429:, "a challenging take on issues of migrancy, as seen through the eyes of a family still haunted by the ghosts of the past". Davids' script was described as "a work of beauty – lyrical, smart, contemporary, questioning" and as "dramatically taut but carves a space for lyricism, with sharp exchanges of dialogue offset by poetic monologues. It is also, by turns, poignant and politically astute; it tackles current affairs head-on without pontificating or compromising the audience's immersion in the world of the play."
236:. In 2020, Davids initiated the organisation's podcast "The Empty Chair", which brings together South African and American writers in conversation about literature and social justice, and by 2023, it was among the top 15 per cent of podcasts listened to globally. In July 2024, Davids stepped down as the organization's president, welcoming Bongani Kona as the incoming new president of PEN South Africa.
173:. It was a devised work using South African poetry, projected photographs, dance and narration to chart the country’s transition from Apartheid to democracy. I would not dare approach anything on that scale today…the audacity of youth! As an adult, when I write about a political landscape, its usually within the context of intimate relationships."
359:
was one of the first theatrical works to emerge in response to 9/11 and remains one of the only plays narrating the lives of
Capetonian Muslim women. Described by Njabulo Ndebele as "Unforgettable... Art of the highest order," it returned to the Baxter in 2018 for its final run starring Quanita
253:
described the story as "an impressive achievement, a triumph of language, storytelling and risk-taking while maintaining a tightly controlled narrative about women who rebel. It embodies the spirit of the Caine Prize, which is to celebrate the richness and diversity of short stories by
African
165:. She has recalled: "As a child, performance and reading were my preferred modes of imaginative play. ...I staged lots of plays with my sister and the neighbourhood kids. In my final year of high school, in 1995, I took my first play to the
355:) and are high-school set-works throughout South Africa. They are understood within these contexts as opening up unexpected spaces in which the lives of South African — specifically Muslim Capetonian — women, assume the central focus.
385:, about slavery, the Cape, the haunted city, and the now, was staged at the Main Festival at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival in 2017. Directed by Jay Pather, it featured Denise Newman, Faniswa Yisa, Shaun Oelf and Buhle Ngaba.
160:
Davids was born in 1977 in Cape Town, South Africa, where she grew up. She was educated first at
Zonnebloem Girls School – one of the oldest, most storied schools in the Cape, located at the edge of District Six – and later at
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133:, 1977) is a South African playwright, novelist, and author of short stories and screenplays. Her work has been published, produced, and performed in Southern Africa, Europe, and the United States. She was a
269:
Davids' work is disseminated through a variety of forms (journal articles, live performances, published play texts, film documentaries, a novel) to a range of audiences (commercial, academic/educational)
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in 2017. The play went on to win in five categories: Best New South
African Play (Nadia Davids), Best Director (Jay Pather), Best Ensemble, Best Actress (Faniswa Yisa) and Best Lighting Design (Wilhelm
397:; it was later nominated for seven Fleur du Cap Theatre awards and won five, including Best New South African Play, Best Director, Best Ensemble, Best Actress and Best Lighting Design. An extract of
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284:(2008–11), a play exploring feminist biography, the historiography of District Six, and archival storytelling through the theatrical imagining of anti-apartheid activist
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era in South Africa, through the lens of performance and a pioneering reading of
Marianne Hirsch's theory of "post memory" onto the landscape of District Six.
654:"[The JRB Daily] 'A triumph of language, storytelling and risk-taking'—South African writer Nadia Davids wins 2024 Caine Prize for African Writing"
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in
September 2009. In 2018, she joined the University of Cape Town's English Department as an associate professor where she lectured until June 2022.
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184:(UCT) for her thesis entitled "Inherited Memories; Performing the Archive", which explored the history, memory and trauma of forced removals from
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367:, was published in April 2014 by Random House Struik-Umuzi, and in December 2014 was announced as one of three books shortlisted for the
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sold out at
Grahamstown, went on to a sold-out run at Hiddingh Hall in Cape Town, and played at the 2017 Afrovibes Festival in Holland.
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for her short story "Bridling", described by the chair of judges as a "triumph of language, storytelling and risk-taking".
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Winner of the
Rosalie van der Gught Prize at the Fleur de Cap Awards in the category of Best New Director in 2004 for
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145:. In 2017, Davids was elected president of PEN South Africa, serving in the role until July 2024.
607:"Farewell Letter from PEN South Africa President Nadia Davids and Vice President Yewande Omotoso"
548:"Assoc. Prof. Nadia Davids' play What Remains received 5 awards at the 2018 Fleur du Cap awards"
315:), and have been staged internationally (in Africa, Europe, the United States at venues such as
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for her short story "Safe Home" in 2006, and in 2009 she was placed third for "The Visit"
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In July 2017, Davids was elected president of PEN South Africa, taking over tenure from
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writers. That is to say, to challenge the single story of
African literature."
801:"Nadia Davids and Members of the Board Thank Margie Orford | PEN South Africa"
633:"Nadia Davids wins Caine short story prize for 'triumph of language' Bridling"
452:
335:). The plays are studied at a range of universities (University of Cape Town,
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1084:"'Hold Still' is a provocative new drama by esteemed playwright Nadia Davids"
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907:"South Africa's Nadia Davids Wins the 2024 Caine Prize for African Writing!"
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130:
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Finalist in the South Africa Pen Award adjudicated by Nobel Prize laureate
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She took up a full-time lecturing position in the Drama
Department at the
1217:'At Her Feet' by Nadia Davids, Southbank Centre London, 3–5 October 2012"
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And Wrote My Story Anyway: Black South African women's novels as feminism
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for her research on Prestwich Place, a slave-burial ground in Cape Town
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She was one of 10 playwrights participating in the New York-based
946:"Umuzi Acquires Acclaimed Playwright Nadia Davids’ Debut Novel,
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On 17 September 2024, Davids was announced as the winner of the
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Both works have garnered theatre awards and nominations (five
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Playwright, novelist, author of short stories and screenplays
978:"The Etisalat Prize is a real force for good – Nadia Davids"
853:"Nadia Davids wins the 2024 Caine Prize for African Writing"
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for her short story "Bridling", originally published in the
1028:"Remembering a past from 'What Remains' | Cape Times"
994:"The 2015 Sunday Times Barry Ronge Fiction Prize Longlist"
746:"Zoe Wicomb and the Translocal: Scotland and South Africa"
1234:"Awards and Prizes - English Academy of Southern Africa"
681:"Nadia Davids brings Cissie home to the Baxter Theatre"
780:"Dr Nadia Davids, PhD (Cape Town), Lecturer in Drama"
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between 2000 and 2005, and was a visiting scholar at
1140:"'A brutal mirror image to left-liberal hypocrisy'"
770:, Queen Mary University of London, 1 November 2013.
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1045:"New Daughters of Africa edited by Margaret Busby"
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1058:"South Africa, Shakespeare In... - BBC Radio 4"
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1318:South African women dramatists and playwrights
466:, including "Best New South African Play" for
292:first played at the Arena Theatre in 2002 and
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414:In May 2016, Davids hosted a BBC podcast on
393:was hailed as a "beautiful masterpiece" in
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425:in Cape Town staged her most recent play,
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296:debuted at the National Arts Festival in
1303:South African dramatists and playwrights
1288:21st-century South African women writers
748:(13 September 2012), University of York.
554:. University of Cape Town. 19 March 2018
1328:South African women short story writers
1278:21st-century dramatists and playwrights
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729:
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514:
761:"Leverhulme Success for our Academics"
652:Malec, Jennifer (17 September 2024).
7:
1283:21st-century South African novelists
1138:Thurman, Chris (18 November 2022).
631:Creamer, Ella (17 September 2024).
371:. The novel was longlisted for the
1110:Rutter, Karen (15 November 2022).
1047:, PEN South Africa, 6 August 2019.
905:Noeske, Blue (17 September 2024).
851:Heloise Wood (17 September 2024).
789:, Queen Mary University of London.
378:and shortlisted for the UJ Prize.
329:Grahamstown National Arts Festival
14:
1313:South African short story writers
838:"PEN SA Podcast: The Empty Chair"
288:'s life, serve as good examples.
222:'s Playwrights' Lab for 2008–10.
1195:. PEN South Africa. 9 April 2009
1193:"New Writing from Africa (2009)"
1082:Hoek, Sarah (16 November 2022).
968:, Etisalat Prize for Literature.
1298:Philip Leverhulme Prize winners
1026:Berry, Orielle (30 June 2017).
609:. PEN South Africa. 9 July 2024
503:Caine Prize for African Writing
497:What Remains: A Play in One Act
241:Caine Prize for African Writing
227:Queen Mary University of London
150:Caine Prize for African Writing
1333:University of Cape Town alumni
1:
1323:South African women novelists
369:Etisalat Prize for Literature
249:in 2023. The chair of judges
176:In June 2008, she received a
659:Johannesburg Review of Books
879:Davids, Nadia (Fall 2023).
305:Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards
143:Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards
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966:"2014 Shortlist Announced"
736:, Women's Project Theater.
526:. NYU Press. p. 173.
257:Davids currently lives in
799:LindsayC (31 July 2017).
685:LitNet-argief (2006–2012)
522:Boswell, Barbara (2020).
137:winner in 2013. Her play
55:Zonnebloem Girls School;
552:English Literary Studies
474:Philip Leverhulme Prize
408:New Daughters of Africa
220:Women's Project Theater
213:Philip Leverhulme Prize
182:University of Cape Town
135:Philip Leverhulme Prize
67:University of Cape Town
1338:Writers from Cape Town
381:Her most recent play,
167:National Arts Festival
1308:South African Muslims
1258:Nadia Davids' website
1112:"'HOLD STILL REVIEW'"
948:An Imperfect Blessing
493:Olive Schreiner Prize
365:An Imperfect Blessing
363:Davids' first novel,
349:University of Warwick
331:, Afrovibes, and the
211:(2004–05). She won a
97:Olive Schreiner Prize
805:pensouthafrica.co.za
785:30 July 2017 at the
766:4 March 2016 at the
479:Nominated for seven
462:Nominated for three
148:Davids won the 2024
984:, 4 September 2015.
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481:Fleur du Cap Awards
464:Fleur du Cap Awards
341:New York University
337:Stanford University
209:New York University
163:St Cyprian's School
57:St Cyprian's School
1223:, 11 October 2012.
935:", Baxter Theatre.
582:. 14 February 2022
451:Nominated for the
405:'s 2019 anthology
180:in drama from the
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418:in South Africa.
201:Mellon Fellowship
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246:Georgia Review
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116:.nadiadavids
87:What Remains
86:
82:Notable work
25:Nadia Davids
18:
1273:1977 births
1095:20 November
734:Playwrights
690:20 November
488:Disbergan).
457:At Her Feet
440:At her Feet
416:Shakespeare
401:appears in
357:At Her Feet
298:Grahamstown
290:At Her Feet
286:Cissie Gool
274:At Her Feet
259:Los Angeles
207:(2001) and
205:UC Berkeley
192:during the
171:Grahamstown
102:Caine Prize
44:Nationality
1267:Categories
1014:Books Live
998:Books Live
954:Books Live
881:"Bridling"
510:References
453:Noma Award
427:Hold Still
395:Cape Times
188:under the
1151:3 January
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1067:3 January
982:Sabi News
810:3 January
215:in 2013.
194:Apartheid
156:Biography
141:won five
131:Cape Town
129:(born in
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783:Archived
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1199:6 March
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1179:2023
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1125:2023
1097:2022
1069:2018
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528:ISBN
483:for
351:and
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309:Noma
118:.com
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