Authors’ rights under the spotlight at ANFASA Conference
The Academic and Non-Fiction Authors’ Association of South Africa (ANFASA) will celebrate its 10th anniversary by reflecting on the issues facing writers today, during a conference in Boksburg from March 13 to 15.
The occasion, to be held at the Birchwood Conference Centre, will feature a number of high-powered local and international speakers from the world of non-fiction and academic publishing.
The three-day event will mark the organisation’s first annual conference as well as its annual general meeting.
The theme is titled “Opportunities and challenges in academic and non-fiction writing: Post-Apartheid South Africa”.
ANFASA was founded in 2004 as the first national association specifically for authors of non-fiction works, textbooks and academic books, dedicated to promoting their works, sharing information and offering advice.
According to ANFASA’s director, Kundayi Masanzu, they thought their 10-year milestone would be an opportune moment to pause and reflect on the meaning of authors’ rights, and how these can be protected and promoted.
“Authors need to be acknowledged for the role they play in knowledge creation, as well as for the relevance of their contributions to the national discourse about readership and learning. They also need incentives to produce more works.”
As such, he added, the conference will provide the ideal opportunity for members and delegates to celebrate the country’s 20 years of democracy by examining the opportunities and challenges facing non-fiction and academic writing in post-Apartheid South Africa.
