My little heaven - The Jozi Book Fair

The Jozi Book fair definitely exceeded my expectations. The niche vibe of fellow writers, readers and publishes exhibiting their work was unbelievable. There is immeasurable talent out there and many appluadable initiatives running, all with the objective of creating a literate society. Most certainly, words well spoken and the understanding gained through reading are the most powerful weapons in fighting oppression, which is sadly still a reality in our democracy.

This is Joburg’s second annual Book Fair, organized by Khnaya College and hosted by Museum Africa. The overall aim of this event is to provide readers, upcoming writers and publishes with a platform from which to exhibit their aspirations and gain new contacts within the industry. Visitors could freely participate in a variety of round table discussions, book launches, workshops and readings – all for a mere R10 entrance fee!

I found the ‘Writers Guide to Reading’ workshop, conducted by the charming Richard Benyon (the current script writer on the Rhythm City set) and Jo-Ann Richards (who is writer and lecturer at the Wits Department of Journalism). Their topic of discussion revolved around the current trend in the sale of books, where non-fiction sells a lot better than fiction. Richard started his line of thought by pointing out that, as we enter into a new era of entertainment and information technology, reading is no longer done for pleasure but rather for ‘self improvement’ so to speak. And it’s is true, people see non-fiction as educational and enhancing, precise and factual. But why are emotions, portrayed in fictional tales, considered to be ‘non-factual’? In all truth, the reality that people can relate to the emotions depicted in novels, gives this genre an equal element of factualness, and shows how its significance is being undermined. As Jo-Ann pointed out, how factual is history without the emotions of the persons who lived it?

This leads us to the flip side of the coin, which was snubbed during the workshop. One must not undermine the power of a well written story. A great book takes you out of this world and into the book. This in itself can mislead certain individuals (especially young woman) by intoxicating their vulnerable minds with ideals that humans and this world can not satisfy. A classic example of this is the hugely popular Twilight Saga which has captivated readers’ world wide with the sub-real protocol of vampires. The blood-sucking hero is strong enough to suppress his fateful apatite and protect his fragile human lover from the evil of his kind. The underworld is falsely represented which subconsciously attracts readers to those who have a questionable character and intentions.

It is true though, people in general don’t read unless the book is substantial and beneficial. I can attest to this – over the last year I have not read one light-hearted fiction. It’s not that I don’t want to but when I do make time for a book, it’s not for entertainment. It just goes to show how our innovative life styles have stamped out those simple pleasures, one of which is a delightful story book!

The exhibition itself was just as amazing. A whole floor of stalls, separated by hessian clothe was packed with the most interesting books, interesting people and publishers who are giving so many talented South Africans a voice. Each stall holder had a story to tell and took a personal interest in their guests.

There were two exhibitors who really caught my attention. The first was the Reunited Siblings, an independent publisher dedicate to making reading more socially accepted and available. I met the lovely Wesley Peppers, a talented artist who illustrates their compilation of poems written by all sorts of South Africans. His drawings fuel the poetry and the book is perfect for display on a coffee table.

Khanya Collage displayed a selection of their ‘Journals for Activists’ which address a variety of issues relevant to building a stronger nation. They are getting stuck into many initiatives, aimed at assembling communities with knowledge and skills so that they can sustain themselves, organize and fight. I bought the July 2010 issue entitled Publishing In Times of Crisis. I can’t wait to dive in!

Let’s all carry on writing, carry on reading and carry on publishing. This is what it takes to empower a nation!