South African Literary Awards calling for writers to enter the competition

By CityLife Arts Writer

The write associates, in partnership with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), invite South African writers to submit qualifying literary works for the 17^th South African Literary Awards (SALA).

The submissions Opened on 31^sMarch 2023 and the closing date is 3  May 2022.

About the South African Literary Awards:

Founded by the wRite associates and supported by the national Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (then DAC, now DSAC) in 2005, the main aim of the South African Literary Awards is to pay tribute to South African writers who have distinguished themselves as groundbreaking producers and creators of literature, while it celebrates literary excellence in the depiction and sharing of South Africa’s histories, value systems and philosophies and art as inscribed and preserved in all the languages of South Africa, particularly the official languages.

The SA Literary Awards continue to become the most prestigious and respected literary accolades in the South African literary landscape.

The main aim of the South African Literary Awards is to pay tribute to South African writers who have distinguished themselves as groundbreaking producers and creators of literature, while it celebrates literary excellence in the depiction and sharing of South Africa’s histories, value systems, philosophies and art as inscribed and preserved in all eleven official languages of South Africa. The Awards aim to become the most prestigious and respected accolades in the South African literary arena.

Having started with one (1) category in 2005 – the South African National Poet Laureate Prize – to date, SALA boasts sixteen (16) categories, with the newest additions being the Regional Poet Laureate, (two already awarded in 2021) andLocal Poet Laureate Prize(to be awarded from 2022), SALA accepts work in all SA’s 11 (eleven) official languages and has to date, honoured over two hundred and sixty (260) authors.

Selections are made from published authors whose primary input is in imaginative writing – fiction as well as creative non-fiction. The work must demonstrate good linguistic presentation, the nation’s identity, societal values, universal truths, and cultural aesthetics. It must also contribute to social cohesion, nation building and transcendence of time. This brings the overall SALA categories to sixteen 16’.

Fresh from marking 17 years of her epoch-making existence of celebrating and promoting South Africa’s literary talent, this year (2022), the South African Literary Awards (SALA) deepens and broadens its reach by adding the following categories Regional and Local Poets Laureate. Among other winners of these  awards is the late poet Kgositsile  who was honoured with the title of National Laureate, among others.

1.     Children’s Literature Award

2.     Youth Literature Award

3.     First-time Published Author Award

4.     k. Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award

5.     Poetry Award

6.     Nadine Gordimer Short story Award

7.     Creative Non-fiction Literary Award

8.     Literary Translators Award

9.     Literary Journalism Award

10. Novel Award

11. Posthumous Literary Award

12. Chairperson Literary Award (not open for submissions)

13. Lifetime Achievement Literary Award (not open for submissions)

14. National Poet Laureate Prize (not open for submissions) and

15. Regional Poet Laureate Prize(from all the provinces except the Western Cape and Limpopo)

16. Local Poet Laureate Prize

For the Submissions Criteria and Nomination Forms, please visit www.sala.org.za or www.writeassociates.co.za

Please note that this year, submissions forms are submitted online. However, the hard copies of the books must be submitted by courier or self-delivery at the wRite associates/SALA offices: 74 Mimosa Road, Randpark Ridge, 2194.