WRITER HONOURED

The Bloemskrywerskring (Writers’ club) of Heidedal in Mangaung has presented author Omoseye Bolaji with an award for his outstanding contributions to Free State, and African literature. He was given a trophy and certificate for producing “excellent, thrilling fiction on a consistent basis”

The award was presented to Bolaji by Marika Du Plessis, Secretary of the club, who said: “Libraries are of very great significance, as the young ones should learn good habits of reading from an early age. The great thing about Mr. Bolaji is that his books have a lot of appeal because of their local colour. His literary productivity has been very consistent and seems to scale new heights on a yearly basis”

Omoseye Bolaji has published well over ten books of gripping fiction. He created the Tebogo Mystery series which is now world famous. Books under this series include Tebogo Investigates, Tebogo’s spot of bother and Tebogo Fails. Bolaji is also the author of novels like People of the Townships, The Ghostly Adversary, and Impossible Love.

Flaxman Qoopane, well known Free State writer and long-time colleague of Bolaji, said: “It is a pity that African writers are not celebrated in great fashion, unlike their counterparts overseas. It’s very irritating, but we hope things will become better. For example I have inaugurated a literary museum, but so many of our people do not know the importance of this. This produces the incongruous situation where writers like Bolaji are celebrated overseas much more than they are in their own continent”

Indeed, Omoseye Bolaji is now one of Africa’s top creative writers. This can be ascertained from the hundreds of references on his writings on the internet. Among many awards, Bolaji was the first black person to be conferred with the Chancellor’s Medal by the University of the Free State (in 2007)

Bolaji, who lives in Bloemfontein, is the author of over 20 books which are internationally recognized. They include The Termagant, The Guillotine, The Subtle Transgressor, Tebogo and the Haka, Tebogo and the epithalamion, and Tebogo and the pantophagist.

- Courtesy of FS Sun (May 28 2010 edition)

XULU DIES

Muntu Xulu part of warp and weft of Zulu Literature Muntu Jeremiah Xulu, novelist, playwright, former teacher, journalist and editor died after a long illness at his home in Vukazenzele, Mangaung in Bloemfontein on the 05th May 2010.

Bekumthetho S.Nkosi from Bhekuzulu in Kwa-Zulu Natal told Free State News “Muntu was my relative, he was an outstanding novelist, playwright and comedian. He published many novels, plays and a book of jokes in his own Zulu Language which was widely read at schools and universities in the country. Xulu had the gift of the pen.”

Jeremiah published the following novels in Zulu, Kunje Ke! published by Shutter and Shutter Publishers in 1987, Amalutha Emalutheni published by Educum Publishers in 2000, Amathe Nolimi published by Shutter and Shutter in 1997, Uthando Lunjeke published by N.G Kerk Printing Press in 1978, Nondela Mtanami Nondela published by Longman Publishers in 1988 and Mahlayana Mahlayana published by Shutter and Shutter publishers in 1981.

As a result of his contribution to the Zulu literature, the national Museum in Bloemfontein honoured him as part of their literary exhibition.Nhlanhlanhle L.Xulu from New Castle in Kwa-Zulu Natal said “My father studies journalism at Kitwe School of Journalism in Zambia in 1957 – 1958. He did another journalism course with the International correspondence School of Journalism in London, Britain in 1964 – 1969,”

He was born on 28 November 1930 in Johannesburg. He grew up in Kwa-Zulu Natal. In 1950 he completed his Teachers Training diploma at Umphumulo Institution.He was buried at the South Park Cemetery in Mangaung on 15 May 2010.

- F Qoopane