College of Human Sciences

Unisa author scoops two creative awards

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Award-winning Dr Gerda Taljaard-Gilson from the Department of Afrikaans and Theory of Literature

"Storytelling is in my blood. My ancestors were storytellers – from my great-grandmother, to my grandmother, to my mother. To tell stories is not only entertainment, but also a way to express fear, love, anxiety, loss, trauma, grief and joy. Literature is a mirror of the human psyche."

These are the words of Dr Gerda Taljaard-Gilson from the Department of Afrikaans and Theory of Literature who was recently awarded the ATKV (Afrikaanse Taal- en Kultuurvereniging) Prose Prize and the kykNET-Rapport Fiction Prize for her novel Vier susters.

The novel is based on actual historical events, set in the 1940s – a time of conflict between South Africans who were against the Second World War, and those who were in favour of it.

The kykNET-Rapport prize was awarded for the best Afrikaans novel or collection of short stories in 2021; an original creative work, written with skill and integrity.

Taljaard-Gilson believes she emerged as winner because Vier susters is a book with authentic characterisation – characters in which you can believe. It is a book with literary value, without disregarding the non-academic reader’s wish for a good story and a strong story line.

"It is wonderful to get recognition," she says. "An author often feels isolated and as if their hard work goes unseen. Literary awards motivate authors to persevere with their craft and passion. It also proves that Afrikaans is alive and well, appreciated by readers, academics and literary critics."

Taljaard-Gilson has contributed short stories to a variety of publications, including the anthology Die nuwe Afrikaanse prosaboek (2019); Boereoorlogstories (2012); Grensoorlogstories (2012); Skrik op die lyf (2015); Die heelal het ’n ster laat val (2006); Een goed verhaal (2006); Hartlam (2017); Skarlakenkoors (2014); Bloots (2012); and Hierdie land (2023). She has also written the novels ’n Engel in die hoenderhok (2009); Kelder (2012); Die laksman se dogter (2017); and Vier susters (2021).

Die laksman se dogter received the kykNET-Rapport Prize for the best filmic novel in 2018. In 2022, she received both the ATKV-Woordveertjie award for best novel, as well as the kykNET-Rapport Prize for fiction for Vier susters. This novel will be published in English in 2023. The film rights for both Die laksman se dogter and Vier susters have been bought by a South African film production company.

Taljaard-Gilson has lectured at Unisa’s Department of Afrikaans and Theory of Literature since 2011. Here she has served as course coordinator for creative writing and Afrikaans drama for honours students, conducted creative writing workshops and compiled the study guide for AFR3701 (Kommunikatiewe Scenario’s). She is a member of the South African Academy for Science and Arts.

For the Pretoria-born author, writing is not a hobby or a job, it is a necessity, something that comes from the unconscious, the very core of her existence. Taljaard-Gilson says she must write to survive on a psychological level. She says that we all have stories to tell, and we need to tell them in order to keep our sanity.

Taljaard-Gilson believes natural talent is not enough, but that determination, persistence and diligence is far more important than to be creatively gifted. And, she says, we need to accept criticism and listen to advice. We are never too talented or too well-published to learn. She believes one never stops learning how to write; it is a continuous battle to improve on one’s writing skills. 

* By Tebogo Mahlaela, Communication and Marketing Specialist, College of Human Sciences.

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Publish date: 2023/02/10

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