Elsa Joubert awarded lifetime achievement award MyZA

The Arts and Culture Trust named author Elsa Joubert as the 2013 winner of the ACT Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature, sponsored by Media24 Books,in Johannesburg today.

Born Elsabé Antoinette Murray Joubert, the life’s work of the 91 year old writer has been acknowledged with honorary Doctorates from the Universities of Stellenbosch (2001) and Pretoria (2007), the award of the Order of Ikhamanga (2004), and now also the ACT Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature.

Joubert matriculated from La Rochelle Girls’ High in Paarl, before obtaining BA degree and Higher Education Diploma, both from the University of Stellenbosch, and a Masters Degree from the University of Cape Town. She was the women’s editor of Die Huisgenoot from 1946 to 1948, before embarking on a life of travel. Her first travel book, Water en Woestyn, was published in 1957, chronicling her experiences in Egypt and Uganda.

Elsa Joubert’s travels through Africa, South America and the Far East were reflected in her writing in a unique way; and this led to significant recognition of her work. Her first novel, Ons Wag op die Kaptein, was published in 1963, and was awarded, amongst others, the Eugène Marais prize.
She was awarded the WA Hofmeyer, CNA and Louis Luyt prizes for her important novel, Die Swerfjare van Poppie Nongena (1978), which was listed in 2002 as one of the 100 best books in Africa.

In 1981, the British Royal Society of Literature awarded her the Winifred Holtby prize, and she also became a Fellow of the Society.
Her masterly novel, Die Reise van Isobelle (1995), was awarded the coveted Hertzog Prize.

Acknowledging receipt of the award, Joubert said “I am a writer in Afrikaans. The language of my heart liberates and shapes my thoughts and emotions. My book – Poppie Nongena, the life of an African woman – was written in Afrikaans, the home language of both Poppie and myself. Only then could I translate it into English and reach a wider public. Black writers all over South Africa are presenting their books in English. More and more Afrikaans writers are starting to publish, simultaneously, Afrikaans and English editions of their work. Translating seems to be the road to the future. By translation the books become the common property of South African conversation. Through books we can unite South Africa. As a writer in Afrikaans, as a South African writer, I am deeply honoured by your recognition of my contribution of the South African conversation.”

The 2013 ACT Awards ceremony was presented in association with the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO), the Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO), Media24 Books, and the Vodacom Foundation and is supported by the Distell Foundation, CLASSICfeel Magazine, Business and Arts South Africa (BASA), KykNet and Pink Room Productions. The Awards scores are audited by Independent Registered Auditor, AL van Heerden.