Umuzi Celebrates 5th Year and 100th Title with Nape ‘a Motana’s Son-in-Law of the Boere

by Amanda on Aug 12th, 2010

Umuzi, a bright success story on the South African book publishing scene, was five years old in July and will publish its 100th title in August. The imprint was created in 2005 to celebrate the 40th year of Random House in South Africa, and it was established as the South African imprint of Random House that was, until then, mainly involved with publishing its U.K.-based imprints in the local market.

Under the leadership of its founder publisher, Dr Annari van der Merwe, and publishing according to a mantra of “the South African here and now”, Umuzi rapidly became the house of choice for some of the foremost writers of this country, counting in its ranks authors like Ivan Vladislavić, Antjie Krog, Njabulo Ndebele, Mike Nicol, Lewis Nkosi, Imraan Coovadia, Chris Barnard, EKM Dido, the photographer David Goldblatt, and many more. More recent acquisitions include books by Carel van der Merwe, Wessel Ebersohn, Henrietta Rose-Innes, Justin Fox, Leon de Kock and Jassy Mackenzie.

The 100th title to come out under the Umuzi imprint is the novel Son-in-Law of the Boere by Nape ‘a Motana, a delightful satire in which a young black man comes up against old realities and new possibilities when he falls in love with an Afrikaans girl. The book is released in September 2010.

Umuzi titles have not only frequented the bestseller lists, but also the shortlists of the country’s highest honours for books, and also international prizes like the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize (Africa Region) and the International Thriller Award. The prestigious Sunday Times Alan Paton Award has been won twice (Ivan Vladislavić and Peter Harris), and the University of Johannesburg Prize three times (Ivan Vladislavić and Imraan Coovadia, with Chris Marnewick in the debut category). The South African Literary Award was presented to Patrick Cullinan and Njabulo Ndebele, while Michael Cawood Green is receiving this year’s Olive Schreiner Prize.

Umuzi authors have done well abroad too. Translation rights in their titles have been sold in Sweden, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany and Greece, as well as English rights in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and the USA.

Umuzi has not only achieved significant critical acclaim. The imprint has been commercially successful too and remained ahead of its business projections, even during the worst semesters of the recent recession. Among its major successes have been Odyssey to Freedom, the autobiography of George Bizos, Dark Continent My Black Arse by Sihle Khumalo, Kruidjie roer my by Antoinette Pienaar, In a Different Time by Peter Harris and, more recently, Evita’s Kossie Sikelela by Pieter-Dirk Uys and Linda Vicquery, also available in Afrikaans.

In September 2008 Random House South Africa merged with Struik Publishers, following which Umuzi became an imprint of Random House Struik (RHS) along with sister imprints Zebra Press, Struik Nature, Struik Lifestyle and Struik Travel and Heritage. Random House MD Stephen Johnson became MD of RHS, and in March 2009 Frederik de Jager became the publisher of Umuzi.

The word “umuzi” in the Nguni languages means “house” and “home”, while the sound of it has overtones of “muse” and “music”, all of which embody the idea of a place where creativity is sheltered and fostered.

MD Stephen Johnson says, “Umuzi’s place in the bright firmament of its elder imprints, particularly on the eve of Struik celebrating its half a century next year, seems assured through an almost magical mix of quality writers whose books are second to none. The manner in which these powerful assets are supported by sales, publicity and a reader excitement in the market that is often inspiring is hugely rewarding. That the committed team who so carefully nurture this particular imprint’s writers and their work found such enthusiastic welcome in the market is thrilling to see as Umuzi’s fifth year dawns and its first ‘centurion’ prepares to join the march of those most worthy harbingers who helped build a truly sound foundation. To all our warmest congratulations and thanks, especially for the ongoing trust that our fledgling imprint continues to enjoy.”

Publisher Frederik de Jager says, “It is a pure delight to be working with books and people of such quality. Quality is the firm platform on which we stand, and while our imprint will continue focusing on its core areas of accessible fiction of quality and narrative non-fiction, we will also be seeking strategic growth in other areas.”

UMUZI VIER 5DE JAAR EN 100STE TITEL

Umuzi, ’n suksesverhaal in die Suid-Afrikaanse uitgewerswese, was in Julie 5 jaar oud en publiseer sy 100ste titel in Augustus. Die druknaam is in 2005 gestig om 40 jaar van van Random House se berdywigheid in Suid-Afrika te vier en om as sy Suid-Afrikaanse druknaam te dien.

Onder die leiding van Umuzi se stigter-uitgewer, dr. Annari van der Merwe, en die mantra “die Suid-Afrikaanse hier en nou”, het Umuzi spoedig vir baie van Suid-Afrika se vooraanstaande skrywers die voorkeurtuiste geword. Onder hulle tel Ivan Vladislavić, Antjie Krog, Njabulo Ndebele, Mike Nicol, Lewis Nkosi, Imraan Coovadia, Chris Barnard, EKM Dido, die fotograaf David Goldblatt, en nog vele meer. Meer onlangse toevoegings tot hierdie geledere is onder meer Carel van der Merwe, Wessel Ebersohn, Henrietta Rose-Innes, Justin Fox, Leon de Kock en Jassy Mackenzie.

Die 100ste titel wat onder die Umuzi-druknaam verskyn, is die roman Son-in-Law of the Boere deur Nape ’a Motana. Hierdie satire handel oor ’n jong swart man wat op ’n Afrikaanse meisie verlief raak en byna sy Moses met beide ou realiteite en nuwe moontlikhede teëkom. Die boek word in September uitgereik.

Die boeke wat Umuzi publiseer is nie net gereeld topverkopers nie, maar verskyn ook op die kortlyste vir die land se hoogste toekennings aan boeke , asook op die kortlyste vir internasionale pryse soos die Commonwealth Writer’s Prize (Afrika-streek) en die International Thriller Award. Die toonaangewende Sunday Times Alan Paton-toekenning is twee keer toegeken (Ivan Vladislavić en Peter Harris) en die Universiteit van Johannesburg-prys drie keer (Ivan Vladislavić en Imraan Coovadia, met Chris Marnewick in die debuutkatagorie). Patrick Cullinan en Njabulo Ndebele het die Suid-Afrikaanse Literêre Toekenning ontvang, en die Olive Schreiner-prys word vanjaar aan Michael Cawood Green toegeken.

Umuzi se skrywers vaar ook goed in die buiteland, waar vertaalregte in Swede, Italië, Spanje, Nederland, Duitsland en Griekeland verkoop is. Engelse regte is daarby in Nigerië, Brittanje en die VSA verkoop.

Umuzi-boeke kry nie net hoë lof nie, maar hulle verkoop ook goed. Die druknaam het tydens die donkerste semesters van die onlangse resessie steeds sy projeksies oortref. Onder sy grootste suksesse tel die outobiografie van George Bizos, Odyssey to Freedom, Sihle Khumalo se Dark Continent My Black Arse, Kruidjie roer my deur Antoinette Pienaar, In a Different Time deur Peter Harris en onlangs Evita se Kossie Sikelela deur Pieter-Dirk Uys en Linda Vicquery, ook beskikbaar in Engels.

In September 2008 het Random House Suid-Afrika en Struik-Uitgewers saamgesmelt. In die proses het Umuzi ’n suster-onderneming van die drukname Zebra Press, Struik Nature, Struik Lifestyle en Struik Travel and Heritage binne Random House Struik (RHS) geword. Stephen Johnson, die besturende direkteur van Random House, het besturende direkteur van RHS geword en in Maart 2009 word Frederik de Jager uitgewer van Umuzi.

Die woord “umuzi” beteken “huis” en “tuiste” in die Nguni-tale, terwyl daar op die klank af ook bowetone van “muse” en “musiek” is – tekenend van ’n plek waar kreatiwiteit gehuisves en gekoester word.

Stephen Johnson, Uitvoerende Direkteur, sê: “Umuzi se plek in ’n helder konstellasie van sustersdrukname, veral op die vooraand van Struik se viering van ’n halfeeu volgende jaar, blyk gevestig te wees danksy ’n amper magiese mengsel van kwaliteit skrywers wie se boeke werklik van besonderse gehalte is. Die wyse waarop dié bate deur verkope, reklame en opgewonde lesers ondersteun word, is opwindend en ’n bron van inspirasie. Dit is ook heerlik om te sien hoe entoesiasties die toegewyde span, wat met groot sorg vir die groei van Umuzi se skrywers en hul werk verantwoordelik is, in die mark verwelkom word. Die aanbreek van Umuzi se vyfde verjaarsdag val saam met die uitgawe van hul honderdste boek, wat spreek van die soliede grondslag wat oor die afgelope jare gelê is. Ons wens almal betrokke hartlik geluk en wil ook graag dankie sê vir die toenemende vertroue wat ons jongste druknaam deurlopend geniet.”

Uitgewer Frederik de Jager sê: “Dit is hoogs bevredigend om met boeke en mense van hierdie gehalte te werk. Gehalte is die vaste basis waarop ons staan, en terwyl ons druknaam sal bly fokus op toeganklike fiksie en verhalende nie-fiksie, sal ons ook groeigeleenthede op nuwe terreine soek.”