South Africa
Compiled to coincide with the Swedish book fair in September 2020 where South Africa is honorary guest and theme country.
Continuously updated.
Introduction
This resource on fiction from/on South Africa was compiled to coincide with the Swedish book fair in September 2020 where South Africa is honorary guest and theme country. The African fiction collection in the Nordic Africa Institute library covers the whole continent. Due to the good distribution of South African titles as well as its prolific authors, the country is well represented in the library collection.
Recently, authors in South Africa as well as in other countries on the continent are seeking other outlets for their works beside the printed form. In the resource, you find links to both online and printed fiction.
Interlibrary loans
If you are based in the Nordic countries, it is possible to order our library titles on interlibrary loan through your local library.
Everything on South Africa from the Nordic Africa Institute
Are you interested in other aspects of South Africa beside literature, see our main country resource on South Africa.
NAI library collection
- South Africa + fiction
External link, opens in new window. - South Africa + poetry External link, opens in new window.
- South Africa + plays External link, opens in new window.
- South Africa + short stories External link, opens in new window.
- South Africa + crime fiction External link, opens in new window.
- South Africa + African street literature External link, opens in new window. (= texts collected within the African Street Literature project External link, opens in new window.)
Other online resources
Read or listen online
Afreada - Stories from home External link, opens in new window.
Afreada literary magazine feature both fiction and creative non-fiction from emerging writers across the continent. The link lead to South African related content on the website.
Book Dash External link, opens in new window.
Book Dash publishes African storybooks, children’s picture books on their website, to read online or for download.
Poetry International archive – South Africa section External link, opens in new window.
The Poetry International Archives website collects an publish poetry by acclaimed poets worldwide.
Tshwane Speak Out Loud External link, opens in new window.
Tshwane Speak Out Loud is a youth poetry competition and festival which encourages youth to write and perform poetry. They have their own Youtube channel.
Word N Sound Live Literature Movement External link, opens in new window.
The Word N Sound Project provide a platform for the expression of spoken word. Interviews are mixed with videoclips of performances.
Diverse web resources, lists and reviews
A History of South African Literature, timeline 1824-2005 External link, opens in new window.
A timeline year by year with annotations from South African history online
The Johannesburg Review of Books External link, opens in new window.
A monthly review with reviews, essays, poetry, photographs and short fiction from South Africa, Africa and beyond.
South African Fiction 1994-present: a selected annotated bibliography External link, opens in new window.
A collaboration between Northwestern University Libraries and Evanston Township High School, US Exploring South Africa through Contemporary South African Literature. Annotated list until 2010.
31 books every South African should read External link, opens in new window.
Brand South Africa is a public entity under the Ministry for communications to market South Africa. The list contains annotation for fiction and non-fiction.
Who’s Who of South African Crime Writing External link, opens in new window.
The website Crime Beat at Sunday Time Books compiled a list of South African authors in 2016.
12 South African crime writers to add to your reading list External link, opens in new window.
The website Crime fiction lover aim is to cover and write about different parts of the genre.
South African books that tackle mental illness External link, opens in new window.
Live Mag is a nationwide youth-run media channel covering topics like fashion, politics, music, art, relationships, career advice, events and gigs.
Sunday Times Books External link, opens in new window.
Sunday Times is South Africa's biggest Sunday newspaper with a separate section on books, both fiction and non-fiction reviews and articles. South African and international titles are covered.
KZN Literary Tourism website External link, opens in new window.
Reviews, interviews and presentations of authors associated with the province of KwaZuluNatal.
PEN South Africa section on literature External link, opens in new window.
PEN South Africa section’s Celebrating literature write about the literature scene in South Africa as well as about titles from members.