THE DALRO CAN THEMBA MERIT AWARD
The Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Organisation (DALRO), together with Wits University Press and The Market Theatre in partnership with the University of KwaZulu-Natal Centre for Creative Arts are proud to present the inaugural DALRO Can Themba Merit Award.
Honouring Can Themba’s Legacy
A legacy of storytelling excellence
Can Themba, a graduate of Fort Hare University, made his mark in the literary world by winning a short story competition with his iconic piece, ‘Mob Passion’, published in the then-renowned Drum magazine. Reflecting on his achievement, Themba once said,
“I feel inspired to go on writing and writing, until one day, perhaps, I’ll be a really famous author.”
DALRO Can Themba Merit Award
The DALRO Can Themba Merit Award is looking for South African short stories that are authentic, engaging, entertaining and which resonate with the dynamic pulse of South Africa’s heartbeat.
The characters, plots and locations should inspire, challenge or provoke the reader while providing entertaining or engaging insights into South African life.
The DALRO Can Themba Merit Award will run on a two-year developmental cycle. 2025 will focus on the literary component, mentorship, story refinement, and publication, and 2026 will focus on the dramatic adaptation of the award-winning short story into a stage play.
By creating cross-disciplinary creativity and supporting emerging talent, the DALRO Can Themba Merit Award ensures that South African storytelling thrives, on the page, on stage and beyond, reflecting Can Themba’s journey.
For further information please refer to the DALRO website for the Submission Rules and Guidelines as well as the Selection process, prizes, awards and recognition: https://dalro.co.za/CTMA
