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Reprint of South African Classics: Indigenous Languages
The government of South Africa is committed to the vision of reducing illiteracy and promoting the culture of reading and writing in the country. As part of these broad imperatives, the Department of Arts & Culture in collaboration with the National Library of South Africa have undertaken to reprint some out-of-print books that are considered classics in indigenous African languages.
This project is part of a broader strategy for the government's intervention in the development of culture of reading in South Africa.
The Reprint of South African Classics project
will inter alia:
- Promote literature as custodian of South African heritage.
- Instill love and respect for South African writers and their works.
- Expose learners, the youth and aspirant writers tothe richness of South African literary heritage.
- Advance the profile of South African literature.
- Develop passion for the culture of reading and writing among citizens.
- Promote reading of literature written in African languages even outside the school curriculum.
- Celebrate and recognise our classical writers.
- Enhance social cohesion and nation building through literature.
- Enhance accessability of indigenous languages books through public libraries.
"This project should raise awareness of the works of quality that have been produced over the years in previously marginalised languages. Exposure to the entire spectrum of human experience as it is explored in indigenous African literature can only enrich the cultural life of South Africa."
- Z. Pallo Jordan, Minister of Arts and Culture
Contact person: Rhulani Bila
rhulani.bila@nlsa.ac.za
Tel. 012 4019753