2021 SANLAM PRIZES FOR YOUTH LITERATURE – SHORTLISTS ARE HERE!
Sanlam and Tafelberg Publishers are delighted to announce the 2021 finalists for the Sanlam Prizes for Youth Literature. A total of 95 manuscripts in nine of the 11 official languages – many by debut authors – were submitted for the competition, which seeks to develop quality literature for readers between 12 and 18 years of age.

Prizes are awarded in three categories: English, Afrikaans and African languages, with a winner (gold) and runner-up (silver) chosen in each category.

The 2021 finalists are, in alphabetical order according to author:

English

• Jayne Bauling from White River for Looking for Letsie
• Jaco Fouché from Hermanus for The Kowie
• Catherine Jarvis from Orange Grove, Johannesburg, for The Swim Team
• Fred Khumalo from Wendywood, Johannesburg, for Crossing the River
• Penny Lorimer from Cape Town for Luntu Masiza Tells the Truth
• Lwazi Msimango from Umlazi for The Firstborn

  Afrikaans

• Faeed Amardien from Parkwood Estate, Cape Town, for Life is ’n biets
• Marissa Badenhorst from Potchefstroom for Akwa
• Annerle Barnard from Bloemfontein for Spel
• Elanie Boshoff van Newcastle for 56 dae van Lente
• Ihette Senekal from Colbyn, Pretoria, for Vyf sekondes voor Vrydag
• Betsie van Niekerk from Malmesbury for Anderkind

  African Languages

• Musa Baloyi from Malamulele for Tinsimu to Pfumala Mphumawulo (Xitsonga)
• Othusitse Lobelo from Delareyville for Maru ga se pula (Setswana)
• Maledimo Moeng from Pretoria for Eish, Eish, Eish (Sepedi)
• Sandile Ngwenya from Newcastle for Imali Yesipoki (isiZulu)
• Thulani Simayile from Eerste River, Cape Town, for UNolali (isiXhosa)
• Francis Tebesi from Tembisa for Likhapha tsa mofutsana ha li rothele fats (Sesotho)

“The shortlists are eclectic, with great diversity in style and subject matter,” says Michelle Cooper, publisher of children’s books and young adult fiction at Tafelberg. “Genres range from historical to contemporary, and from magical realism to dystopian. Coming-of-age stories abound, and a number of titles explore the harsh realities of life many young people in South Africa grapple with, such as racial issues, life on the streets, xenophobia, human trafficking and HIV. There is a story here for everyone.”

The winners will be announced in October 2021. The total prize money amounts to R90 000: R20 000 for the winner (gold) and R10 000 for the runner-up (silver) in each category. The prize-winning titles are also ensured publication by Tafelberg.

Launched in 1980, the Sanlam Prizes for Youth Literature are awarded every two years. The competition is open to citizens from South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Swaziland, who may submit their writings in any of the 11 official languages in South Africa. Manuscripts are judged anonymously.

Mariska Oosthuizen, Head of Brand at Sanlam, says: “As a purpose-led organisation, we are committed to empowering South Africans to live with confidence. Enabling our children to learn in their home languages is critical to building confidence and core foundational capabilities. We believe everyone deserves an equal chance to live a better life through financial inclusion. Upskilling literacy – reading for meaning, robust numeracy and financial education – is one of the best ways to catalyse this sustained socio-economic inclusion. We celebrate all the authors who work so hard to create works that captivate and inspire our young people.”

For media enquiries, please contact Arleen Stone at [email protected].

SANLAMPRYSE VIR JEUGLEKTUUR – 2021-KORTLYSTE IS HIER!

Sanlam en Tafelberg Uitgewers kondig met trots die finaliste vir die 2021-Sanlampryse vir Jeuglektuur aan. Altesaam 95 manuskripte – talle deur debuutskrywers – is ingeskryf vir die kompetisie, wat die ontwikkeling van gehalte-inheemse leesstof vir lesers tussen 12 en 18 jaar ten doel het. Inskrywings in nege van Suid-Afrika se 11 amptelike tale is ontvang.

Die pryse word in drie kategorieë toegeken: Engels, Afrikaans en Afrikatale. ’n Wenner (goud) en naaswenner (silwer) word in elke kategorie aangewys.

Die 2021-finaliste, in alfabetiese volgorde volgens skrywer, is:

Afrikaans

• Faeed Amardien van Parkwood Estate, Kaapstad vir Life is ’n biets
• Marissa Badenhorst van Potchefstroom vir Akwa
• Annerle Barnard van Bloemfontein vir Spel
• Elanie Boshoff van Newcastle vir 56 dae van Lente
• Ihette Senekal van Colbyn, Pretoria vir Vyf sekondes voor Vrydag
• Betsie van Niekerk van Malmesbury vir Anderkind

  Engels

• Jayne Bauling van Witrivier vir Looking for Letsie
• Jaco Fouché van Hermanus vir The Kowie
• Catherine Jarvis van Orange Grove, Johannesburg vir The Swim Team
• Fred Khumalo van Wendywood, Johannesburg vir Crossing the River
• Penny Lorimer van Kaapstad vir Luntu Masiza Tells the Truth
• Lwazi Msimango van Umlazi vir The Firstborn

  Afrikatale

• Musa Baloyi van Malamulele vir Tinsimu to Pfumala Mphumawulo (Xitsonga)
• Othusitse Lobelo van Delareyville vir Maru ga se pula (Setswana)
• Maledimo Moeng van Pretoria vir Eish, Eish, Eish (Sepedi)
• Sandile Ngwenya van Newcastle vir Imali Yesipoki (isiZulu)
• Thulani Simayile van Eersterivier, Kaapstad vir UNolali (isiXhosa)
• Francis Tebesi van Tembisa vir Likhapha tsa mofutsana ha li rothele fats (Sesotho)

“Die kortlyste is eklekties, met groot diversiteit wat styl en temas betref,” sê Michelle Cooper, uitgewer van kinder- en jeuglektuur by Tafelberg, ’n druknaam van NB-Uitgewers. “Die genres wissel van histories tot modern, en van magiese realisme tot distopies. Grootwordverhale is volop, en talle skrywers verken die werklikhede waarmee jong mense in Suid-Afrika gekonfronteer word, soos rassisme, ’n lewe op straat, xenofobie, mensehandel en HIV. Daar is werklik ’n storie vir almal.”

Mariska Oosthuizen, Handelsmerkhoof by Sanlam, sê: “As ’n doelgedrewe organisasie is ons daartoe verbind om Suid-Afrikaners te bemagtig om met selfvertroue te lewe. Ten einde selfvertroue by kinders te kweek en kernvaardighede te ontwikkel, is dit noodsaaklik dat ons dit vir kinders moontlik maak om in hul huistale te leer. Ons glo elkeen verdien ’n gelyke kans op ’n beter lewe deur ekonomiese insluiting. Een van die beste maniere om stukrag te gee aan volhoubare sosio-ekonomiese insluiting, is om ’n hoër vlak van geletterdheid te bevorder – lees met begrip en robuuste syfer- en finansiële vaardighede. Ons vier al die skrywers wat so hard werk om boeke te skep wat ons jong mense aangryp en inspireer.”

Die wenners word in Oktober 2021 bekend gemaak. Die prysgeld beloop altesaam R90 000: R20 000 vir die wenner (goud) en R10 000 vir die naaswenner (silwer) in elke kategorie. Die wentitels word deur Tafelberg uitgegee en verskyn ook in Oktober 2021.

Die Sanlampryse vir Jeuglektuur is in 1980 begin en word tweejaarliks toegeken. Burgers van Suid-Afrika, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibië en Swaziland mag deelneem met inskrywings in enige van Suid-Afrika se 11 amptelike tale. Manuskripte word anoniem beoordeel.