Winners of 2017 Maskew Miller Longman Literature Awards

© Daniel Ernst – 123RF.com

The genre for 2016 was “Teen Novels” and the work needed to appeal to youth aged 14 – 16. Authors could explore themes, such as comedy, romance, fantasy, sport and adventure.

Says Brian Wafawarowa, executive director, Learning Resources at Pearson South Africa, “The benefits of reading are undisputed. It improves comprehension, vocabulary, critical thinking, and encourages imagination. More so, there are significant personal and educational rewards for teenagers who read. The skills obtained from reading as a teen can assist with university readiness and enhance academic achievement.”

The winners announced are:

• Helena Barnard for ‘Gramadoelas!’ (Afrikaans)
  
• Charmaine Kendal for ‘Leopard Calling’ (English)
  
• Zukiswa Pakama for ‘Akulahlwa Mbeleko Ngakufelwa’ (IsiXhosa)
  
• Mbongeni Cyprian Nzimande for ‘Ayixoxeki Nakuxoxeka’ (IsiZulu)
  
• Musa Aubrey Baloyi for ‘Vutlhari Bya Lunya’ (Xitsonga)

The MML competition is currently the only literature award in South Africa that gives weighting to all official South African languages, each year the genre rotates between novels, drama and short stories. Winners receive the acclaim, a cash prize of R10,000 and stand a chance to be published by global education company and publisher, Pearson. Finalists each received R3,500.

“It is our mission to stimulate the further development of local literature in South African languages, the benefits to learning and to our education system will be felt,” concludes Wafawarowa.