Anna-Karien's Books, Cooks and Curiosities
A collection of my writings
First published in Sunday Times, in The Accidental Tourist column
Moving a portrait of the Madonna out of Argentina is an adventure in its own right, writes Anna-Karien Otto
Continue reading “Some souvenirs are harder to take home than others”
During this year’s Graduation weekend, the wider Rhodes University community are in for a rare treat ‒ a mixed-media, multicultural, and many-faceted response to the work of renowned playwright, Reza de Wet.
Drifting features an eclectic mix of senior postgraduate students and professional performers, with choreography by Juanita Finestone-Praeg and Athina Vahla, design by the new head of Design at the Drama Department, Illka Louw and performances by Andrew Buckland and Levern Botha.
Professor Andrew Buckland has often been described as a doyen of South African theatre. This may be a hackneyed phrase- but when you look back on his varied and rich career of over 30 years, the magnitude of his contribution to the performing arts is immutable.
Continue reading “‘Old but still kiff’ ‒Buckland lauded for lifetime contribution to theatre”
For Eusebius McKaiser the personal is the political.
Family, race, sexuality, culture ‒ he doesn’t hesitate to highlight the connection between our lives and thorny issues that plague the public sphere. Considered as one of South Africa’s more progressive thinkers, he asked some tough questions of the audience that gathered to hear about his latest book, A Bantu in My Bathroom, on Friday afternoon.
Taking umbrage against the term ‘bantu’ had actually prompted some students to tear down a few of the posters advertising the event. Known as an iconoclast and a provocateur, McKaiser relished this reaction, promptly starting off his talk by questioning the assumption that Rhodes is perceived as being the most liberal campus in South Africa.
The following is the very first piece of published journalism I ever wrote (including all its annoying imperfections) while working as a sub-editor for Grocott’s Mail, 2010. Poetry at Reddits has changed venues but is still going strong.
Mere mention of the word ‘Orania’ conjures up images of militant Afrikaners of pro-Nazi proportions, intent on separating themselves from the so-called new South Africa.
But this is not what journalists Michael Hammond and Hanlie Retief discovered at all. Instead they found a devoted community of mostly working class Afrikaners, peopled by a host of colourful characters eager to share why they love living there.
The beautifully desolate, frozen landscape of the polar regions has fascinated many people for centuries.
Prize-winning writer and activist Jean McNeil gave us a rare glimpse into what she calls “the oracle at the end of the world”‒ the Antarctic, by presenting a talk the English department last week.
A senior lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia, McNeil is a visiting scholar of the Mellon Foundation and the University of the Western Cape, where she teaches creative writing for part of the year. “Wild Places – Imaginative Writing and the Environment” discussed the experience of writing fiction, narrative non-fiction and poetry with wild places as the primary inspiration and idea driving creative work.
Four renowned South African writers (all fiercely proud Valley residents) shared their thoughts on their craft at a fascinating talk held in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Fish Hoek Library. A warm atmosphere of mutual admiration and camaraderie prevailed, injected with a strong dose of self-deprecating humour.
Continue reading “Valley authors celebrate their love of writing”
Anna-Karien's Books, Cooks and Curiosities 