Lumkile Mzukwa says the fair can change the social energy of Gugulethu.
The inaugural iGugulethu Book Fair will take place on Saturday December 14 at the Gugulethu sports complex, from 8am to 5pm.
Lumkile’s Book Joint SA, based in Gugulethu, is the sole organiser of the iGugulethu Book Fair.
Lumkile Mzukwa, the founder and one of the directors of Lumkile’s Book Joint SA, said the fair is set to be the signature event of Gugulethu, organised annually.
The theme of the iGugulethu Book Fair is “Building Belonging and Social Cohesion Through Books and Partnerships 30 Years Into Our Democracy”.
“iGugulethu Book Fair is organised in the backdrop of the seemingly intractable social ills in the townships and growing percentage of children who cannot read with meaning. A book fair that changes the space of the township is critical. It is important that our book fair changes the social energy of Gugulethu,” said Mzukwa.
The fair aims to galvanise the community into a culture of reading, and is also a deliberate attempt to garner a black book market for the future.
“It is still a comfortable perception, with a ring of truth, that townships do not have a culture of reading, and thus, the culture of buying books,” said Mzukwa.
On the line-up of authors supporting the event are Professor Xolela Mangcu, Professor Jeff Peires of The House of Phalo and Dead Will Arise, veteran journalist Zubeida Jaffer and Chumile Salie as well as well known bookshop brands in the city, The Book Lounge and Clarke’s Bookshop, and the City Library, Iziko Museum, Nal’ibali, Biblionef.
The experience will include a children’s corner, entertainment, book fair merchandise, food stalls and writer’s sessions.
Mzukwa said the fair gives the townships an opportunity to host communities from afar and showcase their true nature other than the persistent narrative of social ills and despair.
“This is an opportunity, and has such an untold potential to change the game of the townships and impact township economy, and it is built on the legends of Gugulethu such as Gladys Nomfanekiso Mgudlandlu, Winston Mankunku Ngozi, Ray Ntlokwana, Mzoli Ngcauzele , Fanie Jason, Dr Sindiwe Magona, Driemanskap and in the backdrop of more than 60 years of its existence,” he said.