The Real Meal Revolution wins

At the annual Sefika Awards dinner held on Tuesday 26th of August, outstanding service to the publishing and bookselling industry was celebrated in style, with this year’s theme: “Black and white”. Publishers, booksellers and authors congregated at the Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel and Convention Centre in KwaZulu Natal to applaud and be applauded for the roles they play in promoting literacy and a culture of reading by writing, producing and selling quality books in South Africa.

The evening was hosted by the hugely entertaining Nik Rabinowitz, who literally brought the house down with his sharp humour. No one in the room was safe from his banter and nothing literary was sacred. Authors, Publishers and booksellers alike enjoyed a good laugh with their associates after a hard day of debate around the challenges facing the industry both in South Africa and abroad.

The Nielsen Booksellers Choice Award, now in its 14th year, is a very special award, bestowed upon an author for a book he or she has written that booksellers most enjoyed selling throughout the year. This year’s award went to Tim Noakes, Sally-Ann Creed, Jonno Proudfoot and David Grier for The Real Meal Revolution, a book that has changed the fortunes of Quivertree Publications and helped many a bookseller’s bottom line as it flew off the shelves this year. Tim Noakes was not there to receive the prize but his co-authors were and they were incredibly happy with the honour bestowed upon them.

The banting team won over authors Nicki von der Heyde, Deon Meyer, Errieda Du Toit, Vusi Pikoli and Mandy Wiener, and Lauren Beukes.

Publishers Awarded:

• Trade Publisher of the Year 2014: Penguin Books (SA)
• Academic Publisher of the Year 2014: Oxford University Press Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd
• Education Publisher of the Year 2014 (Large): Pearson Education SA
• Education Publisher of the Year 2014 (Small): Berlut Books cc

Booksellers Awarded:

• Academic Bookseller of the Year 2014: Van Schaik Bookstore (Pty) Ltd
• Education Bookseller of the Year 2014: Boeke 24/7
• Trade Bookseller of the Year 2014 (Chain Stores): Bargain Books
• Trade Booksellers of the Year 2014 (Independent Stores): Book Lounge
• Library Supplier of the Year 2014: Hargraves Library Services

The teams that won these awards are the leaders in literacy development in South Africa and it is important that the publishers are recognized for their dedication to producing works of perfection and that the booksellers are thanked for taking these works and getting them into the hands of readers country wide. Sponsored by Paarl Media, Nielsen, SAPnet, Creda Communications, Sasfin Premier Logistics, Geodis Wilson and On the Dot, the entire evening and all of the honour it bestows upon the recipients of the awards, is an annual highlight, celebrating South Africans that are advocates of literacy. |