Cape Flats Book Festival pays tribute to poet Dr Diana Ferrus

A special tribute was made to renowned poet Dr Diana Ferrus at the 5th Cape Flats Book Festival held at West End Primary School in Mitchells Plain just hours after her passing, as she was set to be one of its honoured speakers.

Dr Ferrus’ Mengelmoes digters took to the stage, sharing the spot where she would have stood, reading her poetry, lighting a candle, and observing a moment of silence. Ferrus’ family, who were present in the audience, said the Mengelmoes digters would now continue with her legacy after she had planted a seed.

The book festival was filled with an itinerancy of authors, speakers, and cartoonists such as  former top cops Jeremy Vearey and Jonathan Morris, now authors, actor, Jurgen McEwa and journalists, Lester Kiewit and Julian Jansen.

The event featured 113 authors and poets, had 3 sessions scheduled, and saw the presence of MEC of Cultural Affairs and Sports, Ricardo Mckenzie. The festival was organised in partnership with READ to Rise.

The women, Merle Danhouse and Gaireyah Fredericks, both published poets, shared how Ferrus had mentored and shaped their lives and read poetry written by her, such as Kaalgat. “We are on stage today and she is not here; she is not present.

It is a very difficult moment for us, but we know that Diana would have requested us to be here. Diana would say, ‘No turning around; you have to do what needs to be done,’” said Danhouse, who asked the audience to bow their heads in silence as they lit a candle in memory of her.

“She wrote so that others could come home to themselves,” said Laniëlle Hartzenberg, a relative of Dr Ferrus, who thanked the women for continuing her legacy. “Through Mengelmoes, they were educated, motivated, and inspired. The baton has now been passed to them; you are the next Diana Ferrus.”

“I am speaking not only for myself but for my family; you are now the elders. I want to say thank you for respecting my aunty. They are the most beautiful seed that was planted.” Author and publisher of Shofar Books, Haroldene Tshienda, showcased all of her authors' books. “We have hundreds of authors' books here, not just in South Africa but across borders,” she said. “We are here to celebrate books, stories, and writing that we are carrying with us all the time.”

Author Clement Du Plessis shared words about his book titled: “Other Side of the Track: Untold Stories of Athletics 1898-1994.” “This book was a labour of love,” he said. “It tells the story of the athletes who did not get a chance to compete internationally.”

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