Revisiting cricket and the colony
Cricket’s African history is painstakingly researched, but the prose could use more power and vivacity
interview with Pommie Mbangwa. He was presented with a stick.
The period also saw the parallel rise of isiXhosa newspapers, crazy about the game. Under John Tengo Jabavu, the editor of Imvo Zabantsundu ( Native Opinion), they went so far as to publish news of WG Grace’s imperious knocks against the Australians.
Scorecards and match reports drifted in from all corners of the Eastern Cape. There was spirited debate about the best teams and best players. Contrary to Daryll Cullinan’s recent indiscretions that appeared in ESPN cricinfo, cricket was widely played and cherished.
As inaugural winners of the first inter-town tournament, Champion CC were soon playing against Albert CC, a white club, in a rare example of cricket across the colour line. Without going into excessive detail, many in the black African community remembered that several Albert CC players had relatives with distinctly iffy colonial pasts.
The match became symbolic, pulsing with the memory of imperial treachery and misdeed.
Champion held a first-innings lead but were unable to force home their early advantage as the game ended tamely owing to bad light.
The match also represented the idea that such contests would become commonplace.
But as the Cape began to be governed by a more self-consciously jingoistic elite so, figuratively, the balls were removed from the black African game.
This tragic — even epic — element is not given its due in this scrupulous, painstakingly researched but sometimes plodding book. The writing needed to be more muscular, more ambitious. Fewer careful singles to third man, more booming cover drives. Saturday October 8 9.30am to 11am (Mokoena room) “Native life” a century after Sol Plaatje’s Lidudumalingani, Lwandile Fikeni, Percy Mabandu and Lindokuhle Nkosi in conversation
Session 2
Saturday October 8 11.30am to 1pm (Moekoena room) Reporters without borders: Journalists and the Marikana story Paul Botes, Lucas Ledwaba, Athandiwe Saba, Luke Sinwell and Niren Tolsi. Chaired by Kwanele Sosibo
Session 3
Saturday October 8 1.30pm to 3pm (Parallel session: Moekoena room) Publishing black writers in a new literary wordscape Jabulile Buthelezi, Rosamund Saturday October 8 3.30pm to 5pm (Parallel session: Soodyall room) Writing white: We need to talk about Lionel Luke Alfred, Robyn Bloch and Craig Higginson. Chaired by Darryl Accone
Session 6
Saturday October 8 3.30pm to 5pm (Parallel session: Moekoena room) Newtown Renaissance: A workshop about making words Curated and hosted by Milisuthando Bongela and Sipho Hlongwane
Session 7
Sunday October 9 9.30am to 11am (Moekoena room) The nation, its stories and its myths Terry Bell, Stanley Manong, Fanele Mbali and Thula Simpson. Chaired by Shaun de Waal
Session 8
Sunday October 9 11.30am to 1pm (Moekoena room) Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award and Anthology event Introducing the award, the judges and the anthology. Poets on the anthology longlist and at the WNS festival, plus judges Thabiso Mohare and Pieter Odendaal, perform their poetry. Plaatje finalists perform their poetry. Plaatje award-winners announced and prizes awarded by Mongane Wally Serote and EU Ambassador Marcus Cornaro.
Sunday October 9
Litfest after-party from 2 pm at Madibuseng, King Kong building, 6 Verwey Street, Troyeville