Diana Ferrus: POET, PERFORMER, WRITER, ACTIVIST

About Me

Location: Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Diana Ferrus works as an administrator at the University of Western Cape. She is interested in recording the stories of black Afrikaans women, and wants to publish an anthology of short stories. This is after she did extensive research about black Afrikaans women writers. Diana is wellknown for her poem about the Khoisan woman Sarah Baartman whose remains were on display in Paris until 1986. In 2002 Diana read her poem for Sarah Baartman at the handing over of the remains to the South African government. "Iv'e come to take you home, home! Remember the veld, the lush green grass beneath the big oak trees, the air is cool there". This poem will be the title poem of her English poetry collection due for publication in August 2010.

Friday, November 11, 2005

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”.

1 Comments:

Unknown said...: One of my facebook friends shared a link about Mam'Sara and as I was reading through it, it remembered that I once was part of a drama group of girls from UWC that you asked to recite the poem for it to appeal to a wide audience. This was filmed by a guy called Khululekile Banzi, I was wondering if you have a copy of that video. Would love to have a copy of it as a reminder of my little contribution ro our history. My email adress: jimmy.mntwapi@gmail.com . Thanks a lot and do take care :); 2:09 PM