2010 ANFASA Grant Scheme for Authors' (AGSA) Function

On 19th February 2010, I was one of sixteen grantees of the Academic and Non-Fiction Authors’ of South Africa (ANFASA) 2009 Grant Scheme for Authors, who were invited to the residence of the Norwegian Ambassador, Tor Chr. Hildan. This initiative is intended to assist writers of non-fiction to commit knowledge and ideas to paper, and to support publication of non-fiction works and thereby increase and improve the record of innovation, insight, history and biography on the subcontinent.

Luyanda Ka Msumza, Dawn Garisch and Prof. Liz Gunner

Luli Callinicos (AGSA judge) and Dawn Garisch

The scheme owes its existence to the generosity of the Norwegian Non-fiction Writers and Translators association, Kopinor and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The 2009 winners are: Munyaradzi Murove, Rachel Wynberg, Gabeba Baderoon, Tanya Farber, Ufrieda Ho, Kevin Thomas, John Kannemeyer, Luyanda Ka Msumza, Fiona Forde, Pearlie Joubert, Mxolisi Mgxashe, Kevin Durrheim, Mark Peters, David Glasser and Diane Hilderbrandt, and myself.

The subject matter of the proposals is wonderfully diverse, ranging from African ethics, experiences in exile, creativity, science and health, membrane permeation in the petrochemical industry, taxi history, biodiversity and traditional knowledge, culture and African women, immigrants from China and difficulties of minority groups in SA, substance use and abuse, the collected writings of A. P. Mda, the women in Nelson Mandela's life, racial subjectivity and African privacies in sexuality and spirituality. The director of ANFASA, Kundayi Masanzu, impressed us all by introducing not only the grantees, but also their projects from memory.

Prof. Sihawu Ngubane (ANFASA chairman) chatting to Dr. Munyaradzi Murove.

Prof. Liz Gunner chatting to Prof. Diane Hildebrandt

In conversation with two of the judges over delicious food, they expressed the desire for the scheme to reach more aspiring writers, and the organisation's determination to do so. I came away from the function, very grateful that there is such assistance and good will in the world.

Grant recipients pose for a group photo together with the Ambassador of Norway and the Chairman of ANFASA.

(c) March 2010 Dawn Garisch