Biographies of 2014 winners and finalists

This year marks the eighth annual Maskew Miller Longman Literature Awards and each year a different
genre is explored. This year, the awards explored the genre of Drama and we received an astonishing
number of high quality entries, of which 73.5% where for African languages. Judges awarded 11 prizes in
7 language categories.
We are proud to announce the 2014 Miller Longman Literature Awards winners and finalists, announced
per language in alphabetical order.

Afrikaans
Winner
Cecilia du Toit
Drama: BFF

About the author: Cecilia du Toit se lewenslange belangstelling in drama het die afgelope paar jaar n
aantal tekste vir sowel jeugdiges as volwassenes die lig laat sien. Sy was gelukkig genoeg om MML se
dramakompetisie te wen in 2008 en 2012 en was twee keer benoem vir n ATKV-Woordveertjie.
About the play: BFF is n heerlike eietydse drama oor vier vriendinne wat desperaat op soek is na
metgeselle vir die graad 11-bal, en nie juis soos BFF (Best Friends Forever) teenoor mekaar optree nie.
Een van die vier besluit om vir die ander n les in lojaliteit te leer, en span n Facebook-hartebreker in om
haar plan deur te voer. Die toneelstuk verwys tong-in-die-kies na die mite van Pymalion wat vir homself
n vrou skep, en na Frankenstein wat n monster maak om sy wraakplanne uit te voer.
Email:
Contact number:

cecilia.dutoit@duto.co.za
082 257 5101

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English
Winner
Charmaine Kendal
Drama: Doorways

About the author: Charmaine Kendal has always loved expressing herself through writing. She was
Deputy Principal and taught English for over twenty years. While teaching she wrote plays based on her
experience which she used as teaching material. She has co-authored school textbooks but Doorways is
her first play to be published. Charmaine Kendal has a number of ideas she would like to develop and
hence we can expect a lot more from this passionate writer.
About the play: Doorways is a play about Avu, a Grade 12-girl who has taken her own life. She arrives
in an after-life world, guarded by The Sentinel. He reads from a book of records of people's lives, and
sends them on the relevant path to the judge. Three other characters from Avus past also arrive. In their
conversations with The Sentinel, the events leading up to her suicide are unravelled, and one sees their
part in her death. The play deals with themes like taking accountability for ones actions, facing
consequences, and friendship.
Email:
charmainekendal@gmail.com
Contact number:
073 145 2547
____________________________________________________________________________________
Finalist
Stephen Finn
Drama: The Club

About the author: Stephen Finn started writing in primary school when he wrote stories for his family
who listened to his renditions with much forbearance. His recent novels, Soliloquy and The Story of
Humphrey the Hereford have both been well received. He is an English academic and writer devoted to
research, animal rights, teaching public speaking and addressing schools on bullying. His main interest is
to write for school children as it is important to him to have children become passionate about reading,
get excited about the adventures hidden in every book, and discover the magic of words.
About the play: In The Club, we meet Gaga, a bully who is in deep trouble after hitting another boy with
a club. But is there more than one club? And whos the real bully? This play explores the dynamics of
bullying in high school, with the characters representing types that will be familiar to all readers.
Although tense and often dark, The Club is interspersed throughout with much humour and ends
positively.
Email:
Contact number:

finnfam@mweb.co.za
083 709 4093

IsiXhosa
Winner
Madoda Mlokoti
Drama: Inzala YamaRhamba

About the author: Amos Madoda Mazizandile Mlokoti developed his interest in African literature in High
School. Great authors of our time are an inspiration to Madoda Mlokoti and one day he hopes to rise up
to their stature. Inzala YamaRhamba is his first contribution to the vast body of African writers. He
continues to do research on African Literature and write Dramas.
About the play: The story is about a young school girl who disobeys her parents and dates a cruel
businessman who is engaged in illegal activities. The businessman dismisses the girl and she moves to
Cape Town with a broken heart. She becomes the warder at a prison and this is where she starts to have
a feeling of revenge.
Email:
mlokoti@gmail.com
Contact number:
079 164 2536
____________________________________________________________________________________
Finalist
Zukiswa Pakama
Drama: Lumka Ntombazana Kunzima

About the author: Zukiswa Pakama has a National Diploma in Journalism and has been working as a
researcher and translator for Nguni languages. She is also an interviewer, voice over artist and script
writer for various film production houses in Cape Town.
Thus far she has written four novels in isiXhosa. Her latest novel, Idabi lika Sithembele, won the
prestigious literature award from Maskew Miller Longman in 2013. She has written four serial radio
drama plays for the SABC that were published through Umhlobo Wenene FM.
About the play: Sinazo and Phendulwa are the main characters who drive the story to its climax. These
teenage girls get themselves into trouble after befriending two guys on social networks like Facebook.
They finally meet these dangerous men and this is when all the trouble starts.
Email:
Contact number:

zukiswa_pakama@yahoo.com
021481 4647

IsiZulu
Winner
Nakanjani Sibiya
Drama: Ngikuthanda ukhona lapho

About the author: Dr Nakanjani G. Sibiya is one of the prominent, prolific isiZulu authors. He started
writing from a young age and proudly published his debut anthology of short stories when he was in
Grade 12. His writings have received eminent literary awards such as the prestigious BW Vilakazi Literary
Award and the M-Net Book Prize. He has authored, co-authored and edited more than fifty literary works
across various genres. He holds a Phd in isiZulu literature and works as a lecturer at the University of
KwaZulu-Natal.
About the play: Ngikuthanda ukhona lapho is a contemporary drama that addresses topical issues such
as drug trafficking, prostitution and the scourge of rhino poaching. Characters in this play have to make
difficult, selfless choices regarding love, loyalty and justice in a society that is riddled with poverty,
unemployment, crime, betrayal and greed.
Email:
nakanjani@gmail.com
Contact number:
073 726 1925
____________________________________________________________________________________
Finalist
Zamokwakhe Mkhize
Drama: Emakhazeni

About the author: Zamokwakhe Mkhizes first novel, Kuxabene Ubendle, was published in 2008. It is
still studied as a literature work at Unisa. He has written an anthology of poems and has evaluated a
number of novels and dramas. He has also translated English folklore into isiZulu and written a serial
drama for SABC.
About the play: This drama is about Dlamini who is dividing his family into two. He dislikes his only son
Mandla because he feels that he doesnt work hard like his daughters, Zethu and Thabisile. Dlamini
chases Mandla away and he is forced into crime.
Email:
Contact number:

zamomk70@gmail.com
078 718 0156

Sepedi
Winner
Phillip Mothupi
Drama: Ga le batswadi ba selo

About the author: Phillip Mothupis passion for writing began at Primary School by reading various
books. He started writing stories while he was still at school but did not know how to make his dream, of
being a published author, come true.
His luck started to unfold when he started working as a cleaner at Tshwane University. There he met
Prof. P.S Groenewald and Dr M.J Mojalefa, among other authors. Phillip Mothupi published his first title,
Ke wena in 1996 and his second title, Lehufa in 1997. He entered the awards to promote and develop his
mother tongue. Phllip Mothupi aspires to help new writers achieve their dreams.
About the play: Pulanes life is in a mess. Her family is unstable and as a result her studies are affected,
she also has to work long hours in the shebeen. But when her stepfather insists that she goes to initiation
school, her life becomes more distressing. She even thinks of committing suicide.
Email:
Contact number:

mothupi234@webmail.co.za
083 756 4702 / 071 892 1984

Tshivenda
Winner
Nekhavhambe Khalirendwe
Drama: Ganuko a i vhuisi tshao

About the author: Nekhavhambe Khalirendwe is a passionate writer who cant contain her passion for
writing; wherever she goes, she always sees stories unfold and something to write about. She began
writing from a young age and loved reading and writing in her mother tongue. Her teacher inspired and
fuelled her love for reading and writing. After participating in the Maskew Miller Longman Literature
Awards, she feels empowered, motivated and more confident in her writing skills. She aspires to be a
renowned author whose work will inspire young writers. Ganuko ali vhuisi tshalo was her first literature
book to be published and her first step to be a published author.
About the play: Ndingalutendo is looking after her uncles house and falls in love with Ayanda, a
playboy. When her uncle fi nds out about their relationship he condemns it and sends Ndingalutendo back
home. She disobeys her uncle and goes to stay with her friend and continues her relationship with
Ayanda. However, life takes an unexpected turn.
Email:
khalirendwe@yahoo.com
Contact number:
083 325 2177
____________________________________________________________________________________
Finalist
Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho
Drama: Nwananga Nandi

About the author: Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho is a writer, poet and freelance journalist in Limpopo. He
published his first book in 2011, a short story collection titled, A Traumatic Revenge. His recent novel,
The Violent Gestures of Life, was published in 2014. Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho has also written short
stories and poems. He writes for FunDza Literacy Trust, where he writes stories which concerns the
youth.
About the play: This drama is about two boys, Milingoni and Lutumwa. Milingoni is living with his
parents and his sister Gundo; his father is working away from home. Lutumwa is staying with his
grandmother because his mother has passed away. Milingoni and Lutumwa are troublesome and
disrespectful boys. One day when they are drunk, they end up in a fight; a fight that changes the course
of their lives.
Email:
Contact number:

givenmukwevho@yahoo.com
078 503 1804

Xitsonga
Winner
Conny Masocha Lubisi
Drama: Ya Raha!

About the author: Writing works of literature is Conny Lubisi's passion. He has written in various genre
categories such as novels, drama and childrens fiction. His works have captivated many readers as his
themes focus on contemporary issues. He has won numerous literary awards over the years. Among
others, are the M-NET literary awards which he won twice with his titles, I Vutomi and Xijahatana. A
number of his works have been prescribed for schools. He has also written a number of radio serials for
the SABC. He is one of the three writers of Mina hi mina, a soapy for Munghana Lonene Radio station.
About the play: When a successful Dwarsloop businessman, Mr Dlamini dies, his barren wifes dreams
of inheriting his lucrative businesses are shattered when his will allocates a lions share of his estate to
his illegitimate son, Nyiko. This betrayal prompts her to hire two hitmen to hunt him down and kill him.
Unfortunately, the newshound, Makwakwa, who has captured Nyikos photo on camera at the funeral, will
not rest until he has solved the mystery of this boy who is a duplicate of the deceased. These two plots
weave into an unexpected finale.
Email:
Contact number:

lubisimasocha@webmail.co.za
072 383 2793