JoLife – Joburg Literary Festival

JoLife – Joburg Literary Festival
Held during National Library Week each year, JoLife seeks to celebrate and appraise children’s literature, literature in indigenous languages, literary icons of the past and present as well as the importance of public libraries towards making literature more accessible to the community at large and as gateways towards reading, writing and learning.
Areas of focus: Know our literary heroes The art of writing Careers in writing and publishing Public Libraries belong to all, Publish more children’s literature in indigenous languages Parents/caregivers build readers, writers and scholars Early Childhood Development needs books and reading, The City needs literate citizens.
JoLife was first held in 2006. The programme provided for build up events during the National Library and Information Week and a weekend festival programme followed. The annual reading development projects, the Battle of the Books and Story Skirmish, are launched together with the official launching ceremony of the festival in the beginning of the week During the week the public libraries participate actively and small-scale events are planned at a number of libraries over the city. Veteran authors conduct workshops in the many genres of literature, targeting young writers. Publishing forum discussions are arranged to involve local publishers, printers and authors in discussions on matters of concern. Book sales/exhibitions and career guidance seminars are arranged as well as a writing competition in age categories. The build up mini events are repeated and intensified over the festival weekend. Efforts are made to involve well-known speakers, storytellers, authors, publishers and literature experts over the weekend programme.