See www.richmondnc.co.

za
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” ~~ Mahatma Gandhi

September 10, 2010.

BOOK TOWN RICHMOND AUGUST NEWSLETTER

Good Morning KarooZers all,

The countdown to one of the most anticipated literary festivals has begun, and interest
is increasing by the day. I’ve already had so many inquiries asking when our next
newsletter was coming out that I am somewhat embarrassed! But things move slowly
in the Karoo and even slower in Zululand. But if you look at our website - over 12 000
hits since May, and almost 32 000 hits in less than a year, we are really quite
overwhelmed by the interest shown in this once sleepy Karoo dorp. It is a project that
has truly caught the imagination of South Africans from the far flung corners of the
country.

Once again, there have been a few changes to our line up. For varying reasons,
Marianne Palmer, Pieter Scholtz and Stephan Welz are unable to join us, but each has
asked that they be listed to attend next year. One of the beautiful things about
Booktown Richmond is that we always have an excellent list of people asking to be on
the programme; more than we have hours in the day or space for in fact. So in addition
to those speaking at the BTRHQ we shall have every stoep filled with writers and
bookies all dying to speak to you and to interest you in what they have written or
published.

A big coup for this year’s festival is the addition of acclaimed architect Gawie Fagan
to the line-up. At the ‘tender’ age of 80 odd, Mr Fagan, who still practices as an
architect in Cape Town, will be making his way to join ‘The Coolie Odyssey’. Isn’t it
just marvellous how, what first appears to be a set-back, turns out to be something
positive?

I was just getting the last bits of information for my book 101 Country Churches of SA,
and called Calitzdorp to get some information on their Anglican Church; a real beaut!
I got through to Noel – Jean Kreil (who incidentally gave the first organ recital in
Booktown Richmond) who told me that a certain Gawie Fagan had remarked that in
his estimation, this was one of the finest Anglican Churches in the country. As it was, I
had been on the trail of one Gabriel Fagan since 2009, because Gabriel Fagan’s book
Brakdak: Flatroof houses of the Karoo had been shortlisted for the inaugural Book
town Richmond Literary Award. And so I asked Noel: ‘Is this Gawie Fagan the same
Gabriel Fagan?”
‘Yes’, he replied to my utter delight.
‘You wouldn’t happen to have to phone number?’ I inquired further.
‘Oh, just phone Telkom and ask for Gawie Fagan Architects!’The rest, as they say, is
history.

I rate this book very highly. It is truly a hymn to a form of architecture in the Karoo
that is fast disappearing. I remember Pieter Fourie, at BoekBedonnerd 2, in 2008,
advising me not to buy a certain book I had my eye on, but rather to buy Gabriel
Fagan’s book. And who am I to argue with the man they call ‘Piet Famous’?

So at the Karoo Economic Development Summit in Graaff-Reinet, I finally bought the

book. I will never forget Peter Baker running up to me and excitedly telling me he had
bought one of the best books in years. And there we both stood: Peter showing me his
English version, and I with the Afrikaans version. When I look back at the history of
Booktown Richmond, it’s truly amazing how many writers seem to be destined for this
wonderful town in the middle of the Great Karoo!!!

Next on our list is Joost Pyck, a stonemason from the Netherlands who now hammers
away at his very rare trade in Oudtshoorn. This ‘klipkapper’ (is Afrikaans not a
wonderfully evocative language!) is probably one of only two in the W.Cape, if not the
whole of SA. Joost has worked on many projects in Oudtshoorn, restoring the
wonderful sandstone heritage for which Oudtshoorn is famous. But what really got me
excited is the prominence of the rock/ stone (die klip) in Afrikaans literature. A while
ago, one of our speakers, Loftus Marais, wrote a beautiful piece in Beeld on this
theme. I will endeavour to group these two individuals in one session, and hopefully
Loftus would be willing to talk, even for just 5 minutes, around this theme. But we’d
like to welcome ‘die klipkapper van Oudtshoorn’ to Booktown Richmond.
OFF-BROADWAY

The ever popular village walks conducted by Len Raymond from the Drakenstein
Heritage Foundation and a fervent conservationist will take place every morning
leaving from the Supper Klub; remember to bring a big had and block out.

We are very happy to announce that local farmer and veld expert Julian Theron will be
doing Karoo Krawls from his farm on the Deelfontein Road. Julian knows the veld
intimately; from the tiniest succulent to the largest game. The trip will also take in a
tour of the Boer War Deelfontein Grave Yard. Please call Julian or Martisan directly to
book your place. There is no charge, but you will have to make your own way to their
spot. Tel: 053-631-3290 home

The big news is that Rian Malan, a great friend of Booktown Richmond, was recently
barred from singing at a literary function hosted by Penguin. Now if Penguin had said
Rian just can’t sing, we all would have understood!!! But apparently, he was barred
from singing because of his ‘questionable’ political utterances. Isn’t that just over the
top?

We at Booktown Richmond pride ourselves on being generously minded, free thinkers

and welcome all people of all shades and persuasions: bar none. It is in this spirit that
we are giving Rian the stage to sing at Die Supper Klub. Who knows, if the draconian
censorship laws being proposed come into force, Rian may be one of the first to be
called upon to ‘sing’ a song of a more sinister tune!!!
Rian Malan will have to be on top of his game, because Justine Josias, that wonderful,
versatile songstress who thrilled viewers week in and week out on Supersterre, will
also be performing at our new venue. Justine will offer 2 shows on Friday and
Saturday night. Starting times for her performances will be 20h00. Tickets available at
the door. Make sure not to miss this one folks. Justine is as accomplished in Afrikaans
as she is in English. BTRHQ will rejoice at the cacophony of voices that will ring out
within its beautifully restored interior!!!

ART GALLERY ACTIVITIES

We would also like to remind people that an intensive book preservation/ restoration
workshop is being hosted by the National Library of SA at the MAP (Modern Art
Projects) ( http://www.mapzar.org/ ) Gallery on Loop Street opposite the Town Hall.
This wonderfully restored building will also be hosting art exhibits of MAP and the
William Humphries Art Gallery in Kimberley, art book displays and a writers’
workshop (www.allaboutwriting.com ) put on by Jo-Anne Richards. Please book
directly with her.

to book your spot for the book restoration course. Contact:

Douwe Drijfhout, Jenny Raatz or Johann Maree.

Preservation Services
National Library of South Africa
P O Box 496
Cape Town
8000
Tel + 27 21 487-5642
Fax +27 21 423-3359
Douwe Drijfhout : Douwe.Drijfhout@nlsa.ac.za
Website www.nlsa.ac.za

Richmond Filums will be showing at the Town Hall from the Wednesday afternoon.
We are so proud that Gail and David Robbins have reappeared in the Karoo; all the
more so in Richmond.

They will be showing four 26 minute films that will give a visual experience of Indian
culture for the Coolie Odyssey:

Fire walking in South Africa

Kavadi, the piercing ceremony

The Return

The Vow
The MAP Gallery will also be serving light breakfasts and lunches on their expansive
stoep so don’t worry about getting peckish when at the other end of town!.

We would like to mention a few of our sponsors and their kind generosity in
supporting the BTR and Richmond Community Development Foundation; they
include Stuttaford Van Lines, Home fabrics, Indigo 4000, Kwikot, Woodbender
Furniture, The Northern Cape Government, MAP Galleries, Builders Warehouse,
Universal Paint, Michael Drysdale Photography, The Richmond Town Council
(Ubuntu), N1 Road Works, The Nama Karoo Foundation, and Doubleday Press
/Random House in Canada.

We also would like to thank Ockert and Louise Botha who have worked hard to get
BTRHQ ready to rock and roll, Heinz and Belinda Munnik, who are never too busy to
get a last minute repair / fix it job done, as well as other Richmond dorpies in the
persons of Darrel,(an endless supplier of good ideas and notions and often, well worth
the trouble, enlightened criticism), Michael (always present and ready to unload
Stuttaford moving vans and to supply, by instant return, pix and creative
composition), and Annette, perhaps future doyenne of BTRHQ.

We have at last received a shipment of Fred Stenson’s book “The Great Karoo” which
you can purchase at the Book Fair in October or have posted to you at R160 plus
postage. Contact Peter at pcbaker@mweb.co.za or 011-447-2517/3308.

HOT OFF THE

PRESS
ON SALE

THE GREAT KAROO

BY
Fred Stenson

R160 PLUS SHIPPING

PLEASE CONTACT PETER
pcbaker@mweb.co.za
011-447-2517

http://www.randomhouse.ca/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385664059
 And finally...... Ta da.....................
Booktown Richmond Headquarters
makes an appeal for books
Our new Booktown HQ housed in the former Municipal
Library on Loop Street is going to establish a library of
notable Africana, in the fields of literature, poetry,
paintings and prints, history, indigenous art and
culture, and geography.
This collection of books, art and prints will we pray,
become a centre of excellence for this and future
generations. A successful Booktown must offer a huge
volume and variety of books for sale, but it must also
be the home to libraries of great books in permanent
collections for all to enjoy.
We are appealing to all interested South Africans who
have collections which they would like to see in just
such a permanent home, to contact us.
Perhaps you would like to see your collection
bequeathed in loving memory of a relative, which
memorial will be engraved on a brass plaque?
As a book collector, one always stares down at the sad
reality that “in the fullness of time” one’s collection is
broken apart and dispersed. A bequeath will ensure
that your collection lives on and can be used by
researchers, writers and historians, and anyone else
interested in our wonderful country.
Please contact either Peter Baker or Darryl David
pcbaker@mweb.co.za or cowboys@sai.co.za.

P.S. whilst there is so much very lekker about the Karoo....somethings ain’t so wonderful. Check out:
http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSetId=662&fSectionId=629&fArticleId=5634125
 The Programme

TIME SPEAKER DESCRIPTION

DAY 1 THURSDAY OCTOBER 21, 2010
08:45 - 09:00 DARRYL DAVID WELCOMING
High Low In-between – Winner of Sunday Times
09:00 - 09:30 IMRAAN COOVADIA Fiction Prize - 2010
09:30 - 10:00 LOFTUS MARAIS Staan in die algemeen nader Aan vensters –
10:00 - 10:30 KIRBY VAN DER MERWE To Be Announced
10:30 - 11:00 TEA BREAK
11:00 - 11:30 FRED STENSON The Great Karoo
11:30 - 12:00 ALF KUMALO Through my Lens
OFFICIAL OPENING – A Simple Freedom –
12:00 - 13:00 AHMED KATHRADA Interview with Darryl David & Rian Malan

13:00 – 14:00 LUNCH BREAK

14:00 - 14:30 DARREL CONOLLY The life of Gandhi in SA
14:30 - 15:00 DONAL McCRACKEN A Green Man
15:00 - 15:30 MAUREEN ISAACSON Fatima Meer – Higher than Hope
15:30 - 16:00 CHRIS MARAIS & JULIENNE du TOIT Karoo Keepsakes
16:00 - 16:30
16:30 - 17:00

TIME SPEAKER DESCRIPTION

 DAY 2 FRIDAY OCTOBER 22, 2010
08:45 - 9:00
09:00 – 10:00 INGRID WINTERBACH Die Benederyk
Ike Mayet – The first black owner of an Africana
10:00 – 10:30 JOANNE RUSHBY-IKE’S BOOKSHOP bookshop?
10:30 - 11:00 ROGER&PAT DE LA HARPE In Search of the African Wild Dog
TEA BREAK
11:00 - 11:30
11:30 - 12:00 JOOST PYCK Die klipkapper van Oudtshoorn
The Vintage Collection: Indian Writing 1860-
12:00 - 12:30 RAJENDRA CHETTY 2010
12:30 - 13:00 DIANNE FERRUS Saartjie Baartman
LUNCH BREAK
13:00 - 14:00
Private Excavations – Exploring the roots of
14:00 - 14:30 DAVID ROBBINS Dogma
14:30 - 15:00 GEOFF KLASS Books as Investments
15:00 - 15:30 ANGELA READ LLOYD The Artist in the Garden
15:30 - 16:00 JUDGE CHRIS NICHOLSON Papwa Sewgolum-From Pariah to Legend
16:00 - 16:30
16:30 - 17:00

TIME SPEAKER DESCRIPTION

DAY 3 SATURDAY OCTOBER 23, 2010
08:45-9:00
In conversation with Denis Beckett, n and
09:00-10:00 FRED STENSON Tymon Smith The Great Karoo
10:00-10:30 ROSEMARY RUDD Wooden Buildings of South Africa
10:30-11:00 SABATA MOKAE The Story of Sol Plaatjie – A Biography
11:00-11:30 TEA BREAK
11:30-12:00 RONNIE GOVENDER Song of the Atman
Brouhaha- verstommings, naakstudies en
12:00-12:20 EBEN VENTER wenreseptes
12:30-13:00 GAWIE FAGAN Brakdak: Platdakhuise in die Karoo

13:00-14:00 LUNCH BREAK

14:00-14:30 JONATHAN JANSEN Knowledge in the Blood
14:30-15:00 WYNAND COETZER Skerpioen
15:00-15:30 GERALD HOBERMAN Lighthouses of Southern Africa
DARRYL DAVID & PHILIPPE
15:30-16:00 MENACHE 101 Country Churches of South Africa

16:00-17:00 CLOSING WITH AHMED KATHRADA

And just in case some of you were
worried about winter in Richmond,
summer has arrived in the dorp!