About the Miriam Tlali Reading & Book Club (MTR&BC)

The Miriam Tlali Reading & Book Club (MTR&BC), founded by the wRite associates, is a Legacy Programme of the South African Literary Awards (SALA). The Club, named after the veteran author and activist, Ms Miriam Masoli Tlali, who is a recipient of the SALA’s 2005 Lifetime Achievement Literary Award, was established in her honour in June 2009 in order to profile, promote and explore the literary jewels that South Africa has.The Club has hosted literary giants with prolific talents like our National Poet Laureate, Prof. Keorapetse Kgositsile, Novel Laureate, Nadine Gordimer, Dr. Gomolemo Mokae, Prof.Pitika Ntuli, the late Professor Lewis Nkosi, Prof. Andries Oliphant, Ms Lauretta Ngcobo, Wangui wa Goro, a Kenyan writer and scholar, and many more. Its primary goal has always been to cultivate the reading and writing culture in the country.

The Club invites writers, readers and the general public to discuss books, literary topical issues and to take part in other interactive platforms to promote the culture of writing and reading. The Club also hosts literary talks, workshops and supports book launches. The sessions take place one Saturday a month from 14H00 – 16H30.

Miriam Tlali is a scholar, novelist, short story writer and activist. She has written many novels and short stories, including Between the Two Worlds, Amandla, Footprints in the Quag, and Mihloti, a collection of short stories and essays. Miriam has also written a play, Crimen Injuria. She has received many awards internationally and domestically, including the inaugural S.A Literary Awards’ category of Lifetime Achievement Literary Award in 2005 and the Presidential Award Ikhamanga Silver in 2008.

Tlali has eloquently spoken and written of numerous difficulties facing black women writers in South Africa. Her own life has been a determined struggle to fulfill what she sees as her role as a writer, “to conscientise the masses…”

The members of the Club comprise young and old people, published and unpublished writers, poets, artists and people who are generally interested in South Africa’s reading and writing culture. The programme has also attracted non-South Africans who are literature lovers.The programme is free as there is no membership fee required at this stage.

The programme varies with each session. Topics that have been covered thus far have been relevant and the programme participants range from veterans to newcomers, old, young, male and female. The programme history is attached below.

Book exhibitions of participants and other literary work are always featured at the Club sessions.

This is one of the milestones of the Miriam Tlali Reading & Book Club. The programme was launched in April 2010. We are pleased to announce that the response has gradually shown significant growth and appreciation.

The kiddies’ programme accommodates 2 -12 year olds, whilst the teens’ programme accommodates 13 – 18 year olds.

In delivering this programme, the wRite associates is working with the following professionals:- Marcia Tladi, a poet and author
– Thembi Mkhizwane, a librarian and storyteller
– Toto Mubenga, a poet and author
– Maserame Madingwane, a poet and kiddies’ author
– Solane Mlambo, a poet and author

2013 Sessions

Date	Discussants	Facilitators	Theme
16th March 2013	McIntosh Polela	Siphiwo Mahala	Book discussion: Book title: My Father My Monster
4th May 2013	Profs Nhlanhla Maake, Pitika Ntuli and Sello  Maake ka Ncube and Motshabi Tyelele	Sindiswa Seakhoa	Discussion on Rape, Women and Children Abuse in South Africa Theme: Freedom In Our Lifetime: Fighting Rape With Words

 

2012 Sessions

Date	Discussants	Facilitators	Theme
25th February 2012	Miriam Tlali Reading & Book Club’s 2012 Imbizo	Sindiswa Seakhoa   Lerato Tseu	2011 Club Report and charting a way forward.   Kiddies session: Social day
24th March 2012	Winston Mohapi   Performance Meropa	Raks Seakhoa   Pride Mthethwa   Toto Mubenga	Reading and discussion of Lehlaba la Lephako by TWD Mohapi Kiddies session: Storytelling Teens session: Poetry reading & performances
21st April 2012	Jessica Mbangeni Masoja Msiza Pumeza Macingwane	Portia Mahange       Solane Mlambo	Poetry Post the Liberation Struggle (What are we writing?) Kiddies session: Storytelling Teens session: Storytelling
26th May 2012	Tshepo Maseko Lesego Motsepe Nthabi Nofemele Pumeza Macingwane Simphiwi Mini Poetry Muziwakhe	Moemisi Motsepe       Thembi Mkhizwane     Precious Masuku	The Leader South Africa Never Had     Kiddies session: Book Reading: Imbiza Ethethayo by Sydney Z. Zotwana Teens session: Book Reading: They Fought for Freedom
June 2012	No session in honour of the passing away of Ms Moleboheng Lehutso-Phooko, daughter to Ms Miriam Tlali
21st July 2012	Phillippa Yaa de Villiers	Sindiswa Seakhoa   Lerato Sabata     Maserame Madingwane	The Everyday Wife by Phillippa Yaa de Villiers   Kiddies session: Ha re bapaleng ka ditlhaku Know Your History
27th August 2012	Nomboniso Gasa Rose Francis	Leonardo Mulaja Sindiswa Seakhoa   Toto Mubenga	Words by Women Today   Kiddies session: Reading and Storytelling Teens session: Reading and Poetry
22nd September 2012	Yvonne Busisiwe Kgame	Raks Seakhoa     Lerato Tseu   Mooketsi Lecholo	Infinite Grace, a miraculous awakening with author Yvonne Busisiwe Kgame Kiddies session: Reading and Storytelling Teens session: Reading & Poetry
29th October 2012	Nhlanhla Maake	Mr. Raks Seakhoa     Lerato Tseu   Mooketsi Lecholo	BARBARISM IN HIGHER EDUCATION: Once upon a Time in a University Kiddies session Reading & Storytelling   Reading & Poetry
24th November 2012	Closing session at the Tsebe Community Library at 417 Ga-Tsebe in Pretoria	Sindiswa Seakhoa	Launch of the Tsebe Community Library