Men called upon to share their stories
JOHANNESBURG – This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Women's March on the Union Buildings in Pretoria on August 9 in 1956, and Beulah Thumbadoo and Associates are now encouraging South African men to share their stories.
In 1956, women protested against the extension of passes to women by the apartheid regime, and to celebrate their stand against injustice, a number of women-focused cultural and political events are being planned to mark the contribution of South African women to the struggle for the country’s liberation.
Ten years ago, Beulah Thumbadoo and Associates put together a book called The face of the spirit, illuminating a century of essays by South African women, for the Department of Arts and Culture. This year, Thumbadoo is calling on South African men to submit their stories.
The theme they are aiming to illuminate is the struggles of men with women, and she called on men to submit any writing that they believe will make a difference – whether it be out of joy or frustration. “I thought to myself ‘wow, there are going to be so many women’s celebrations and that’s great and necessary, but how would it feel to be a man this year?’ Maybe they have something to say or contribute. In the interests of inclusivity and reducing unnecessary polarisation, I think the timing is perfect,” explained Thumbadoo.
She continued to say that the aim of the writing challenge is to help build a greater understanding between men and women. “Men writing, going deeper than they might with talking, is the first step and I’m sure it’s one of many but it’s one that speaks to me at this time.
“I want men to sit quietly with this challenge and see what comes up for them. I’m hoping that when men sit down in front of their computers or put pen to paper, the invisible hand turns what they set out to write into something far more intimate and revealing than they might have first imagined. And that the results turn out to be as cathartic for the writer as it could be for the nation.”
The essays that best portray the personal concerns, hopes and desires of South African men – and have judges wanting every South African to read them in the interests of nation-building – will be shortlisted. Thumbadoo revealed that their intention is that a selection of the best essays will be published in a book with the working title, Words left unspoken; and said she had been approached by a philanthropist interested in awarding prize money to the top essays.
Submissions should be about 2 000 words and must be e-mailed to bt@beulahthumbadoo.co.za before or by noon on 1 May 2016.
Details: www.beulahthumbadoo.co.za
