The issue of the literary
system and the bias against black writers has been in the spotlight since
the Franschoek Literary Fair in May. It was again the subject of intense
discussion at Wits University on 9 May when Thando Mgqolozana, Siphiwo Mahala
and others took part in a panel discussion. The event was organised by Jacana
and was presented under the heading, 'Decolonising the Literary Landscape'.
Mgqolozana told the meeting
that, after seven years, he was tired of working towards acceptance by the
establishment. Referring to a comment by another speaker that it was important
for blacks to attend these festivals, he said he hated hearing the words, "We need you". He said by putting them (black writers) on the programme, the
organisers were creating a space for "performance of black
rage".
He also argued that black
people "do read" and that it should be recognised that every book
purchased by a black person was read by many people. The problem was a lack of
access "to reading material". Most bookstores were in white areas, and the
only one in a black area -- at Maponya Mall -- had closed down because the
offering too closely resembled what was sold at, for example, Sandton branches of the same
bookstore. In addition, books were expensive when seen in relation to average
household income.
Mgqolozana called for reading
to be viewed as a basic need and for government to scrap VAT on the sale of
books.
Mgqolozana said he hoped to
break away from discussing white people and how they responded. It was
much more important to "ïmagine an alternative book industry".
Although he would not attend any more festivals, for now, he had no option but
to still rely on white-controlled publishing houses and bookstores.
Writer and Department of Arts
and Culture official Mahala said he decided in 2011 to stop attending events
like the Franschhoek Literary Festival. He described Franschhoek as an initiative set up by private
individuals linked to the white establishment who then invited black writers
because they "needed black monkeys to entertain them". Mahala
deplored the fact that all aspects of the publishing business – from editing to sales to
reviews – were under white control.
During the discussion, many audience
members prefaced their comments with the words "I am angry". Several
of the young black audience members lambasted another speaker, Corina van der
Spoel of Wits University, for stating that, due to the damage caused by
apartheid, blacks do not read and that the black elite should buy more books.
The audience members argued that it was not her place to make such remarks.
"I use my money to buy books and I have been doing so since high
school", an audience member, a student, said, adding that as far as he knew, young white
people also needed to be encouraged to read.
Van der Spoel's input
generated repartee from the young black audience. At one stage,
van der Spoel asked, "Where is the Huisgenoot for the black
community?" to which audience members shouted, "Bona, Bona!"
In discussions such as these,
of course, defining the problem is easier than finding solutions.
One of the audience members,
Allan Horwitz of Botsotso Publishing, tried to provide a different perspective.
He argued that the problem was the capitalist system and that socialist
approaches were needed. In his view, the democratic government should do
more to curb the profit motive in the book publishing and distribution system.
He also called on Government to make sure libraries held books of local writers
and hosted regular events where writers could discuss their work with community
members.
Some in the audience strongly
favoured "blacks only" literary festivals (although Mahala spoke out
against this). Mgqolozana wondered whether writers should release and sell
their work chapter by chapter, which would make literature works easier to buy. Speaking
from the audience, academic Pumla Gqola argued that greater use should be made
of alternative distribution strategies, making use of new communications
technologies which put more power in the hands of citizens. She also reminded
people of how kwaito music emerged outside the formal system of music
production and distribution. New music releases were sold from the boots of cars and through other informal ways,
The panel
discussion leaves many more questions than answers. On the one hand, there
appears to be wide agreement that, 20 years on, the publishing industry has
made too little progress in terms of transformation. On the other hand, it is unclear
who will lead a new push for fundamental changes. It remains to be seen
which institutions or coalitions of organisations will step up to drive a new
agenda of radical change in the publishing industry.
