12TH FUNDA MZANTSI CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday, 16 September 2022
12TH FUNDA MZANTSI CHAMPIONSHIP
The National Library of South Africa (NLSA), in conjunction with the Department of Correctional Services and George Municipality is proud to host the 12th Funda Mzantsi Championship (FMC).
FMC is a reading competition for book clubs with the objective of stimulating and encouraging a reading culture among South Africans. The Championship has been held on an annual basis from 2010 until 2019. In 2020, the Competition was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2021, FMC was hosted in a hybrid format. This year, FMC will be held in George, in the Western Cape Province from 3 to 7 October 2022.
In preparation for the Competition, book clubs are required to read selected books from a specific list, including titles from the NLSA’s Reprint of South African Classics project. Furthermore, participants are assessed in four categories – impromptu reading, debating, spelling bee and book reviewing in all official South African languages. The much-acclaimed book “The Yearning” by Mohale Mashigo is expected to be reviewed by participants in this year’s competition.
The National Library of South Africa takes pride in contributing toward Outcome 14 of the National Development Plan which deals with Nation Building and Social Cohesion. Through the Funda Mzantsi Championship, the NLSA brings together minds – both young and old, breaking the racial, gender and social status boundaries, in pursuit of a common goal.
The NLSA’s Executive Director responsible for Core Programmes will officiate the opening ceremony on 3 October and the National Librarian and CEO, Mr Kepi Madumo will grace the closing ceremony on 5 October 2022.
Members of the media are invited to cover the Championship as follows:
| DATE | TIME | ITEM | LANGUAGE/S | VENUE |
| DAY 1 | ||||
| Day 1
3 October |
09H00-12H00
12H00-13H00 |
Impromptu Reading, Spelling-Bee, Debate and Book Review
Opening Ceremony |
English | Eden Church |
| Day2
4 October |
09H-00-16H00 | Impromptu Reading, Spelling-Bee, Debate and Book Review | English | Eden Church |
| CONCURRENT SESSIONS ON DAY 3 AND 4
|
||||
| Day 3 and 4
5 and 6 October |
08H30-16H00 | Impromptu Reading, Spelling-Bee, Debate and Book Review | Sesotho
Setswana Sepedi |
Eden Church |
| Day 3 and 4
5 and 6 October |
08H30-16H00 | Impromptu Reading, Spelling-Bee, Debate and Book Review | Afrikaans
IsiNdebele Xitsonga Tshivenda
|
Conville Community Hall |
| Day 3 and 4
5 to 6 October |
08H30-16H00 | Impromptu Reading, Spelling-Bee, Debate and Book Review | IsiXhosa
IsiZulu Siswati
|
Thembalethu Community Hall |
| DAY 5
|
||||
| Day 5
7 October |
08H30-12H00 | Closing ceremony and announcement of winners | Eden Church | |
ENDS
Issued by the National Library of South Africa
Notes to the Editor
The National Library of South Africa (NLSA) is the custodian and provider of the nation’s key knowledge resources. The NLSA is mandated by the National Library of South Africa Act to collect and preserve published documents and to make them accessible, thereby ensuring that knowledge is preserved for posterity and that information is available to all.