisation.
6. Jozi Book Fair 2014: Information &
Contacts
The 6
th
edition of the Jozi Book Fair will be held
on the 26 and 27 September, at Central Johannesburg
College (Ellis Park campus), in Johannesburg.
The Fair will open at 0900 and close at 1700. Special
events may be held beyond 1700 by arrangement with
the organisers.
Contacts
Dr. Maria van Driel: Director
maria.vandriel@khanyacollege.org.za
082 829 6043
Ashton Ncube: Inquiries and Exhibitors Coordinator
Ashton.Ncube@khanyacollege.org.za
084 377 3011
Sthembele Ngobeni: Marketing Coordinator:
Sthembele.Ngobeni@khanyacollege.org.za
084 377 3013
Khanya College5th Floor, House of Movements
123 Pritchard Str, (Corner Mooi)
Johannesburg, 2001
* Postal Address
P.O. Box 5977
Johannesburg, 2000
South Africa
Telephone: 011 336 9190
Fax: 011 -336 9196
Fax: +27 +27 (0)86 566 3891
Email: jozibookfair@khanyacollege.org.za
Website: www.jozibookfair.org.za
26 & 27 September 2014
www.jozibookfair.org.za
011 336 9190
DESI GN BY JON BERNDT DESI GN
@ Central Johannesburg College, Ellis Park Campus