Submissions Invited on National English Literary Museum Name Change

The National English Literary Museum (NELM) is inviting submissions on its proposed name change. The deadline for submissions is 19 April 2017:

Press release from NELM:

The National English Literary Museum (NELM) is a Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) heritage entity, mandated to preserve and promote English literary wealth of the country. The museum, situated in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape, has been declared a national entity since 1980. In June 2016 NELM took occupation of its new premises at 25A Worcester Street, a R130 million building that remains the first ever green museum in the country.

In respond to the pressing national need for inclusivity and decolonisation, in 2010 the DAC has expressed the aspiration to widen the scope of NELM to include the literature written in African indigenous languages of the country. In anticipation of the proposed change in mandate of museum, the Council of NELM, at its meeting on 2 December 2016, resolved to initiate the process of changing the name of the museum, to a name which does not only speak to the proposed change of mandate but rather reflects the diversity of South African literary traditions. An ad hoc committee was elected to drive the name change process.

On the Council meeting held on 25 March 2017, three names were selected from a list of names submitted by staff and council members. These will form part of the shortlist from which the official name will be selected. These three names are:

• eMzantsi Museum of Literature
• Mother Tongue Literature Museum
• Azanian Museum of Literature

As part of public participation, you are invited to submit your proposed name, or to alternatively endorse one of the already proposed names above.

Send your proposals to the chairperson of the Name Change Ad Hoc Committee, Mr David wa Maahlamela on MaahlamelaT@ukzn.ac.za. Deadline for names submissions is 19 April 2017.

Your Sincerely,

Mr David wa Maahlamela
Chairperson, NELM Council Name Change Committee

Ends