Can Themba’s legacy lives on in ‘When Water Wants To’ - a new voice for SA literature

In celebration of World Literacy Day, and to honour the legacy of iconic South African writer Can Themba, a bold new literary anthology is giving voice to a new generation of storytellers. When Water Wants To is the first collection published under the banner of the DALRO Can Themba Merit Award, a tribute to Themba’s enduring influence and a timely reminder of the power of the written word.

Coinciding with the 58th anniversary of Themba’s passing, When Water Wants To gathers ten remarkable short stories selected from over 250 submissions by emerging writers across the country. Edited by acclaimed playwright Neil Coppen and published by Wits University Press, the anthology captures the complexity and imagination of South African life. It moves between the intimate, the allegorical, and the politically charged, while echoing the spirit of Themba’s fearless storytelling.

First announced at the Time of the Writer festival earlier this year, the DALRO Can Themba Merit Award invited submissions from new and aspiring writers across South Africa. The response was overwhelming, with over 250 entries pouring in. After an intensive selection process led by a jury of prominent literary figures, including Niq Mhlongo, Shafinaaz Hassim, Lynn Joffe, Lorraine Sithole, Greg Homann, Neil Coppen, and Tiisetso Mashifane, ten outstanding stories were chosen for publication in When Water Wants To.

When Water Wants To is a collection of stories that range from the deeply personal to the wildly allegorical, playing with genre conventions and inhabiting a multitude of perspectives and unruly voices. Confirming the pre-eminence of the short story, and its oral antecedents in our culture, the stories delve into the national psyche in the conversations they have, the connections and parallels they make and the themes, concerns and water-soaked imagery they share.  

On International Literacy Day, September 8, DALRO hosted the launch of When Water Wants To at Exclusive Books in Rosebank, Johannesburg. The event brought together the top ten finalists of the DALRO Can Themba Merit Award, with the winner and runner-up announced during the evening. As a further tribute to Can Themba’s legacy, the Market Theatre will appoint a dramaturge to assist the winning writer in adapting their story for the stage; details will follow.

“What fascinating stories from a talented group of new writers. While Wits University Press is best known for scholarly non-fiction, we’re delighted to occasionally branch into short stories and plays, giving a wider range of authors a publishing platform. We’re especially proud to be launching When Water Wants To on International Literacy Day. Our thanks also go to DALRO – whose vital work in protecting authors’ rights we fully support – for inviting us to partner in this project.” Veronica Klipp, Wits University Press.

”DALRO prides itself in supporting emerging creators through its initiatives. This one in particular, is to honour Can Themba and we can’t wait to see what more will develop from the winning short story and more importantly, what impact it will have on the writing careers of emerging authors” DALRO’s managing director, Lazarus Serobe.

“As the Market Theatre Foundation, we are honoured to stand in tribute to Can Themba, whose legacy continues to inspire new generations of storytellers. The anthology When Water Wants To affirms the vitality of the short story form as a bridge between the oral traditions that have shaped our cultural imagination and the voices that are currently shaping South Africa’s literary future. We are especially excited to nurture the winning writer’s journey from page to stage, giving their words a new life in the theatre,” said Greg Homann, artistic director of the Market Theatre Foundation. 

“We are delighted that the DALRO Can Themba Merit Award could be launched at the Time of the Writer festival. We applaud DALRO for launching the project and for enabling us to support the writers with a mentoring programme that has enabled them to both refine their original submissions and better understand the publishing industry. We look forward to hosting the Top Ten at the Time of the Writer festival next year”, said Ismail Mahomed, director at Centre for Creative Arts.