Study Groups Corner

Dorris Lekgowa* outlines the aims of the ikageng Study Circle

Profile of the Ikageng study Circle (Rustenburg)

The Circle

The Study Circle has five members: four women and one man, all youth. The group meets twice in the first week of the month, on a Wednesday and a Friday.

The group follows up these two meetings with once a week meetings, every Wednesday for the rest of the month. The group focuses on theory and discussions on Wednesdays. The single Friday meeting is dedicated to developing new strategies to get people to read in their own spaces.

The Ikageng study circle sometimes meets with a group of health workers or ‘volunteers’ to encourage them to read. These meetings are usually at times requested by the health volunteers. The health volunteers are mostly women.

Readings

The group has read through the JUBILEE workshop materials on Gender and Financialisation.

They are planning to read the following books written by women:

So Long a Letter – by Mariama Ba (Senegal)

dorris Lekgowa* outlines the aims of the Ikageng study Circle

The group was formed in 2009 after attending a few Khanya College study group seminars. The group started with reading mostly the material from Khanya College. The study circle has developed an interest in African literature written by African women. The members have participated in various Khanya College events such as conferences, book launches and film club sessions.

Aims

The aims of the Ikageng study circle are:

To do away with the high rate of illiteracy amongst women in poor communities, especially in informal settlements and farms.

To highlight the importance of reading for women where ever they are organised.

To build informal libraries in poor communities which will be community led.

So Vast the Prison – by Assia Djebar (Algeria) 

The Map of Love – by Ahdaf Soueif (Egypt) 

Efuru – by Flora Nwapa (Nigeria) 

Changes: A Love Story – by Ama Ata Aidoo (Ghana)

God of Small Things – by Arundhati Roy 

Nervous Conditions – by Tsitsi Dangarembga 

She No Longer Weeps – Tsitsi Dangarembga

Some of these books have been read by individual members and the group has agreed to read them together. Each member of the group will take a turn to lead the study circle discussions