Download PDFOn 28 June 2025, the Authors Are Artists (AAA) movement organised a meeting to discuss their ongoing struggle for recognition as artists. The organisation is advocating for authors to be acknowledged by the Department of Education as legitimate contributors to the arts.
The group plans to organise a march to the Department of Education to voice their grievances. One of their key demands is for educational and creative support for writers, like the support received by actors and musicians.
Members argue that writers are often overlooked, despite being artists in their own right. They believe there is a systemic injustice in how authors are treated by the government, claiming they are silenced and not given the space to express their feelings freely.
“History was written by authors—not just the victims who died in the struggle during apartheid,” said Mr Sthembiso Maseko. “As an author, you write what you feel. You don’t need to be intelligent to write; no one is perfect in writing.”
Maseko emphasised that authors write about the community, the environment, and everything that surrounds them. He lamented the fact that many writers’ works go unpublished—not because of a lack of talent, but because they lack the funds to publish. “Writing is another way of expressing emotion, just like any other form of art,” he added. “It saddens me that others are telling our stories, even though our history and heritage are so rich.”
The AAA movement also expressed solidarity with the global “Free Palestine” cause and shared their deep sorrow over the ongoing situation there.
The group has set a goal: to be officially recognised as artists by the year 2030. They remain optimistic that collective action will help them achieve it. “When people unite around a shared goal, it is meant to be reached,” one member said.
This article was submitted on 01 July 2025. You may republish this article, so long as you credit the authors and Karibu! Online (www.Karibu.org.za), and do not change the text. Please include a link back to the original article.
