(An English version follows below)
Kirby van der Merwe se ‘Eugene’ wyd geloof
Die bekroonde skrywer en boorling van die Paarl, Kirby van der Merwe, stel op Vrydag, 27 Mei 2022, sy jongste roman, Eugene, tydens ’n gratis geleentheid, in samewerking met die Historium Trust en NB-Uitgewers by die Afrikaanse Taalmuseum en -monument (ATM), bekend. Dié aangrypende boek oor vriendskap en verraad word beskryf as ’n “gatskop-roman oor die agterjaarts en die langstoepe van die sixties en die seventies”. ’n Prikkelende gesprek tussen hom, die ATM se direkteur, Michael Jonas, en die ATM se raadsvoorsitter, Jean Meiring, beloof om gaste ’n fassinerende insig op hierdie joernalis-outeur en sy boek te gee waarna besoekers vrae kan stel.
Kirby is in die Paarl gebore en het aan Hoërskool Noorder-Paarl gematrikuleer, waarna hy as onderwyser gekwalifiseer het. Sedert die laat 1990’s maak hy sy merk as digter en sy kortverhale verskyn in verskeie bundels, terwyl sy radiodramas op RSG uitgesaai word. Hy was ’n redaksielid van Insig, Huisgenoot en Beeld, en het ’n Mondi-toekenning, ’n Media24 Uitnemendheidstoekenning en ’n ATKV-veertjie vir sy joernalistieke werk gewen. Sy prosadebuut was Klapperhaar slaap nie stil nie en as vertaler het hy onder meer Carol Campbell se My children have faces in Afrikaans as Karretjiemense vertaal en Chris van Wyk se Eggs to lay, chickens to hatch as Daar’s ’n hoender wat ’n eier nie kan lê.
Eugene het reeds die derde prys in NB-Uitgewers se Groot Afrikaanse Romanwedstryd 2021 verower en word in die media geprys. Rapport meen “dit is geskryf in ’n taal wat nie huiwer om woorde soos vuishoue te plant nie; tog slaag dit daarin om met besonder gevoeligheid die kompleksiteit van ’n hele geslag mense se lewens vas te vang”. Vryeweekblad.com se resensent skryf: “Die boek waaraan dit my die meeste herinner, is Kompoun van Ronelda Kamfer – mense en hul geite en wedervarings, hul ellendige lyding in ’n onherbergsame milieu en onderdrukkende bestel word poëties verwoord, met ’n oog vir detail en die absurde.” Huisgenoot se boekeredakteur reken hierdie “‘roesbolling’ van voorstedelike tuine en ghettostrate” is dalk die Afrikaanse roman van die jaar.
Die geleentheid is om 19:00 vir 19:30 en vind in die Taalmonument se besoekersentrum plaas waarna gaste na die ATM-Koffiehuis uitgenooi word vir gratis verversings en die kans om kopieë van die boek aan te skaf. Weens beperkte ruimte is besprekings nodig, dus kontak Verinque Daniëls via vakkundige@taalmuseum.co.za of 021 863 0543. Belangstellendes kan ook vooraf hul boekbestellings by Ilze le Roux via ilzelerouxsa@gmail.com plaas.
Vir meer inligting oor al die ander opwindende geleenthede, konserte en kursusse by die Taalmonument, skakel 021 872 3441/863 0543, besoek www.taalmonument.co.za of volg hulle op Facebook. Die webtuiste bied boonop virtuele toere van die monument en museum, inligting in ses tale oor die simboliek van die Taalmonument asook baie interessante artikels oor Afrikaans, veeltaligheid en die instelling se verlede, hede en toekoms. Daar is voorts heelwat bronne vir skool- en navorsingsprojekte. DIE TAALMONUMENT, TAALMUSEUM EN KOFFIEWINKEL IS OOP VIR BESOEKERS. Jaarpermitte kos slegs R120 vir individue of R220 per gesin, wat toegang tot alle Volmaanpieknieks insluit.
Son of Paarl to launch book at Taalmonument
Kirby van der Merwe's Eugene widely praised
The award-winning author and Paarl-born Kirby van der Merwe will launch his latest novel Eugene on Friday, 27 May 2022, during a free event in collaboration with the Historium Trust and NB Publishers at the Afrikaans Language Museum and Monument (ATM). This gripping book on friendship and betrayal is described as "a gatskop novel about the agterjaarts and langstoepe of the sixties and seventies". A stimulating conversation between him, the ATM's director, Michael Jonas, and the ATM's board chair, Jean Meiring, promises to give guests a fascinating insight into this journalist-author and his book, after which visitors can pose questions.
Kirby was born in Paarl and matriculated at Noorder-Paarl High School, after which he qualified as a teacher. Since the late 1990s he has made his mark as a poet and his short stories have appeared in several volumes, while his radio dramas have been broadcast on RSG. He was an editorial member of Insig, Huisgenoot and Beeld, and won a Mondi award, a Media24 Excellence award and an ATKV-veertjie for his journalistic work. His debut novel was Klapperhaar slaap nie stil nie, and as a translator he, among others, converted Carol Campbell's My children have faces into Afrikaans as Karretjiemense and Chris van Wyk's Eggs to lay, chickens to hatch as Daar’s ’n hoender wat ’n eier nie kan lê.
Eugene has already won the third prize in NB Publishers' Great Afrikaans Novel Competition 2021 and is being praised in the media. Rapport says “it was written in a language that does not hesitate to plant words like fists; yet it succeeds in capturing the complexity of the lives of an entire generation of people with particular sensitivity”. Vryeweekblad.com's reviewer writes: “The book that it reminds me of the most is Kompoun by Ronelda Kamfer – people and their quirks and experiences, their miserable suffering in an inhospitable environment and oppressive order are poetically articulated, with an eye for detail and the absurd.” Huisgenoot's book editor reckons this "craziness of suburban gardens and ghetto streets" may be the Afrikaans novel of the year.
The event is at 19:00 for 19:30 and takes place in the Taalmonument's Visitor Centre, after which guests are invited to the ATM Koffiehuis for free refreshments and the chance to acquire copies of the book. Due to limited space, bookings are necessary, so contact Verinque Daniels via vakkundige@taalmuseum.co.za or 021 863 0543. Those interested can also place their book orders with Ilze le Roux in advance via ilzelerouxsa@gmail.com.
For more information on all the other exciting events, concerts and courses at the Taalmonument, call 021 872 3441/863 0543, visit www.taalmonument.co.za or follow them on Facebook. The website also offers virtual tours of the monument and museum, information in six languages on the symbolism of the Taalmonument as well as many interesting articles on Afrikaans, multilingualism and the institution's past, present and future. There are also many resources for school and research projects. THE LANGUAGE MONUMENT, LANGUAGE MUSEUM AND COFFEE SHOP ARE OPEN TO VISITORS. Annual permits are available at only R120 for individuals or R220 per family, which includes access to all Full Moon Picnics.
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