Alba Bouwer
Encyclopedia
Albertha Magdalena Bouwer (16 March 1920 – 5 October 2010) was a South African Afrikaans
-writing journalist and author. She is best known for her series of children's stories about the experiences of a small girl called Alie growing up in the fictional location Rivierplaas in rural Free State
. Late in life she published a novel for adults, Die afdraand van die dag is kil (The close of the day is cold, 1992), about two women in old age.
in Paarl
, and Huguenot University College in Wellington
. Most of her professional life was spent in literary and media circles in and around Cape Town
.
Immediately after graduation Bouwer began work as a school teacher, but she left teaching to become editor of Huishouding, a newly established women's magazine. From 1948 to 1950 she was a radio producer and presenter in the children's service of the South African Broadcasting Corporation
, resigning in 1950 to take up an assistant editorship at the newly founded women's magazine Sarie
, where she remained for thirteen years.
Her first and best known work of fiction, Stories van Rivierplaas, originally appeared in serialized form in Sarie. Like many of her stories, these were semi-autobiographical. She continued to produce stories, translations and compilations into the late 1980s, but gave up her career in journalism upon marriage in 1963.
Bouwer's first husband was Hubert Coetzee (died 1969), a widower with two teenaged children from his previous marriage. Care for her stepchildren became Bouwer's first priority as wife and as widow. In 1975 she remarried with Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr, a widower with five children from his previous marriage, and moved from the Boland to Riversdale
.
Since 1994 she lived in a retirement resort in Somerset West. On 5 October 2010 Alba Bouwer fell into a coma and passed away.
Since 1989 the South African Academy of Science and Arts has presented a triennial Alba Bouwer Prize
for children's literature, named in her honour. The prize has been awarded to the following recipients: Freda Linde (1989), Marietjie de Jongh and Barrie Hough (1992), Corlia Fourie (1995), Philip de Vos (1998), Martie Preller (2001), Leon de Villiers (2003), Jaco Jacobs (2006).
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
-writing journalist and author. She is best known for her series of children's stories about the experiences of a small girl called Alie growing up in the fictional location Rivierplaas in rural Free State
Free State
The Free State is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bloemfontein, which is also South Africa's judicial capital. Its historical origins lie in the Orange Free State Boer republic and later Orange Free State Province. The current borders of the province date from 1994 when the Bantustans...
. Late in life she published a novel for adults, Die afdraand van die dag is kil (The close of the day is cold, 1992), about two women in old age.
Life
Alba Bouwer was herself brought up on a farm in the Free State, and attended La Rochelle Girls' High SchoolLa Rochelle Girls' High School
La Rochelle Girls' High School, in Paarl is one of the oldest girls' schools in South Africa.-History:The school was established in 1860 with 40 girls together with a seminary for young ladies open to the daughters of citizens and farmers in the Paarl district. In 1872, Jan de Villiers became...
in Paarl
Paarl
Paarl is a town with 191,013 inhabitants in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Its the third oldest European settlement in the Republic of South Africa and the largest town in the Cape Winelands. Due to the growth of the Mbekweni township, it is now a de facto urban unit with Wellington...
, and Huguenot University College in Wellington
Wellington, Western Cape
Wellington is a town in the Western Cape Winelands 45 minutes from Cape Town, in South Africa with a population of approximately 58,300. Wellington's economy is centered around agriculture such as wine, table grapes, citrus fruit and a brandy industry. The town is located 75 km north-east of...
. Most of her professional life was spent in literary and media circles in and around Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
.
Immediately after graduation Bouwer began work as a school teacher, but she left teaching to become editor of Huishouding, a newly established women's magazine. From 1948 to 1950 she was a radio producer and presenter in the children's service of the South African Broadcasting Corporation
South African Broadcasting Corporation
The South African Broadcasting Corporation is the state-owned broadcaster in South Africa and provides 18 radio stations as well as 3 television broadcasts to the general public.-Early years:Radio broadcasting began in South Africa in 1923...
, resigning in 1950 to take up an assistant editorship at the newly founded women's magazine Sarie
Sarie
Sarie is a South African women's magazine, written in Afrikaans. It is published by Media24, and is their oldest publication for women, first published in 1949 under the title Sarie Marais....
, where she remained for thirteen years.
Her first and best known work of fiction, Stories van Rivierplaas, originally appeared in serialized form in Sarie. Like many of her stories, these were semi-autobiographical. She continued to produce stories, translations and compilations into the late 1980s, but gave up her career in journalism upon marriage in 1963.
Bouwer's first husband was Hubert Coetzee (died 1969), a widower with two teenaged children from his previous marriage. Care for her stepchildren became Bouwer's first priority as wife and as widow. In 1975 she remarried with Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr, a widower with five children from his previous marriage, and moved from the Boland to Riversdale
Riversdale, Western Cape
Riversdale is a town located on the N2 highway between Cape Town and George on the Agulhas Coastal Plain of the southern Western Cape province of South Africa. It is an agricultural service orientated town, being a hub for shopping and other services for surrounding farming communities, smaller...
.
Since 1994 she lived in a retirement resort in Somerset West. On 5 October 2010 Alba Bouwer fell into a coma and passed away.
Awards and honours
Alba Bouwer was awarded the Scheepers Prize for Children's Literature in 1959 and again in 1965, and the C.P. Hoogenhout Award in 1961, 1971 and 1983.Since 1989 the South African Academy of Science and Arts has presented a triennial Alba Bouwer Prize
Alba Bouwer Prize
The Alba Bouwer Prize is a prize for outstanding children's literature in Afrikaans, awarded triennially by the South African Academy of Science and Arts. Works qualifying for the prize should have been published within the preceding three years, and be intended for under-12s...
for children's literature, named in her honour. The prize has been awarded to the following recipients: Freda Linde (1989), Marietjie de Jongh and Barrie Hough (1992), Corlia Fourie (1995), Philip de Vos (1998), Martie Preller (2001), Leon de Villiers (2003), Jaco Jacobs (2006).
As author
- Stories van Rivierplaas. Cape Town: Nasionale Boekhandel, 1955. Illustrated by Katrine Harries
- Nuwe stories van Rivierplaas. Cape Town: Nasionale Boekhandel, 1956. Illustrated by Katrine Harries
- Abdoltjie: ses verhaaltjies oor 'n Maleiertjie van die ou Kaap. Cape Town: Nasionale Boekhandel, 1958. Illustrated by Katrine Harries
- "Die avonture van die eerste Afrikaanse vrou wat geneesheer geword het", a profile of Petronella van Heerden (1887–1975), the first Afrikaans woman to qualify as a doctor, published in parts in Sarie MaraisSarieSarie is a South African women's magazine, written in Afrikaans. It is published by Media24, and is their oldest publication for women, first published in 1949 under the title Sarie Marais....
, April–July 1960. - Katrientjie van Keerweder. Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1961.
- Stories van Ruyswyck. Cape Town: Nasionale Boekhandel, 1963.
- Stories van Bergplaas. Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1963.
- n Hennetjie met kuikens. Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1971.
- Vlieg, swaeltjie, vlieg ver. Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1983.
- Die afdraand van die dag is kil. Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1992.
- Alba Bouwer-omnibus. Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1995. With the original illustrations by Katrine Harries.
- Reissued 2007 under the title Rivierplaas: Stories van Rivierplaas, Nuwe Stories van Rivierplaas, Stories van Ruyswyck. ISBN 0-624-04531-5
As editor/compiler
- Kom nader: bloemlesing uit die werk van M.E.R. Compiled by Alba Bouwer et al. Cape Town, 1965.
- M.E.R., n Kosbare erfenis: briewe 1916-1975. Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1977. Collected letters of Marie Elisabeth Rothmann (1875-1975), compiled by Alba Bouwer, Anna Rothmann and Rykie van Reenen.
As translator
- Washington IrvingWashington IrvingWashington Irving was an American author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th century. He was best known for his short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle", both of which appear in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. His historical works...
, Rip van Winkel. Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1965. (From English). Illustrated by Katrine Harries - Else Hueck-Dehio, Tippie se liefde. Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1966. (From German)
- Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
, Die leerling-towenaar. 1968. (From German). - A. A. MilneA. A. MilneAlan Alexander Milne was an English author, best known for his books about the teddy bear Winnie-the-Pooh and for various children's poems. Milne was a noted writer, primarily as a playwright, before the huge success of Pooh overshadowed all his previous work.-Biography:A. A...
, Winnie-die-Poeh. Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1985. (From English)
- Reissued 2007. ISBN 0-624-04533-1.
Further reading
- Thomas van der Walt (ed.), Die blink uur van mooi dinge: 'n huldiging van Alba Bouwer. Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1995.
- Lydia Pienaar, Die kinderverhaal as literatuur. Met verwysing na werke deur Freda Linde en Alba Bouwer. [Durban, 1975].
- Elwyn Jenkins, "Nudity, Clothing and Cultural Identity in Some South African Children's Books", English in Africa 30:1 (2003), pp. 87-102.
- Mike Prins, "Reza de Wet herlees Alba Bouwer", Journal of Literary Studies/Tydskrif vir Literatuurwetenskap 12:4 (1996), pp. 487-501.
- Elsa Nolte, "M. E. R. en Alba Bouwer: Kanonisering en herkanonisering", Tydskrif vir Letterkunde 32:4 (1994), pp. 15-35.
- Elsabe Steenberg, "Die gebruik van herhaling in die werke van Alba Bouwer", Tydskrif vir Letterkunde 12:1 (1975), pp. 48–54.