Media24 Books Literary Awards

The Media24 Books Literary Awards (Known pre-2011 as the Via Afrika Awards^[1]) are a group of South African literary prizes awarded annually by Media24, the print-media arm of the South African media company Naspers. They are open to authors whose books are published within the Media24 Books stable, which includes NB Publishers, Jonathan Ball Publishers, LuxVerbi-BM, NVA, and Van Schaik Publishers. The awards were worth R35 000 each in 2013.

The awards comprise:

• The WA Hofmeyr Prize, a long-established prize, across all genres, for authors who could “potentially, through their outstanding writing, shift the boundaries of Afrikaans literature”
• The Herman Charles Bosman Prize for English literature, including drama, poetry, prose and fiction
• The Recht Malan Prize, which “acknowledges excellence in the field of non-fiction books”
• The MER Prizes for illustrated children’s books and youth literature
• The Elisabeth Eybers Prize for poetry in Afrikaans or English (introduced in 2014)

The Jan Rabie Rapport Prize for “a debut or early work characterised by fresh and innovative Afrikaans prose” was awarded annually at the same awards ceremony as the Media24 prizes until 2015.^[2] The Jan Rabie Prize is open to all publishers in South Africa while only titles published by Media24 Books publishers qualify for the Media24 Books Literary Awards.^[3] The M-Net Literary Awards were also awarded at the same function up until 2010.^[4]

Media24 Books Literary Awards winners

2015^[5]

• W.A. Hofmeyr Prize: Buys: ’n grensroman by Willem Anker
• Herman Charles Bosman Prize: A Sportful Malice' by Michiel Heyns
• Recht Malan Prize: Lost and Found in Johannesburg by Mark Gevisser
• M.E.R Prize for best youth novel: Alive Again by Andre Eva Bosch
• M.E.R. Prize for best illustrated children’s book: Noko and the Kool Kats by Fiona Moodie
• Jan Rabie Rapport Prize: To be announced
• Elisabeth Eybers Prize: Mede-wete by Antjie Krog

2014^[6]

• W.A. Hofmeyr Prize: Klimtol by Etienne van Heerden
• Herman Charles Bosman Prize: Shadows by Novuyo Rosa Tshuma
• Recht Malan Prize: The Hidden Thread: Russia and South Africa in the Soviet Era by Irina Filatova and Apollon Davidson
• M.E.R Prize for best youth novel: Sharp Edges by S.A. Partridge
• M.E.R. Prize for best illustrated children’s book: In die land van pamperlang by Linda Rode and illustrated by Johann Strauss
• Jan Rabie Rapport Prize: Valsrivier by Dominique Bothar
• Elisabeth Eybers Prize: Kaar by Marlene van Niekerk

2013^[7]

• W.A. Hofmeyr Prize: Die aanspraak van lewende wesens by Ingrid Winterbach
• Herman Charles Bosman Prize: Groundwork by Rustum Kozain
• Recht Malan Prize: The External Mission by Stephen Ellis
• M.E.R Prize for best youth novel: Totsiens, Koning Arthur by Annelie Ferreira
• M.E.R. Prize for best illustrated children’s book: Ben en die walvisse by Ingrid Mennen
• Jan Rabie Rapport Prize: Bloedfamilie by MS Burger

2012^[3]

• W.A. Hofmeyr Prize: Wals met Matilda by Dan Sleigh
• Herman Charles Bosman Prize: Lost Ground by Michiel Heyns
• Recht Malan Prize: Diepsloot by Anton Harber
• M.E.R Prize for best youth novel: Dark Poppy’s Demise by SA Partridge
• M.E.R. Prize for best illustrated children’s book: Goblin Diaries by Alex D’Angelo, illustrated by Marjorie van Heerden
• Jan Rabie Rapport Prize: Alfabet van die voëls by S.J. Naudé

2011^[8]

• W.A. Hofmeyr Prize: Dwaalpoort by Alexander Strachan
• Herman Charles Bosman Prize: Young Blood by Sifiso Mzobe
• Recht Malan Prize: The War for South Africa: The Anglo-Boer War: 1899-1902 by Bill Nasson
• M.E.R Prize for best youth novel: Willem Poprok by Derick van der Walt
• M.E.R. Prize for best illustrated children’s book: Just Sisi / Net Sisi by Wendy Hartmann, illustrated by Joan Rankin
• Jan Rabie Rapport Prize: Marike se laaste dans by Deborah Steinmair

Via Afrika Awards winners

2010

• Herman Charles Bosman Prize: Sally-Ann Murray, Small Moving Parts

2009^[9]

• WA Hofmeyr Award: Etienne van Heerden, 30 nagte in Amsterdam
• Herman Charles Bosman Prize: Michiel Heyns, Bodies Politic
• Recht Malan Prize: Shared between Tony Leon and Jonny Steinberg On the Contrary and Three-letter Plague
• MER Prize for youth literature: Derick van der Walt, Lien se lankstaanskoene
• MER Prize for illustrated children's books: Siyolo’s Jersey/Siyolo se trui by Mari Grobler, illustrated by Elizabeth Pulles
• Jan Rabie Rapport Prize: Karin Cronje, Allees mooi weer

2008

• Herman Charles Bosman Prize: Gail Dendy, The Lady Missionary (honorable mention)
• Herman Charles Bosman Prize: Nicholas Mhlongo, After Tears (honorable mention)

2007

• Herman Charles Bosman Prize: Maxine Case, All We Have Left Unsaid (co-winner)
• Herman Charles Bosman Prize: Kgebetli Moele, Room 207 (co-winner)

2006

• Herman Charles Bosman Prize: Simão Kikamba, Going Home

2005

• Herman Charles Bosman Prize: Keorapetse Kgositsile, This Way I Salute You: Selected Poems

2004

• Herman Charles Bosman Prize: Rayda Jacobs, Confessions of a Gambler

2003

• Herman Charles Bosman Prize: Ingrid Fiske (pseudonym: Ingrid de Kok), Terrestrial Things: Poems

2002

• Herman Charles Bosman Prize: K. Sello Duiker, The Quiet Violence of Dreams

2001

• Herman Charles Bosman Prize: Willemien Le Roux, Shadow Bird

2000

• Herman Charles Bosman Prize: Peter Rudolf Gisela Horn, My Voice is Under Control Now and Other Stories

1999

1998

• Herman Charles Bosman Prize: Achmat Dangor, Kafka's Curse: A Novella & Three Other Stories

1997

• Herman Charles Bosman Prize: Rayda Jacobs, Eyes of the Sky

References

External links

• Herman Charles Bosman Prize, African Book Awards Database, Indian University
• W.A. Hofmeyr Prize, African Book Awards Database
• Recht Malan Prize, African Book Awards Database
• Jan Rabie Rapport Prize, African Book Awards Database