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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

We Interview #Speaker Claire Newton #vocalislekker


Dear Readers Today We Interview Speaker Claire Newton all about PSASA and the
Annual Convention they have coming up.  Let's hear what she has to say:




                                                                     Claire Newton
                                President of the Durban Chapter of PSASA





1.  You are a Speaker, What do you Speak about?

I speak about YOU-Q. You-Q is a concept that I have developed myself and it is about living one’s life to one’s full potential. It is about finding one’s Inner Winner.
You- Q is more than IQ – Intelligence alone is insufficient to find your Inner Winner.
You-Q is more than EQ – Managing your emotions is insufficient to find your Inner Winner.
You-Q is more than SQ – Having spiritual understanding on its own is insufficient to find your Inner Winner.
YOU-Q includes all of these things, but it is alsomore than these things. I talk about the 3 things one needs to focus on in order to develop YOU-Q and find one’s Inner Winner. That is
1.  Get Real - know your values, purpose and vision.
2. Change Your Head Talk -change the negative beliefs you have about yourself and the unhelpful messages you give yourself and
3. Relate – be able to relate well with others(be assertive, know how to handle conflict and have good interpersonal skills).

2.  You are the President of the Durban Branch of PSASA.  What is PSASA, What's that all about?

PSASA stands for Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa. It is a professional association for people involved in the speaking business. Our members are versatile and diverse. They represent all aspects of the speaking business. All make their living, or part of their living, speaking to and/or working with groups as trainers, facilitators, coaches, consultants, adult educators, and keynoters.
The PSASA is committed to building a better future for the professional speaking business in South Africa and internationally. We are linked to the Global Speakers Federation (GSF).
 3.  I understand PSASA is having a convention in April, what will be happening there and what is this #vocalislekker?
Every year the PSASA holds an annual convention hosted by one of its Chapters – Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg or Pretoria. This year it is being held in Durban. The theme is Vocal is Lekker, which is a play on the South African promotional slogan, “Local is Lekker” and emphasises that speaking is just lekker! (For the international readers: Lekker ispronounced to rhyme with Mecca – and means nice / good / great!)
It is a three day convention and it officially stars on Friday 27th April with lunch and ends on Sunday 29th April with lunch.
On Friday afternoon we have a special Business Event. We are inviting business men and women to join us to hear three top international speakers give their business keynote.
The three speakers you’ll meet at the Business Event are:
Charles Marcus
This dynamic Canadian speaker’s key note address, “The Business World Is Evolving – Are You?” covers:
  • 5 game changers that will set you apart from the crowd
  • How to create MAGICAL moments for your customers
  • Principles of success

Holger Woeltje
Holger is Germany’s leading expert in electronic time management and will show you how to:
  • Survive the daily flood of email
  • Find important information when you need it
  • Keep track of tasks
  • Set your priorities and get important stuff done, as well as
  • Achieve big results and
  • Gain more time for what matters most to you.

Andreas Buhr
Andreas hails from Germany, which currently has one of the strongest economies in Europe.  He will share with you his “7 Steps to Increase Your Turnover.”  
These three business powerhouses are not often together in the same place at the same time and I encourage you to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to benefit from their shared experience.
Your investment for the afternoon is R1000 per person, including lunch, tea, the threekeynotes and a delegate’s bag of goodies. Given that each of these speakers charge a few thousand dollars / euros, each time they speak, we have it at a bargain price!
There are only 40 seats left for this ground-breaking event, so please book soon!
Saturday and Sunday brings a line-up of speakers including: Mykola Latansky (Russia), Wolfgang Bönisch (Germany), Martin Limbeck (Germany); Richard McCann (UK). Laura Stack (USA). From South Africa, speakers include Francois Muscat, Mark Manley, Bertie Du Plessis, Jurgen Tietz, Dr Petro Janse van Vuuren, Peter Court and Roger Knowles.
This event is open to all PSASA members as well as the public. There is an early booking special offer. For more information, visit the website link:  http://www.psasouthernafrica.co.za/events/index.asp?Type=Cat&CatID=16 or contact Simone simone@psasa.co.za / +27 79 680 2573 for more details and to book your seats.

There will also be books, CD’s and DVD’s on sale throughout the convention, so pop in and be inspired!
4.  Is it true that the Famous Actor Peter Court will be doing a workshop on stagecraft?

Yes, we are very lucky to have Peter Court to facilitate a workshop for us on Friday morning (9-11am). This is a pre con event and it is open to the public. (Seats are limited though, so get in quick!)

The two-hour practical workshop will focus on:
·         Relaxation and breathing – where the voice comes from
·         Vocal development – altering voice for tone and quality
·         Body awareness – development of character and presentation persona
·         Locomotion and motivation – presentation skills and gesture
·         Creating verbal drama – create better presentations and performance
So if you are a speaker, toastmaster, actor, drama teacher or someone who wants to improve your presentation skills, this is the workshop for you.
It costs R500.00/ pp. but if you book for 3 then the 4th comes free!
You can book through the PSASA Administrator – Simone on: simone@psasouthernafrica.co.za / +27 79 680 2573

5.  What advice do you have for speakers?

1)      Join the PSASA!
2)      Attend the conventions!

I can honestly say that my speaking career is where it is today because of the PSASA.

Attending the meetings, being exposed to other excellent speakers and discussing business ideas has really given me focus.  I have also made some great friends through the PSASA.

Attending the conventions is nothing short of inspirational. They are the best investment I could have made into my speaking career. I came away, excited, inspired, motivated. You will too.

6.  Do you prefer the Beach or the Forest?  

To be honest I really love both.

When I was working on Super yachts in the Mediterranean, I was surrounded by water or jetties all of the time and I really missed the grass and the trees. At any opportunity I could get, I would go walking barefoot on the grass and look for trees to sit under, just to listen to the sound of the leaves blowing in the breeze. There is a tiny forest in Antibes (South of France)and I was so excited when I discovered it. I used to walk there a lot.

As for the beach…I am a Durban girl! I couldn’t ever live too far from a beach as I would miss it too much. In Durban we are really blessed – we have some of the best beaches in the world!

7.  How does one book for this PSASA convention?

You can book through the PSASA Administrator – Simone on: simone@psasouthernafrica.co.za / +27 79 680 2573

Don’t hesitate, just do it!


Sounds like the place to be!


Useful Links:


PSASA -  www.psasouthernafrica.co.za

Find them on Facebook -  http://www.facebook.com/psasouthernafrica

Follow them on Twitter - @psasouthafrica



Monday, March 26, 2012

An Adventure Boot Camp Like No Other


Greetings Dear Readers.

Last week @UmhlangaLife was invited to attend An Adventure Boot Camp which is held at the
wonderful Chris Saunders Park near Gateway.  What a wonderful setting.
We met the wonderful owner of the Umhlanga Franchise Tshepi.  What a positive role model for entrepreneurs.


                     Tshepi Tshabalala - Adventure Boot Camp For Women

Make no mistake about it.  You really get a workout at this Camp.  Located in the beautiful
Chris Saunders Park, a wonderful setting to get some good exercise.


                                                Working out at Chris Saunders Park

I attended the 8am class and they really are a friendly group.  Some people have done over
30 Camps.  You really get a good workout.  The Chris Saunders Park is such
a refreshing place to work out.

Tshepi has a passion for fitness so when the opportunity came she grabbed it and
opened a branch.

The workout consists of Skipping, Jogging around the park, stretching and twisting your body
in many different positions.  You also jog up stairs as well.  Tshepi also puts you through
Crunches in various positions.  If you want to get fit and have fun this is the place to be.


                                           Working out in a wonderful environment

Tshepi certainly puts you through your paces and you will find yourself doing lots of skipping.
The workout is for 1 hour and they have various classes.  So book the class that works
best for your time schedule.
The workout is based on circuit training which really helps you get fit.
The perfect thing to do with your friends.


                                                        Skipping into good shape

Tshepi also puts them through a good run around the park which is then timed at the next
workout to see how well you do.


                                            Tshepi & Vicky

One of the participants Vicky told me that she loves it.  She joined last year and is now addicted.
She is on her 3rd Camp now.


The trainer Tshepi is certainly a interesting person.  She was born in Vosloorus.
Raised by her single Mum.  She has studied Sports Management and done an Aerobics Course.
She has taught at many Virgin Actives both as a Lifestyle Consultant and Personal Trainer.
Tshepi even worked on a Cruise Ship and at Unilever helping with their Wellness Campaign.
She is now freelance and still gives classes at Virgin Active.

I asked her what advice she has for Female Entrepreneurs?

'Grab any opportunity that presents itself, always seek opportunities.  Don't let
opportunities go by.'

Where does she see herself in 10 years?

' My own gym in a township, doing Sports Development for girls.'

Tshepi loves to go to the Movies for fun.

What fitness tips does she have for the ladies?

'Always pull the navel into the spine.'

Tshepi tells me that Adventure Boot Camp is very easy to sign up for.
Just go online and select the Camp nearest you.
There are 72 Camps around South Africa.

Useful Links.

Website:  http://www.adventurebootcamp.co.za/

Find them on Facebook  -  http://www.facebook.com/AdventureBootCampSA

Follow them on Twitter - @ABCbootcamper

You can also find Tshepi on Facebook - Tshepi Tshabalala












Friday, March 23, 2012

Review Of The Kholwa Brothers Show and DALRO Masterclass and events coming up




                                                          Pic of The Week - The Kholwa Brothers
                                                                Photography by @fredfelton

This week I attended the performance of The Kholwa Brothers at @mondastclement and what
a show it was.  They performed to a packed house at St Clements Coffee Shop in Musgrave Road.
They are an acapella group and if you love the music type you will love them.  Each song was
greeted with applause and some people even joined in with them.  One of the best music
shows I have seen in recent times.

Check them out on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kholwa-Brothers/132134783489308

Mondays At St Clements Definitely seems to be the place to go on a Monday night.
Some fantastic events every Monday at 7pm.

Check them out on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Clements-Mondays-At-Seven/182888458395852



A Masterclass That Might Interest You

The DALRO Musical Theatre Master Class is presented by the Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) as an extension of the Trust’s Building Blocks Programme. The programme is aimed at capacity building and sustainability of the arts in South Africa. The Master Class is hosted by UJ Arts & Culture at the University of Johannesburg and will be presented in the studios of the UJ Arts Centre on the Kingsway Campus in Auckland Park.

The aim of the class is to equip participants with information, knowledge and tools to successfully put together a musical from beginning to end with good productionvalues, even on a tight budget. The curriculum aims to bring participants a holisticview of the entire production process, from selection of a musical to the night the curtain goes up. The Master Class will be presented by musical theatre experts, Anton Luitingh and Duane Alexander.

Anton Luitingh is currently the resident director on the South African production of ‘THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA’. He has been involved in many facets of theentertainment industry, working as an actor, singer, songwriter, director, musicaldirector, musician and voice artist. He obtained his B.Dram (Hons.) Cum Laude degree in Drama at the University of Stellenbosch, where he garnered several awards. Shortly after graduation he received a nomination for a Fleur du Cap Award in the category ‘Most Promising Newcomer’ to the theatre industry. Since, Anton starred in many mainstream musicals both locally and internationally, amongst others, ‘THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW’, ‘GREASE’, ‘CATS’, ‘JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT’, ‘SHOWBOAT’, ‘JESUS CHRIST
SUPERSTAR’, ‘RENT’, ‘EVITA’ and ‘CHICAGO’.

Anton has recently been seen playing the role of the Beast in Disney’s smash hit Broadway 
musical ‘BEAUTY AND THE BEAST’ for which he received a Fleur du Cap nomination for Best Performance in a musical. Anton is the co-writer, performer and musical director for the three-time Vita and Fleur du Cap Award nominated shows ‘OFFBEAT BROADWAY’ and ‘OFFBEAT BROADWAY 2,3 & 4', which have toured extensively around the country as well as internationally. He is a co-founder of ‘The Musical Theatre Workshop’ (MTW) which offers scholars, students and upcoming professionals a platform that provides them with practical training in the field of
musical theatre.

Duane Alexander graduated from the Waterfront Theatre School in Cape Town, and went on to perform in the original South African production of ‘CATS’, which toured internationally for almost 3 years. He further performed in local and international productions of ‘JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT’, ‘THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE’, ‘JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR’, ‘RENT’ as Mark Cohen, ‘CHICAGO’, ‘BEAUTY AND THE BEAST’, ‘HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL’ to mention a few. He also has extensive experience as Dance Captain and Choreographer, having worked on most of these shows in this capacity. He was the Resident Director on the hugely successful 2010 production of ‘CATS’ and was the Resident Choreographer of the 2010 International Tour of ‘GREASE’. Duane also
works as a lecturer at The Cape Academy of Performing Arts and does frequent freelance work on Corporate Functions, Film and Television productions. He is cofounder of ‘the ‘Musical Theatre Workshop’ offering young, talented, and passionate individuals an opportunity to develop skills and develop their talent.

Eligible candidates are invited to apply to attend the Master Class at no fee. Please find more information on how to submit an application under the MEDIA section of the ACT website: www.act.org.za

Successful applicants will be required to arrange and cover the costs of their transport to and from the class. 

The closing date for applications is 30 March 2012.

Source:  Pansa



Are you ready to walk?


Walking (r)Evolution set to take KZN by storm

What started out as a relatively small fun walk has ‘evolved’ to become a massive family event on KwaZulu-Natal’s calendar. The Discovery East Coast Radio Big Walk is nothing short of a ‘Walking (r)Evolution’ and on 20 May 2012 the people of KwaZulu-Natal will again take up the challenge.

The event’s first few baby steps were taken back in 2004 when just 1800 people participated. Last year more than ten times that number took part - a whopping 19 200 walkers embraced the day! This year, Discovery and East Coast Radio are hoping to top that number. While the distances that walkers can chose from will remain same - 5km, 10km, 15km or 20km – the route (with a new finish venue) promises to be exciting.

The Discovery East Coast Radio Big Walk has not only ‘evolved’ to become a major highlight on the province’s events calendar, but it has been the catalyst for many personal stories of transformation. Very often the listeners who are worried about being fit enough to take part have an amazing time and surprise themselves. Many of these people go on to take up walking as a full time form of exercise and so their own ‘Walking (r)Evolution’ begins.

Entries open on 1 April 2012, be sure to get your family and friends together. This is one ‘revolution’ you don’t want to miss out on! Listen out to East Coast Radio and watch press for more details.

Source:  East Coast Radio 







Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Extras Needed and News Around Town



Welcome Dear Readers To Another Issue Of Umhlanga Life



                                              Pic Of The Week - Beach Life by @fredfelton


Extras Needed

Casting for white and colored people that are from the ballito area if anyone is keen please invite Sherae on 27C3D5A8 or call her on 0712880818, People needed for thursday(15/3/2012) please pass the word around. Thank you :) 

News From East Coast Radio

The music sounds better with ‘U’.

10 Days and thousands of completed questionnaires later, East Coast Radio has officially made over its music! Thanks to the feedback received during the ‘10 Day Music Makeover’ we will amongst other things; play more of the songs you love and stop playing the music you’re tired of.

We’d like to thank the people of KwaZulu-Natal for taking part in the 10 Day Music Makeover. East Coast Radio’s Programming Manager Naveen Singh says, “The feedback has been overwhelming. It’s fantastic to see the people of the province take ownership of the station. Thanks so much to those of you who took the time to fill out the questionnaire.”

He adds, “While most of the feedback was complimentary, it has also been a chance for us to receive honest opinions, not all positive, which have allowed us to make East Coast Radio even better.” Some of the major improvements that have already been made include; adding 20% more songs that haven’t been heard in a while – especially from the 80’s, playing a wider variety of music and playing more songs from those artists who came out tops.

In total, there are 10 improvements which will prove music to your ears, so tune in to hear all of them. The radio station that plays the best mix of the 80’s 90’s and today, just got better.

Enjoy that week Dear Readers






Thursday, March 8, 2012

#Auditons and Time of the Writer coming up for #Durban



Audition for Soapie Scandal

Auditions for Tv Soapie Scandal - Female and Male Roles, This Friday and Saturday.
At Durban City Hall. 
From 9am to 5pm on both days. Zulu must be your first language, must be able to read and speak English with ease. You must be able to relocate to Joburg at your own cost, Males must be between 18 - 25 and females 22 - 28. Brind your ID book with. You must be a resident of South Africa.





15th TIME OF THE WRITER
International Writers Festival
Durban: 19 - 24 March 2012

The written word will envelop Durban as eighteen writers from around South Africa, Africa and abroad, gather for a thought-provoking week of literary dialogue, exchange of ideas and stimulating discussion at the 15th Time of the Writer International Writers Festival (19 - 24 March). The festival, which is hosted by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal), with principal support by National Lottery Distribution Fund, will feature a diverse gathering of leading novelists, short story writers, poets and crime writers.
Following the opening night where all participating writers make brief presentations at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, pairings of writers will engage each evening, Tuesday to Saturday, in readings and discussions that provide insight into their opinions, experiences and the creative processes that inform their work.
Bookended by a powerful Arab-African and Caribbean presence the essential thread running through the festival is prominently African.  Tuesday 20th March will feature two giants of Arab- African literature. Egyptian Bahaa Taher, was one of the notable writers of Gallery 68, a movement which sought to challenge literature politics of the time. As a social commentator and storyteller, Taher lost his job in radio broadcasting and was prevented from publishing in the mid 1970s during Sadat’s rule in Egypt. Winner of numerous awards, Taher received the inaugural International Prize for Arabic Fiction in 2008. The highly prolific author Ibrahim Al-Koni, spent his childhood amongst the Tuareg people in the desert region of Libya. Astoundingly, Al-Koni has published more than 80 books, including over 50 novels, and numerous essays, short stories and non-fiction. With his works translated into more than 40 languages, Al-Koni has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Arabic Novel Award in 2010.
Tuesday also presents Durban-based Shubnum Khan, whose debut Onion Tears, which deals with the pertinent themes of life, love and loss, through the eyes of Indian, Muslim women, was shortlisted for the Penguin Prize for African Writing in 2011. Joining her in the panel discussion Spaces and Places, is fellow first-time author, Nigerian-born Yewande Omotoso, whose Bom Boy beautifully zooms in on the nuances of a single human life.  Music by Zulu sitar player Patrick Ngcobo will commence the evening proceedings at 19h30. Book launches take place at the Sneddon’s Wellington Tavern deck prior to the evening shows, from 18h45.  The first book launch of the festival is Africa Inside Out – stories, tales and testimonies, edited by Michael Chapman, a collaborative venture with UKZN press featuring 20 innovative short stories by authors who were previous participants in the Time of the Writer.
March 21 is Human Rights Day in South Africa, and this evening’s line-up boasts authors whose works are profoundly infused with a political consciousness and resonant with the spirit of the good fight for freedom. Chris Abani is a Nigerian author and poet, whose 2004 novel GraceLand enjoyed widespread acclaim, and was followed by The Virgin of Flames in 2007. This popular TED speaker is recipient of numerous awards including a Guggenheim Award in 2009. Written by former Deputy Minister of Defence, Minister of Water Affairs, and Minister of Intelligence Services, Ronnie Kasrils, and inspired by the extraordinarily courageous life of his late wife, The Unlikely Secret Agent was the Sunday Times Alan Paton Award winner in 2011. Kasils is also author of the bestselling autobiography, Armed and Dangerous (1993). Kasrils and Abani will feature in a panel entitled Human Writes Day. 
21 March was in 1999 declared World Poetry Day as a day set aside each year to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry throughout the world. Accordingly, the evening’s second session features special poetry performances by festival participants, Chris Abani, Kwame Dawes and David wa Maahlamela, alongside the enigmatic Lebo Mashile.  Saxophonist Mfana Mlambo will spark up the ambience at the beginning of the evening.  In keeping with the Human Rights theme three books published by Human Rights Media will be launched prior to the show - :  Looking inside five South African stories of people with albinism; Then Light Went Black: Six South African stories of people who went blind; and  Lifelines: Six South African stories of people with congenital blindness.
Benjamin Kwakye is a notable contemporary Ghanaian literary voice whose books have received numerous awards. Kwakye is not only an award-winning novelist, but works as an in-house legal counsel. On Thursday 22 March Kwakye is paired with Durban-based Thando Mgqolozana in a discussion titled Transforming old contexts into new.  Mgqolozana’s debut A Man Who is Not a Man, the controversial story about a botched circumcision, enjoyed critical success in this country. His equally well-acclaimed book of 2011, Hear Me Alone, narrates an alternative and locally-contextualized account of the birth of the Messiah.
The booming genre of South African crime fiction takes to the stage in the evening’s second panel discussion, featuring self-confessed thriller and mystery addict, Jassy Mackenzie, whose first novel Random Violence was shortlisted for Best First Book in the Commonwealth Writers Prize, Africa region in 2009. Mackenzie, who has since written two further crime thrillers, is joined in a panel titled Crime Scene, by advocate/author Chris Marnewick. Marnewick’s first attempt at creative writing culminated in Shepherds & Butchers, which earned him the K Sello Duiker Prize at the South African Literary Awards, and he has since produced three other works, and will launch his latest Clarence van Buuren: Die Man Agter die Donkerbril,  the same night.
Publishing is one of the central elements in the development of a local literary culture and the Publishing Forum has become a significant part of the annual Time of the Writer international writers’ festival.  Taking place on Thursday, 22 March between 10h00-15h15 at the Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, discussion topics at this year’s forum will include the art of the autobiography and biography, publishing enterprises in print and online, translation and marketing, indigenous publishing and the location of the creative artist in South Africa’s ever-changing publishing industry.
Following pantsula dance by the Bhenga Boyz and the presentation of prizes to winners of the schools short story competition, the first session on Friday 23 March will interrogate the topical issues around Writing in my own Tongue. Winner of the 2010/2011 PanSALB Multilingualism Award, poet and prose writer David wa Maahlamela, writes mainly in Sepedi and English. His first novel Sejamoledi, is a Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature finalist.  Also writing predominantly in his vernacular of isiZulu, is Dumisani Sibiya. Sibiya has published numerous novels, collections of short stories and poetry collections. His third novel, Ngiyolibala Ngifilewas awarded the gold prize during the Sanlam Youth Literature Awards in 2010 and the K. Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award in 2011.
The final session on Friday opens up the discussion Outside Looking In with two writers Sefi Atta and LeĂŻla Marouane, both born in Africa, now living outside the continent, but whose writing continues to deals strongly with the African context. Nigerian author, short-story writer and playwright Sefi Atta’s debut novel Everything Good Will Come received the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa In 2008, and her collection of short stories, News From Home, received the Noma Award for Publishing in Africa in 2009. LeĂŻla Marouane was born in Algeria and now lives in France. The author of several novels and a collection of short stories, Marouane’s works have strong feminist underpinnings, dealing with the oppression of women in her native country. Her latest novel is the provocatively titled The Sexual Life of an Islamist in Paris.
The Saturday evening book launch is Guitar Road, the third book by Rick Andrew, this one self published. Music and song by Rick and Gill Andrew will precede the discussion Inner City Stories featuring Cynthia Jele and Kgebetli Moele. Jele’s debut novel Happiness is a Four-Letter Word – centered on love and female friendships in suburban Johannesburg - earned her the Best First Book Commonwealth Writers Prize, and the 2011 M-Net Literary Award in the Film category, as the book that showed the greatest potential for translation onto screen. Centered on the lives of six young black South African men struggling to realise their dreams in South Africa’s ‘city of gold’ Room 207 is Kgebetli Moele’s debut novel which earned him the 2007 Herman Charles Award. Moele’s second book, The Book of the Dead, received the 2010 South African Literary Award.
With Jamaican writers, Kwame Dawes and Colin Channer, egged on by Chris Abani, in the final session Roots, Reggae and Writing, audiences can expect a rousing closing of the festival.  A critically-acclaimed novelist, poet and playwright, Ghanian / Jamaican Dawes is the author of over thirty books, and widely recognized as one of the leading writers to have emerged out of the Caribbean. Channer is head honcho of the legendary Calabash International Literary Festival, co-founded alongside Dawes.  Channer’s 1998 Waiting in Vain was described by the Washington Post as “a clear redefinition of the Carribean novel”.
In addition to the nightly showcases at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, a broad range of day activities in the form of seminars and workshops are formulated to promote a culture of reading, writing and creative expression. This includes the educators Forum with teachers on the implementation of literature in the classroom, visits to over 25 schools, and a prison writing programme. Another development component of the festival is the Schools Writing Competition which accepts entries in English, Zulu, and Afrikaans.
Tickets are R25 for the evening sessions, R10 for students, and can be purchased through Computicket or at the door one hour before the event. Workshops and seminars are free.
The full programme of activities, biographies, and photos of participants is available on  www.cca.ukzn.ac.za . For more information contact the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Centre for Creative Arts on 031 260 2506/1816 or e-mail cca@ukzn.ac.za