“The Romantic notion of poets is that they are the prophets of society – sometimes with more justification than in other cases,” says managing director of Media24 Books, Eloise Wessels. “It is undoubtedly true that good literature critically reflects on the dominant issues in any society and provides an ethical perspective which is necessary for the health of the social order.”
Renowned as one of the Soweto poets who embodied the literary revival of black voices in the 1970s, Serote’s work expresses the injustices and harsh realities of life for black people under apartheid.
Serote received his Award at the 19
th annual
ACT Awards, held at Sun International’s The Maslow Hotel, on Friday, 21 October. He says, “I feel honoured. To be honoured in one's country, by one's countrymen and women, is a very important achievement.”
As an active member of the liberation army, Umkhonto We Sizwe, Serote’s work has inspired and continues to inspire generations of youth throughout South Africa, Africa, and the world. His poetry not only expresses the effects that oppression had on South Africans, but it also stands as a body of work that marks an important period in South Africa’s history.
Serote says,“Arts and culture can be the tapestry which weaves our nation together”, and he believes that in order to grow as a writer, it takes both practice and perseverance. “Write and write and write,” he says, "but also, find a manner to put your ear on the ground.”
“At Media24 Books our business is the propagation of good South African literature. We are therefore honoured to have the opportunity to plough something back by acknowledging and celebrating iconic South African authors,” Wessels says.
For more information, visit
www.act.org.za. Alternatively, connect with them on
Facebook or on
Twitter.