More memories from the launch of New Coin December 2016

Some more photos from the launch of the December 2016 issue of New Coin, at David Krut Bookstore in Rosebank, Johannesburg, February 2017. That was the last issue of New Coin to be edited by me, before handing over the reins to Dashen Naicker.

 

Arja Salafranca

                                                           

Medzani Musandiwa

                                                         

                        

Saaleha Idress Bamjee

Raphael D'Abdon

                                                                    

                  

Linda Lindrish Ndlovu

                                                         

Dashen Naicker

                                                                   

Lionel Murcott

                                                        

Gerard Rudolf

Myesha Jenkins

                                                      

Kwenzakile Ntlati

                                                           

Lionel Murcott reading in February 2017

The late Lionel Murcott reading at the launch of the December 2016 issue of New Coin  at David Krut Bookstore in February 2017. Lionel's work was published in a few issues of Green Dragon, published by Dye Hard Press, as well as in New Coin, which I edited from 2014 to 2016.

Flyer for poetry reading from the late-1990s

 A flyer advertising a poetry reading at James de Villiers's Gallery 111, probably about 1998. Some of the poets reading were the late Lionel Murcott, Alan Finlay (whose The cactus of a bright sky has just been published by Dye Hard Press), Roy Blumenthal and Gary Cummiskey.

RIP Lionel Murcott

Lionel Murcott performing his poetry at the Melville Poetry Festival, 2013.

This morning I read on Facebook about the passing of South African artist and poet Lionel Murcott, a truly gentle, creative soul. I had published his work in various issues of my literary journal Green Dragon, and also in a small anthology called Electric Juice. When I was the editor of New Coin, from 2014 to 2016, he allowed me to use his artwork for the covers, free of charge. He also read and performed his work at various venues, such as James de Villiers's Gallery 111 in Kensington, Johannesburg, and at the Melville Poetry Festival in 2012 and 2013.

Our condolences to his family.

Remembering Electric Juice

 

Electric Juice, published by Dye Hard Press in 2000, contained work by, among others, the late Gus Ferguson, who passed on last month.

Three years' editorship of New Coin

For the past three years I have edited New Coin, one of South Africa's oldest and most prestigious poetry journals. New Coin is published twice a year by the Institute for the Study of English in Africa (ISEA) at Rhodes University in Grahamstown. I have now handed over the reins to Dashen Naicker, who will edit the journal from 2017. All cover art for the issues under my editorship was by Lionel Murcott.

Gedigte in die Goudstad: Melville Poetry Festival by Rene Bohnen

Op Saterdag 15 Oktober was gedigte in die Goudstad gratis. Veel liefliker nog: hulle was ook vry. 
Die Melville Poetry Festival het afgeskop op die hoek van Sewende Straat en Vierde Laan. Op soek na parkering toe ek daar aankom, het luide gejuig en lewendige tromspel aangekondig dat die gees reeds hoog loop. Die strate is nie afgesper nie; motors en voetgangers het ewe gemoedelik en behendig die ruimte gedeel. Die sonnige weer het bygedra tot ’n atmosfeer van spontaneïteit en vrolikheid. Ek sien nie dikwels dat ’n gehoor handeklap en saamsing op hulle eie wysies om te harmonieer met gedigte nie. Maar in Mellies vandag gebeur dit: die digters word aangemoedig, toegejuig – daar is suiwer plesier in die lug...Read more here

Launch of pushing from the riverbank and Light and After, at Love Books, Melville, Johannesburg

Kobus Moolman and Alan Finlay

Alan Finlay

Alan Finlay

Alan Finlay and Kobus Moolman

Arja Salafranca and Myesha Jenkins

Kobus Moolman

Owen Early and Khulile Nxumalo

Richard Fox and Eva Kowalska

Myesha Jenkins and Lionel Murcott