The winners of the 2022 South African Literary Awards (the SALAs) have been announced.
The winning writers were announced in a ceremony on 7 November 2022, International African Writers Day.
In his opening remarks, SALA convener and project director Morakabe ‘Raks’ Seakhoa said: ‘We would like to take this rare opportunity to thank you all who participated and supported us in taking our literature, our literary heritage, the craft and crafters of literature, to a higher level.’
Now in their seventeenth year, the SALAs are awarded annually by the wRite Associates and the Department of Arts and Culture to celebrate literary excellence in all the languages of South Africa.
266 submissions were received by the award this year, with thirty-eight titles making it to the shortlist.
The prize seeks to
pay tribute to South African writers who have distinguished themselves as groundbreaking producers and creators of literature, while celebrating literary excellence in the depiction and sharing of South Africa’s histories, value systems, philosophies and art as inscribed and preserved in all the official languages of South Africa.
2022 South African Literary Awards winners
Children’s Literature Award winners
- Keegan & Samier #3: Die strokiesprent-kompetisie by André Trantraal
- On My Papa’s Shoulders by Niki Daly
- Qashi Qashi, Injani? by Nandipha Nomsobo
Youth Literature Award winners
- Hashtag Happy by Theodora Lee
- Imizila Yegazi by Themba Qwabe
- Se sa Feleng se a Tlhola by Thatayaone Dire
- Matlampulele Meduping ya Lerato by Maureen Ngwanamahlole Ramusi
- As jy droom by Daniëlla van Heerden
First Time Published Award winners
- A Home on Vorster Street by Razina Theba
- In Slavenhuis 39 by Herschelle Benjamin
- Bohwa Bja Rena by Mmabore Gladys Mogashoa
K Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award winners
- Amazwembezwembe KaGxuluwe by Mzoli Mavimbela
- A Hibiscus Coast by Nick Mulgrew
Poetry Award winners
- Swatland by Ashwin Arendse
- Umkhumezelo umqulu 1, Umkhumezelo umqulu 2 by Bafana Charles Peter
- Khali Ya Lufuno by Takalani Lishivha
- Kgatsele ya Puo by Thatayaone Dire
Nadine Gordimer Short Story Award winners
- Zigqitywa Kuhlwile Zibonwe Liwuhlabile by Mzoli Mavimbela
- Mad Honey by SJ Naudé
Creative Non-Fiction Literary Award winners
- The Great Pretenders: Race and Class Under ANC Rule by Ebrahim Harvey
- Van Humpata tot Upingtonia by Nicol Stassen
Novel Award winners
- Voorouer. Pelgrim. Berg by Ingrid Winterbach
- Intlungu Yevezandlebe by Yamkela Ntwalana
- The Promise by Damon Galgut
- Nhlokonho wa Vele by Patrick Khosa
Literary Translators Award winner
- Tshika Fa E Ya Baneng by Tuelo Gabonewe
Posthumous Literary Award
- Gisela Ullyatt
Chairperson’s Literary Award winners
- Lebo Mashile
- Nokuthula Mazibuko Msimang
- Deela Khan
Lifetime Achievement Literary Award
- Vusi Mchunu
- Deena Padayachee
- Mothobi Mutloatse
Congratulations to all the winners.
Entries for next years’ South African Literary Awards will open on 30 November 2022.
