Kwela Books is a South African publishing house founded in

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...

in 1994 as a new imprint of NB Publishers.

1994-2004

In the first ten years it published several books.

Notable publications

* ''Kafka's Curse'' by

Achmat Dangor Achmat Dangor (2 October 1948 – 6 September 2020) was a South African writer, poet, and development professional. His most important works include the novels ''Kafka's Curse'' (1997) and '' Bitter Fruit'' (2001). He was also the author of thre ...

* ''Bitter Fruit'' by

* ''Underground People'' by

Lewis Nkosi Lewis Nkosi (5 December 1936 – 5 September 2010) was a South African writer, who spent 30 years in exile as a consequence of restrictions placed on him and his writing by the Suppression of Communism Act and the Publications and Entertainme ...

* ''The Quiet Violence of Dreams'' by

K. Sello Duiker Kabelo Sello Duiker (13 April 1974 – 19 January 2005) was a South African novelist. His debut novel, ''Thirteen Cents'', won the 2001 Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best First Book, Africa Region. His second novel, ''The Quiet Violence of Drea ...

, 2001 * ''Shark's Egg'' by

Henrietta Rose-Innes Henrietta Rose-Innes (born 14 September 1971) is a South African novelist and short-story writer. She was the 2008 winner of the Caine Prize for African WritingLindesay Irvine"Henrietta Rose-Innes wins £10,000 Caine prize" ''The Guardian'', 8 J ...

, 2000 * ''Vatmaar'' by A.H.M. Scholtz, * ''Confessions of a Gambler'' by Rayda Jacobs, 20XX - winner of

The Sunday Times Fiction Prize The ''Sunday Times'' CNA Literary Awards are awarded annually to South African writers by the South African weekly newspaper the ''Sunday Times (South Africa), Sunday Times''. They comprise the ''Sunday Times'' CNA Literary Award for Non-ficti ...

2004 * ''Ons is nie almal so nie'' by Jeanne Goosen * ''Kleur kom nooit alleen nie'' by

Antjie Krog Antjie Krog (born 23 October 1952) is a South African writer and academic, best known for her Afrikaans poetry, her reporting on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and her 1998 book '' Country of My Skull''. In 2004, she joined the Arts f ...

2004-present

Post 2004 Kwela continued to publish, winning several awards.

Notable publications

* ''Dog Eat Dog'' by Niq Mhlongo, 2004 - winner of the 2005 Mar des Lettras Prize * ''All We Have Left Unsaid'' by Maxine Case, 2006 – winner of 2007

Commonwealth Writers' Prize Commonwealth Foundation presented a number of prizes between 1987 and 2011. The main award was called the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and was composed of two prizes: the Best Book Prize (overall and regional) was awarded from 1987 to 2011; the Best ...

for Best First Book, Africa Region and joint winner of the 2007 Herman Charles Bosman Prize for English Fiction. * ''Behind Every Successful Man'' by

Zukiswa Wanner Zukiswa Wanner (born 1976) is a South African journalist, novelist and editor born in Zambia and now based in Kenya. Since 2006, when she published her first book, her novels have been shortlisted for awards including the South African Literary ...

, 2008 - * ''The Dream in the Next Body'' by

Gabeba Baderoon Gabeba Baderoon (born 21 February 1969) is a South African poet and academic. She is the 2005 recipient of the Daimler Chrysler Award for South African Poetry. She lives and works in Cape Town, South Africa, and Pennsylvania, US, and serves as ...

, 2005 - winner of the 2005 Daimler-Chrysler Prize. * ''The Rowing Lesson'' by

Anne Landsman Anne Landsman (born 14 April 1959) is a novelist. She was born in Worcester, South Africa, the daughter of a country doctor, and is a graduate of the University of Cape Town and Columbia University. Until 2001, she lectured at The New School un ...

, 2008 - winner of

2009. * ''Happiness is a Four-Letter Word'' by Cynthia Jele, 2010 - winner of 2011

for Best First Book, Africa Region and the M-Net Film Prize 2011 at the

M-Net Literary Awards M-Net Literary Awards were a group of South African literary awards, awarded from 1991 to 2013. They were established and sponsored by M-Net (Electronic Media Network), a South African television station. The award was suspended indefinitely a ...

. * ''Homemaking for the Down-at-Heart'' by

Finuala Dowling Finuala Dowling (born June 1962) is a South African poet and writer. Biography The seventh of eight children born to radio broadcasters Eve van der Byl and Paddy Dowling, Finuala Dowling obtained an MA in English from the University of Cape Tow ...

, 2011 - winner of the M-Net Prize for English Fiction 2012. * ''Young Blood'' by

Sifiso Mzobe Sifiso Mzobe is a South African author. Biography Mzobe was born and raised in the Durban township of Umlazi. He attended St Francis College in Mariannhill, then studied Journalism at Damelin Business Campus in Durban. He has worked for commu ...

, 2010 - winner of

2011, the 2010 Herman Charles Bosman Prize for English Fiction, the SALA * ''Room 207'' by

Kgebetli Moele Kgebetli Moele is a South African writer born in Polokwane, South Africa, best known for his novels ''Room 207'', ''UNTITLED'' and ''The Book of the Dead''. Moele's first book, Room 207, was published in 2006 and went on to win first prize for ...

, 2006 - joint winner of the 2007 Herman Charles Bosman Prize for English Fiction and the University of Johannesburg Prize for debut fiction. * ''Die staat teen Anna Bruwer'' by Anchien Troskie, 2012 * ''The Lazarus Effect'' by H. J. Golakai, 2011 - shortlisted for

2012. * ''Moss'' by Mary Watson, 2004 - * ''Siegfreid'' by

Willem Anker Willem Anker (born 1979) is a South African writer who writes in the Afrikaans language. He was born in Citrusdal in 1979. He studied at Stellenbosch University, where he now teaches creative writing. His debut novel, ''Siegfried'', was published ...

, 2007 - winner of * ''Ancient Rites'' by Diale Tlholwe - winner of the SALA * ''Beauty's Gift'' by Sindiwe Magona, 2008 - * ''Small Moving Parts'' by

Sally-Ann Murray Sally-Ann Murray (born 1961) is an author from South Africa. Background Murray was born in 1961 in Durban, South Africa, and attended the Durban Girls' High School. She received her MA and PhD from the University of Natal. Career In 1992 ...

, 2009 - winner of the M-Net Prize for English Fiction 2010

References

External links

* {{official website, http://www.kwela.com Book publishing companies of South Africa