Prizes galore in Nal’ibali’s ‘Story Bosso’ competition
IN commemoration of Literacy Month, Nal’ibali – the national reading-for-enjoyment campaign – is encouraging a wave of storytelling across the country with its third annual multilingual storytelling contest, “Story Bosso”.
The campaign will host storytelling performances and events across the country for the month and invites members of the public, young and old, to join by telling traditional stories they remember being told, or have fun making up new ones.
“Many of our traditional stories, historically told by grandparents around fires, feature characters such as the jackal and the hare, wise old men and greedy giants,” Nal’ibali managing director, Jade Jacobsohn says. To help children and adults remember these special stories, Nal’ibali has created a set of storytelling playing cards featuring common folktale characters, settings and objects.
Together with more than 8 000 children’s story books by local authors featuring folktales and other family-friendly stories, these story cards will be distributed and given away at community events.
They are also freely available for download from Nal’ibali’s weband mobisites for the month.
South Africa’s best-loved storyteller, Gcina Mhlophe, told one of her favourite folktales to children in Soweto and was joined by comedian, Marc Lottering.
Soweto-based master storyteller, Bongani Godide, also added local flavour to the event.
Regional storytelling events in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape will be supported by storytellers Sindiwe Magona, Hluma Zakaza, Hlobisile Mkhize, Mpumy Ndlovu and Nolubabalo Rani who will be enchanting children and adults alongside Nal’ibali storytellers, Sanelisiwe Ntuli, Madoda Ndlakuse and Thanduxolo Mkoyi.
A main prize of R5 000 cash, R1 000 book voucher, R500 airtime and a Story Bosso cap will be awarded to one overall Story Bosso winner.
Submit entries until September 30 as audio or video clips online on the campaign’s website ( www.nalibali. ), mobisite ( www.nalibali. Facebook page (NalibaliSA), to info@nalibali.org or via Nal’ibali’s WhatsApp line: 076920-6413. — DDC