Zuma’s Bastard Cover Competition winner announced

The winner of the Two Dogs Young Visual Designer Cover Competition 2010, to create the cover for the upcoming title Zuma’s Bastard by Azad Essa, is Saaleha Idrees Bamjee. Congratulations to Saaleha from Two Dogs and the judging team.

It was an incredibly tight race, with Saaleha’s submission just pipping one other entry. Ultimately it was decided that the winning design “epitomises Azad’s writing and all that the book is”.

The author, one of six judges to make the final decision, was particularly pleased with the decision. “When I first saw this entry, I thought, ‘Oh my crack, this cover is going to be hard to beat!’” he commented during the judging process. “It goes in with all guns – or is that USBs? – blazing. There is something special about it and my instinct tells me to roll with it. It is my first-choice, but at the same time there is the concern that it’s a dangerous-looking cover.”

Tim Richman, publishing manager of Two Dogs, notes that this was a closely considered factor: “On the one hand, we had a layered, technically excellent design from another designer that was well received, and then we had this edgy, funky, raw and very smart entry from Saaleha. The former was the safe option; this was the let’s-give-them-something-to-talk-about option. And ultimately we decided that this was more in keeping with the feel of the book and our whole approach to the project. Like Azad’s writing, we expect it to be divisive and intriguing, controversial and engaging.

“This is not a traditional book – it is a blog and a book and an attitude all rolled into one. Essentially it is the manifesto of a dynamic young South African with important things to say and it needs a striking and provocative cover to say as much. In Saaleha’s entry we have exactly that.”

The winner

On submission, designers were asked to provide a rationale for their entries. Explained Saaleha: “The concept behind this cover is to put the focus on the ‘desktop’ nature of the author’s activism, which is why the sub-title has been typeset in a font similar to the Twitter logo. Capping Azad’s gun with a USB drive speaks to the irreverence of his work, as well as further emphasising this idea of desktop activism/terrorism.”

Saaleha describes herself as a “freelance wordworker/print designer/idea girl who’s in to writing, rhyming, blogging, paper-crafting, cooking and peaktime-traffic-karaoke”. She blogs at www.saaleha.com.

The Runners-up

Other shortlisted entries were provided by Shubnum Khan, Fatima Cassim and Yusuf Dajee. The judges wish to thank them for the efforts. Shortlisted entries will be exhibited at the launch of the book, and these designers will all receive a signed copy of the book.

The competition details

The Two Dogs Young Visual Designer Cover Competition offers a cash prize of R2,500 and a trade cover credit for the designer who creates the winning cover, as well as media exposure for the winner and runners up.

For the competition, designers were asked to create the cover for the upcoming Zuma’s Bastard, the first collection of writing from Essa, which includes pieces from and inspired by his blog, the Accidental Academic, winner of South Africa’s Best Political Blog award 2009. A Facebook page was created for the title, where the public could vote for the shortlist. To encourage participation five voters stood the chance of winning signed copies of the book – winners are to be informed later this week. Currently, there are 2,156 members of the group. See www.facebook.com/Zumasbastard.

The final judges of the competition were: Azad Essa, author of Zuma’s Bastard; Tim Richman, publishing manager of Two Dogs books; Fathima Paruk, marketing manager on the project; Shay Heydenrych, head of sales at Jacana Media, the book’s distributor; Francois Pretorius, current pictures editor at House & Leisure magazine and previous Two Dogs cover designer; and Two Dogs designer Christoff van Wyk, who is designing the page layout on this project.

Please contact Fathima Paruk at fathaz@gmail.com for competition queries or to request information on the winning and shortlisted entries.

Ode to bloggers and blogging (Why you should starting blogging) by NED

In an attempt to overcome my laziness and developing better writing skills, I figured about a year ago that blogging was something worth pursuing. Over a period of time, when looking back at articles, I can reflect on the writing style, technique and grammar of the various pieces. 

But the fear always remained that I might become one of those self-obsessed narcissists that thinks people may actually give a crap about my opinions. So the important element then became focusing on good content. (which this article doesn't quite have) I thought that as long as good and decent content was being written, I wouldn't transform into a vain virtual vampire (alliteration - see, I actually learnt some shit at school). No offence to bloggers or vampires. Or the virtual vain (everyone on facebook, including myself).

However, content that is worthwhile writing about isn't always easy to come by. So I became lazy over time and often had nothing meaningful to say (sorta like now, but fuck it I'm on facebook anyway). An entire year passed without updating the blog. So now I've decided to push myself to write more often. And with regards to content - writing always forces one to think and analyse critically - so once I start, I'm sure something will come to mind. (this piece - case in point)

Format, Argument, Point of View all becomes important when attempting to write a piece/article. I learnt that it doesn't have to be lengthy. Or hugely profound or anything like that. Or retarded.

(PLEASE NOTE: this piece is lengthy and retarded and not particularly profound or anything like that)

Blogging merely can serve as a platform to overcome laziness and develop better writing and thinking abilities. For instance, the 'better' in the previous sentence is not the most appropriate word. But truth be told, nothing more appropriate came to mind. But nonetheless, choosing a word that simply works fine, is fine. The second 'fine' in the previous sentence is not the most appropriate word either, but fuck it I'm on facebook. This is the point of this whole entire exercise. 

At the very least, blogging serves as a platform to jot down thoughts and ideas about life or something dear to us. Its a safe place to store, and we can always come back and find it. From a young age i always wrote on pages, books and scraps of paper. Over the years, i ended up losing these writings. And when i miraculously find them, there wasn't a context or time period of when they was written. So they become either nice sentimental words or pointless rants without any meaning. 

So the advantage of blogging is that I have my writings recorded online that can be accessed anywhere in the world at any time and best of all, at no cost. Each post has a date and can be personalised with different colours, and you can add video's or music to them. But wait there's more, if you download an application, the blogpost with automatically appear as a facebook note without you manually having to do it. But thats not all, it comes at the incredible price of.... wait for it.... ABSOLUTELY FUCKING FREE! 

But again, the fear creeps in of starting to write for an audience rather than for oneself.

There is pros and cons to this though. 

The con is that we begin to start worrying about the amount of traffic to the blog, the amount of comments made and the amount of times it was shared online. The essence of the writing is lost. 

But on the other hand (Darren), the pros are that we begin to start learning to articulate for an audience rather than just posting random shit. Developing relationships with other bloggers and like-minded people is hugely beneficial as an online blogging network starts to be created. Ideas, assistance, advice and inspiration can be the result of this. 

Although I hardly blog, and I only have 3 followers (including myself). So in reality I only have 2 followers. Ones a good friend of mine (Thanks Zubair Habib for your unwavering support) and I dont quite know who the other person is. Im digressing now (happens when one begins to start writing after a while). Anyway, although I hardly blog and nobody really follows me or reads my blog (i just realised that maybe its because there is nothing for them to read!). 

Fuck, I honestly dont know what I wanted to say when I started writing this paragraph. 

[EATING PIZZA AND DRINKING APPLE JUICE WHILST I THINK]

Oh Yeah, so I dont blog much but I am already part of a blogging community. How is this possible you ask. Well, let me tell you. I follow bloggers online by visiting their blogs (like a virtual stalker) whenever i can, through RSS feeds or by following them on twitter and being friends with them on facebook. I have had the honour and privilege of being able to meet some of them over the past few years. And fortunate enough to call many of them friends (real friends, not merely just facebook friends). Like I email them and shit and have some of their mobile numbers and call them and text them and met their mothers and fathers and what not. And what what... 

Through pseudo-blogging, I was able to learn new ideas, engage with new concepts and meet new people. Various organised social events brought these people together and in turn we were able to work on social projects within the community and brought more people together. (think the pundits [geeks] call this social farming) Once like-minded people met and engaged on issues, projects and initiatives began to form.

I used to be very skeptical of blogging, and 'The Internet', and 'The Technology' when i was younger (last year) [joke stolen from the Durbanite Desktop Terrorist, Author of Zuma's Bastard, Azad Essa's blog The Accidental Academic, also my current roomate - that is taking long to come back with the food]. 

You cant blame me for being dodgy of Technology (it  rhymes - wasn't even trying), after all, I am a big fan of Terminator 2 and The Matrix.

Digressed again. 

In the immortal words of Homer Simpson "DOH"

[GONNA SMOKE A CIGARETTE, PETER STUYVESANT EXTRA MILD, WHILST I REFOCUS]

[CANT FIND THE DAMN LIGHTER]

Never place a white lighter on a white bedspread. That shit just blends in. Takes about 5 minutes to find it. Always have a back-up lighter available. I have 2. But they both currently empty. And i cant find my zippo lighter. But i found my zippo lighter fluid though. I wonder where my zippo is though. I really need to find it.......

POST SCRIPT:

Still havent found my zippo lighter. 

And i realised that this needs an ending. Not still quite sure about what i was going to say. Something along the lines that "Technology is like so cool in like this new millenuim and like we can keep in touch and like network and like know what our friends are like doing because they like live so far away in like this globalised world and like we can make like new friends through like blogging and like twitter and like facebook and like orket and like watch live tv on youtube except like if you from like a poor country like South Africa and yeah like that and stuff" 

(Said in annoying nasal sound by an 18 year old white girl from a northern suburb in JHB, South Africa)

But I really would LIKE to take this opportunity to thank other bloggers, whom are now friends for their inspiration and motivation in sharing their ideas. Its what made me decide to put this education in use by starting to write more. And in doing so, starting to think more.

In aiming to work towards developing a better understanding amongst people of different races, cultures, religious and ethnic backgrounds, we need to be able to articulate our point of views in an appropriate manner so that its easy to understand. Therefore I do believe that writing allows this opportunity which can be practically achieved through blogging. This creates discussion and allows for greater engagement by individuals from the above mentioned different sets of people. 

Please feel free to engage on these topics discussed above with me so that the process of mutual critique of thought and technique may begin. With that being said, please also forward suggestions or comments regarding the writing. You are more than welcome to pull out grammatical or spelling errors. (Azad)

I would like to thank Ayesha Jacub, Zubair Habib, MJ Khan, Azad Essa, Saffiya Surtee, Khadija Patel, Bibi Ayesha Wadvalla, Shafinaaz Hassim Fatima Paruk, MAK, Halaal Bilal Randree, Zahira Kharsany, Aasiya Fredericks and the other bloggers whose names now i cant remember. Thank you for the many brilliant pieces written over the years, for sharing with us and for providing that motivation and inspiration.

And i also would like to thank the academy and world peace (everyone says that shit for some reason, I dont want to break another unwritten law that i dont know about)

And if anyone (Azad) comes across a small dark-navy-blue zippo lighter, please return it to me through mzhassen@gmail.com

No monetary reward but i'll blog about you. Like i said, content is sometimes hard to come by. 

In Summary:

- If you dont blog, consider starting

- If you do blog, start reading more than you write

- If you do blog alot and read alot, watch a fucking movie Nerd!

POST POST-SCRIPT:

Azad comes back with the food, but im not hungry anymore. And I ask him if he saw my lighter anywhere and all he said was "NO". What he shouldve said was "DOH", because I dont buy his 'claim' of not knowing where my zippo lighter is. But, thats another story... I mean Blog Post.

Khalaas Yaanie Khalaas (Now go eat your peas)

South Africa's Civil Service Protests

Only when protests turn violent do we begin to start debating the merits about the cause which is being protested. This specific negotiation begun before the World Cup. A decision was taken to halt the negotiations until the end of the World Cup. A month of celebration and enjoyment showcased the capacity of South Africa to the world.

However, only the elites were afforded the opportunity to attend the matches and indulge in the fan fair that was the World Cup. The South African population gathered in groups and watched in community venues and shebeens because they dont own televisions.

I understand that the perspectives given regarding the negative effects of the strike and the impact it has on peoples lives. But assuming that civil servants have no humanity is an inhuman statement in itself.

We sitting from a privileged position of comfort and ease and we think it gives us the right to pass judgement. Pass judgement on a group/class of people that work crazy hours for a meager salary. This is focusing more on the hospital staff.

An important point of reflection is trying to understand what would drive individuals to this point. We witnessing the impact and seeing the visuals through the media. Many of you are witnessing the results directly and have first hand accounts of whats happening.

But i think that its important to note that we dont witness first hand the lives of these individuals and the hardships they have to deal with. The media doesnt focus on the Nurse that spends 12 hours at work and has to catch 2 taxis to get home. There is no thought about their families and the impact it has on their loved ones.

I understand that we all have opinions about the protest action. Bare in mind that strikes are the last resort. Negotiations failed and this is the result. Its not the first point of call.

I do not condone that people are being blocked from receiving medical attention. But i do believe that protesting for higher salaries by civil servants is necessary.

We need to show solidarity with the civil servants.

At the very least, we need to put ourselves in their shoes and truly understand the strategy and behaviour by the protesters.

Maybe its the socialist in me coming out. Or maybe its just my humanist side believing that we all have the right to a life with dignity.

After all, isnt that what we were promised after apartheid.