POET, PERFORMER, WRITER, ACTIVIST

Born in Worcester on the 29 August, 1953, the third born of six children and the daughter of Ann and Jacobus Ferrus.
Worcester is a town +- 100 km from Cape Town, wellknown for its vineyards and wine.
Completed BA degree with Industrial Psychology and Sociology as majors in 1993. Started BA Honours (Women’s and Gender Studies) in 1997 and completed in 1999. Currently completing Masters in Women’s and Gender Studies. Thesis topic: “Black Afrikaans women writers: the joy and frustration of the writing process”
Diana belongs to a women’s writers group called WEAVE (Women’s Education & Artistic Voice Expression) and in 2002 their book ink@boilingpoint was published. Her short story, “Sarah will be home, a story of restoration” and her poem, “I’ve come to take you home”, a tribute to Sarah Baartman is included. Diana Ferrus writes in both English and Afrikaans. She is also a founder member of “Bush Poets”, an all women poet group from the University of the Western Cape. “Bush” was the derogatory name given to the institution in the early sixties. Diana proudly adds: "We coined the term!"
Founder member of the Afrikaans Writers Association (Afrikaanse Skrywersvereniging).
Founder member of women’s writers association, “Women in X-chains”.

SAARTJIE BAARTMAN

Click here to read the article about Diana Ferrus's involvement in bringing Saartjie Baartman back to South Africa.
http://www.litnet.co.za/seminaar/saartjie1.asp

Click here to read her poem "I've come to take you home"

Lees Jason Lloyd se artikel oor Saartjie "Sarah Bartmann is vergete"
http://www.litnet.co.za/oopbek/jason04.asp

WOMAN OF THE YEAR FINALIST

ARTS & CULTURE FINALISTS: Mimi Coertse, Diana Ferrus & Tembi Mbobo

ARTICLES & REVIEWS

REVIEWS
Deborah Steinmair skryf die volgende oor Diana Ferrus wat by die Stellenbosch Woordfees 2005 opgetree het:
“Ek kon my boude nie op die gras hou toe Diana Ferrus teen sononder op die verhoog verskyn nie! In my oë is sy so groot soos Maya Angelou, soos Toni Morrison, Mercedes Soza, Cezaria Evora. Sy is geflank deur haar band, tromme, 'n saks, 'n horing. Sy dans en chant haar towerwoorde, sy sing plek-plek. The bones of our ancestors (oor oa Saartjie Baartman) - die bene roep, die bene roep. Mama, check my hoendervleis!”

KLIK HIER OM DIE VOLLE RESENSIE TE LEES
http://www.litnet.co.za/fratsgolf/deborah20.asp

ARTICLES
Zandra Bezuidenhout skryf die volgende oor Diana Ferrus na afloop van die derde Swart Afrikaanse Skrywersimposium:
"Die wortels se “komvandaan” (dankie Diane Ferrus) is ver en wyd, en dis 'n hartstaal wat wragtag nie gaan vrek nie – hy't hopeloos te veel skop. Maar ons moet die ding klein bietjie wyn gee, en al sy sprekers toelaat om dronk te word in die taal, om te kruis en te teel, want so aards en so basies is dit. Elkeen moet “bemagtig” raak, soos hulle van die platforms af sê. Elkeen moet haar stories kan vertel, sing en versies maak, vir almal om te hoor en lees, sonder agter-die-bakhand-giggel oor mekaar se giere en maniere en baie soorte giere. Terg ja, speel ja, maar nie verneder en uitsmyt nie."

KLIK HIER OM ZANDRA BEZUIDENHOUT SE ARTIKEL TE LEES
http://www.litnet.co.za/taaldebat/afrikaans_zandra.asp

KLIK HIER OM OP BOEKINDABA TE LEES OOR AFRIKAANSE SWART SKRYWERSIMPOSIUM
http://www.litnet.co.za/indaba/nelleke_swartskrywers.asp

Joan Hambidge praat oor 'n show wat sy en Diana Ferrus vir besoekende Amerikaanse studente elke jaar hou:
"En, "Die professor en die prikkelpop", wat natuurlik verwys na daardie ou Afrikaanse rolprent, is ’n show wat ek, Diana Ferrus en Dido elke jaar hou vir Amerikaanse besoekende studente wat SA per boot besoek. Die gekose titel is dus nie net ’n lukrake keuse nie, maar stuur alreeds die onderhoud of vertoning met ’n skrywer."

KLIK HIER OM JOAN HAMBIDGE SE ARTIKEL TE LEES
http://www.litnet.co.za/senet/senet.asp?id=28410

DIANA WITH GRADE 12's (ComArt) ELSIESRIVER AREA

In 2004 Diana and these learners worked together to write up stories of senior citizens from the Elsiesriver area. This culminated in the stories being read at a Heritage day celebration at the Elsiesriver Civic centre. Diana assisted by running workshops with
these children on interviewing-and-writing skills.