Mind-Altering Books webinar: 7 September 2020

The Mind-Altering Books webinar was part of a series of webinars hosted by the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Department of Library Services (DLS). The webinar was organized in commemoration of South African Book Week from 2-8 September 2020.

During the Humanities Faculty’s Centenary celebrations which took place a year ago, the Department of English collaborated with the DLS to present the first Mind-Altering Books event. This took place in the Merensky 2 auditorium, also in September, to coincide with National Book Week. The event was so well-received that the decision was made to make it an annual one; the second annual event was held on 7 September 2020.

To market the webinar, a Match the Brain competition was run, inviting entrants to guess which authors would speak about which books. Protea Boekwinkel generously donated three online book vouchers as prizes and the winners were announced immediately after the webinar.

The Vice-Chancellor of UP, Professor Tawana Kupe, expressed his interest in being a speaker at the event, and true to his word, agreed to be the first of this year’s four speakers, sharing with the audience a book that had a profound impact on him. Professor Kupe’s choice was God’s Bits of Wood by Ousmane Sembene, a Senegalese author and filmmaker. It is an account of a railway strike that took place in the 1940s and the impact it had on the lives of those who had to endure it. He said that one of the reasons he chose this book was for its portrayal of the daily lives of those affected by colonialism.

The second speaker, Professor Elsabe Schoeman (Dean of the Law Faculty), shared her most mind-altering book, My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. In her capacity as the first female Dean of the UP Law Faculty, Schoeman chose this novel for its strong female characters whose lives and friendships are portrayed in the popular Neapolitan Novels series, of which My Brilliant Friend is the first.

Professor Fraser McNeill, the third speaker, chose Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream by Hunter S Thompson. The novel employs what has become known as “Gonzo journalism”, a subjective combination of fact and fiction. As a professor of Anthropology, McNeill finds it fascinating and recommends that his students of ethnography read it.

The fourth and final speaker was published author from the department of English, Dr Nedine Moonsamy, whose interests lie in Afro fiction and Sci-Fi. She chose The Palm Wine Drinkard, is an early example of African fantasy writing by Amos Tutuola. This quest tale has, in part, been met with contempt, having been written in a modified English or Pidgin English. It has emerged as one of the most important texts in the African literary canon.

A large number of attendees logged in on the day, indicating once again that there is substantial interest in books and reading on campus. The webinar was recorded and the link shared, based on requests received beforehand.

In the weeks prior to the webinar and during the weeks following the webinar, the DLS circulated a short online survey link in which respondents could share their most “mind altering” book titles, with a view to possibly purchase some of them for the library collection.

The event would not have been possible without the collaboration of colleagues from various DLS units, the Humanities faculty, various UP Marketing and Communication units, Protea Boekwinkel and the Education Innovation Department. The DLS staff hope to continue organising this and other events in future that focus on reading!