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Vernuwing en ironie sonder sarkasme wen 2009 Ingrid Jonker Prys

[Persverklaring] 

Loftus Marais se digbundel Staan in die Algemeen Nader aan Vensters (Tafelberg, 2008) is vanjaar die wenner van die Ingrid Jonker-prys.

Loftus Marais

Marais se poësie word aangeprys vir die gesofistikeerdheid en vernuf daarvan, asook vir die ironie wat terselfdertyd ontdaan is van sarkasme. Een beoordelaar sien die spreker as ‘n  “geïnspireerde flâneur” wat aan ‘n veronderstelde gespreksgenoot die absurde in die alledaagse uitwys. Dieselfde beoordelaar bestempel ook hierdie poësie as sterk intellektueel en vormvas, en as “heilige spot”. Nietemin, soos ‘n ander beoordelaar dit stel, is dit ‘n bundel wat tot Jan Alleman uitreik vanweë die leesbaarheid van die gedigte. Die bundel word ook aangeprys vir die vernuwing wat dit in die Afrikaanse digkuns bring. Die beoordelaars het ook daarop gewys hoe moeilik dit was om ‘n wenner te kies, en beskou Ronelda S. Kamfer se Noudat Slapende Honde (Kwela, 2008) as ‘n baie sterk naaswenner. Haar poësie, sê een van die beoordelaars, word gekenmerk deur belydenis, “maar dan ‘n belyding wat ‘n gat deur die bladsy brand.” Nog ‘n beoordelaar stel dit so: “‘n Totaal onderbeligte deel van die Afrikaanse taal-demografie praat deur haar in ‘n besondere sterk stem op ‘n manier soos nog nooit tevore nie.”

Die Ingrid Jonker-prys word elke jaar aan ‘n debuutbundel toegeken, alternatiewelik vir poësie in Afrikaans en Engels. Die prys sal op 28 November tydens die jaarlikse Versindaba op Stellenbosch aan Marais oorhandig word.

Trienke Laurie, Petra Müller and Charl-Pierre Naudé was die beoordelaars.

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Renewal and irony without sarcasm wins 2009 Ingrid Jonker Prize

Loftus Marais’ Staan in die Algemeen Nader aan Vensters (Tafelberg, 2008) has won the Ingrid Jonker Prize for 2009. Marais’ poetry is praised for its sophistication and craft, as well as for the use of irony that steers clear of sarcasm. One of the adjudicators sees the lyrical speaker in these poems as an inspired flâneur who, in conversation with an interlocutor, points out the absurdities in what passes as everyday life. Sharply intellectual and formal, Marais’ work is characterized as radical, divine jest; and yet, as another adjudicator points out, the volume reaches out to everyman because of its readability. The volume is also praised for the renewal it brings to Afrikaans poetry.

Two of the adjudicators noted how difficult the judging process was, and Ronelda S. Kamfer’s Noudat Slapende Honde (Kwela, 2008) was judged a very close second. Her poetry, says one adjudicator, is marked by a confessional style that burns a hole in the page. Says another member of the panel: “A completely under-lit part of the Afrikaans linguistic demographic speaks through her in a particularly strong voice in a manner as never before.”

The Ingrid Jonker Prize is awarded for debut poetry collections and is awarded every year, alternatively for work in English and Afrikaans. The  prize will be presented to Marais on 28 November at this year’s Versindaba in Stellenbosch.

 The adjudicators were Trienke Laurie, Petra Müller and Charl-Pierre Naudé.