The City of Joburg, with Sowetan and wRite associates, celebrated budding talent among the city's youngsters through the third Joburg Literary Festival (Jolife).

The City of Joburg, with Sowetan and wRite associates, celebrated budding talent among the city's youngsters through the third Joburg Literary Festival (Jolife).

Young short story writers and poets were honoured for having participated in the competitive component of Jolife, with the theme Pride In Yourself.

Taken from black consciousness movement icon Steve Biko's book, I Write What I Like, the excerpt encouraged festival and contest participants to maintain a grip on their social, cultural and political identity as well as their history.

Both the festival and creative writing contest commemorated the 30th anniversary of Biko's death in detention on September 12 1977. The nominees were Siboniso Duma, Alison Cook, Judy Mangena, Samkelisiwe Ngwenya, Hlanguliwe N Gumbi, Mapheto Confidence Seleme, Misha Morar, Fatsani Banda, Lydia van den Brink, Tamaryn Greer, Jessica Nthabiseng Nendouvhada, Lindokuhle Dlamini, Mayshree Rowjee, Keabetswe Modimoeng, David Mchuma, Itumeleng Magongoa, Mosa Ditsi and Nthabiseng Mantsoe.

Jolife's other theme, Things Fall Apart, celebrated the 50th anniversary of iconic African literary classic by Chinua Achebe.

City of Johannesburg's programmes and projects regional manager, Tsakane Shiburi, said: "This annual Literary Festivalwas inaugurated in 2006 and has been graced by literary giants, including Mbulelo Mzamane, Miriam Tlali, Nobel laureate Nadine Gordimer and Don Mattera." -- Victor Mecoamere