Twenty-two stories were selected for inclusion in the new Stellenbosch Woordfees Short Story Collection. The publication features the works of writers such as Frederik de Jager, columnist Murray La Vita, and Daneel Jantjies who was selected last year for the Jakes Gerwel Foundation’ Kommadagga residency.
“In nine years, this competition has gone from strength to strength,” says Suzette Myburgh, the convenor of the selection panel since 2016. “We received 368 entries this year. As in previous years, the stories always echo a wide variety of themes. This year there was a particularly strong emphasis on the theme of the mother with stories ranging from the conventional view of motherhood to that of an all-dominant mother figure created through artificial intelligence. There are also a few stories seemingly inspired by the tragic disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smit from Saldanha. Once again, the volume has become an accurate reflection of the zeitgeist in which we live.”
The other two panelists are the award-winning writer Valda Jansen and the academic and translator Marius Swart.
Lynthia Julius, award-winning author of the poetry collections Kinderlê and Uit die kroes, describes the Stellenbosch Woordfees Short Story Collection as one of the largest in South Africa for short stories, and one that attracts leading writers who continue to raise the quality of the entries.
The collection always carries the title of the Woordfees theme. This year it is Play – a reflection of the spontaneity and freedom with which writers are encouraged to fill the blank page.
“The EasyEquities Writers’ Festival remains at the heart of the Woordfees and the short story competition is the jewel in the Woordfees crown. It has been a great pleasure and privilege to receive so many new stories that deepen and broaden what Afrikaans embodies and serve as a literary record of the times,” says Saartjie Botha, Director of the Stellenbosch Woordfees.
The overall winner will be announced on 28 September at the Collection launch during this year’s Stellenbosch Woordfees. The winner will receive a grand prize of R30 000 with the compliments of EasyEquities, who have been supporting the festival since 2022 as name sponsor of the EasyEquities Writers’ Festival. Every author included in the bundle will receive R5 000, as well as an EasyEquities investment account with R500 to invest.
“EasyEquities is proud to once again support the writers’ festival at Woordfees 2024. As a platform that aims to make investment accessible to everyone, we share a passion for promoting knowledge and creativity. We believe that literature, just like investing, is a powerful way to understand and influence the world around us. The ninth Woordfees short story collection is the perfect example of this. “We celebrate the talent and inspiration of all the authors included in this year’s collection. Your stories enrich our lives and inspire us to dream bigger and think deeper. Thank you for sharing the power of the written word with us,” says Carel Nolte, Head of Marketing at EasyEquities.
The publication of the volume was made possible with support from the Hiemstra Trust and PEN Afrikaans.
Writers whose stories have appeared in previous Stellenbosch Woordfees short story collections and are making an appearance again this year include Erla-Mari Diedericks, Ryno Eksteen, Emile Joubert, Michèle Meyer, Ilse Schoonwinkel Pauw, Belinda Nel and Kobus Grobler.
The authors included in the 2024 Stellenbosch Woordfees Short Story Collection, in alphabetical order, are:
Marius de Bruyn
Frederik de Jager
Erla-Mari Diedericks
Stephanie du Toit
Ryno Eksteen
Martelize Faber
Kobus Grobler
Daneel Jantjies
Emile Joubert
Murray La Vita
Michèle Meyer
Belinda Nel
Solet Scheeres
Sandy Schoeman
Ilse Schoonwinkel Pauw
Jonita Swart
HP van Deventer
Ilse van Staden
Jan Vermeulen
Hannes Visser
Theo von Solms
Rentia Weber
For further information or to arrange an interview, contact Candice Jantjies at candice@woordfees.co.za. For more details about the Stellenbosch Woordfees short story competition, click here.
