Matt Damon revealed that his double in the film 'Odyssey' was a woman

The long-awaited return of the Indie Authors Rise Up Festival will take place in the Helderberg region in August. The event will gather over 70 local writers and will run from August 14 to 23 in the Somerset West and Strand areas.

Festival Format and Inspiration

The festival, currently in its fourth year, was inspired by the innovative spirit of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It evolved from the Fringe Fireside Chats 2023 format, emphasizing open access so that authors can interact directly with their audience.

Organizers stressed that this is the only open-access festival for self-publishing authors. The unique format allows any writer to build an audience and host their own events, making the space attractive to creative people of all walks of life.

Program and Participants

This year's program will be rich with personal stories and local flavor. Among the participants is June Mtimkulu, a homemaker who has become an author of a published cookbook, demonstrating the festival's commitment to supporting self-published authors. Specifically, Gloria Arends will conduct a memoir session at Morgenster Estate, and Helderberg Village Word Birds will present a joint book.

Panel discussions are also planned, focusing on the inspiring stories of authors aged 70 and 80 who continue to make significant contributions to South African literary life. In addition to local talents, recognized authors such as Katie Donald, a multiple publisher and European award winner, and Shiloh Nunn, who will discuss themes of ghosts and folklore, will be guests.

Genre Diversity and Learning

The genres at the festival will be very diverse: from science fiction panels at Flagstone Winery to discussions on academic self-publishing at Imibala Café. A special panel for Christian authors, organized by Sister K Publishers, will also take place at Imibala Café.

For readers wishing to write their own books, the event serves as a practical learning camp. Attendees can connect with writing mentors and independent publishing service providers, including specialists in printing, marketing, typesetting, and cover design.

Specialized workshops will cover the technical and legal aspects of contemporary writing, including cybercrime and the growing role of artificial intelligence in publishing. The intellectual property law firm Spoor and Fisher will hold a legal consultation session for writers, artists, and other creative individuals. The event will feature the official launch of the book Copyright for Writers, prepared by legal expert Owen Dean and the festival organizer, while the academic publisher Juta will release a public guide.

Significance for Local Publishing

The festival offers readers more than just a series of book presentations; it proves that traditional industry gatekeepers are no longer necessary for disseminating compelling narratives. By placing homemakers, retirees, and debutantes on the same stage as established professionals, the event ensures that local stories finally reach local readers.

Organizers invite visitors to attend the festival to learn about the publishing business and urge them to save the dates for the 2027 festival. Events will take place at several venues, including Flagstone and Morgenster wineries, Imibala Café, Sage and Thyme, Cafe 1865, and the Somerset West Library. Tickets can be purchased online via Quicket or directly at Imibala Café.

Veteran actor Seputla Sebogodi, known for his portrayal of Kenneth Mashaba in the series 'Generations', was honored at a memorial service held on Thursday at the South Africa State Theatre in Pretoria. Following this celebration, he is scheduled to be buried on Saturday.

Почтение памяти артиста

Family, friends, colleagues, and admirers gathered at the South African State Theatre to pay tribute to the veteran actor, musician, and cultural figure, Seputla Sebogodi, celebrating a life devoted to the arts. The event was broadcast live on South African State Theatre TV and attracted prominent figures from the South African entertainment sector, who acknowledged his multi-decade career spanning theatre, television, and film.

Тributes и воспоминания

The venue was decorated with white drapery, floral arrangements, lit candles, and four large banners featuring Sebogodi's image, setting a fitting scene for an afternoon filled with music, storytelling, and deep reflection. Veteran actor Patrick Bokaba offered a deeply personal tribute, recounting memories of growing up with Sebogodi in Atteridgeville. Bokaba described their long-standing friendship, forged through shared experiences, resilience, humor, and a mutual love for narrative, accompanied on stage by veteran actor Jerry Mofokeng.

Several attendees commented on Sebogodi's final appearance at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda, suggesting it felt like an unintentional farewell to the audience while engaging in his favorite activity. Actor Sello Maake kaNcube shared recollections of collaborating with Sebogodi on the television drama “Bophelo ke Semphekgo”, describing him as a generous and disciplined professional.

Музыка и призывы

Music played a central role in the memorial. Billy Nchabeleng and his band provided moving musical performances that prompted attendees to sing along, while Jerry Mofokeng and Sanku blended music with humor, injecting moments of levity amidst the sorrow. Representing the Sebogodi family, Peter Makwela spoke in Sepedi, urging his son, Thapelo, to carry forward his father's artistic legacy. He also disclosed that Sebogodi had entrusted his children with organizing his funeral.

Dr Xolani Norman paid homage to Sebogodi as both an artist and a principled individual, noting that he valued women and believed in marriage rather than casual dating. Norman concluded his address with a poignant trumpet tribute that caused the theatre to fall silent. Veteran actress Motshabi Tyelele used the platform to advocate for better protection and increased care for artists, calling for the industry to continue advocating for fair royalties and improved working conditions.

Наследие и завершение

National treasure Vusi Mahlasela offered a heartfelt musical tribute, reflecting on joint projects they had hoped to realize. Mahlasela stated, “This man did it all, but we were still expecting more.” Further celebrations included performances by Zodwa Mabhena, Tlokwe Sehume, and Midleko, alongside the projection of archival footage showcasing Sebogodi's distinguished career. The memorial service concluded with a closing prayer led by Josias Dos Moleele.

As participants left the South Africa State Theatre, a unifying sentiment remained: although Seputla Sebogodi's voice was silenced, his significant contribution to South African theatre, television, and the safeguarding of the nation's cultural heritage will continue to inspire future generations of performers and audiences. He is set to be interred in Polokwane on Saturday.

Researchers working on Bronze Age archaeological sites in Uzbekistan have established that local communities engaged in sericulture significantly earlier than previously assumed. Cocoon remnants of silkworms were discovered, which underwent radiocarbon dating and date back to the period of approximately 1940–1765 BCE.

Confirmation of Findings

These data are further supported by finds at three monuments dating to the late III to mid-II millennium BCE. Archaeologists discovered charcoal derived from white mulberry. The results of this study were published in the scientific journal Science Advances.

History of Sericulture

Sericulture is an ancient agricultural practice requiring the deliberate breeding of silkworms (Bombyx mori). The larvae of these insects pupate, forming cocoons, which are then collected and processed to obtain silk threads. According to modern scientific understanding, this industry originated in Neolithic cultures of China, where early humans allegedly domesticated wild mulberry silkworms (B. mandarina) approximately between 8500 and 5000 BCE. The earliest written mentions of silk use date back to the Shang Dynasty (1560 or 1554 – 1046 BCE).

New Discoveries in Central Asia

It was previously believed that sericulture in Central Asia began only after the active development of the Silk Road, around the 2nd century BCE. However, Zhou Xinying from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and his colleagues working in Germany, China, the USA, and Uzbekistan presented the results of excavations conducted between 2017 and 2019. These excavations were carried out at three Bronze Age sites located in southern Uzbekistan, in the Syr Darya river valley.

Site Analysis

The researchers focused on three settlements of the Sapallian culture, which is part of the Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex (or Oxus civilization). The cultural layers of these settlements—Sapalli-Tepe (Sapallitepa), Jarkutan, and Molali—span the period from the late III to the mid-II millennium BCE. The key discovery was made while studying materials from Sapalli-Tepe, where three ancient silkworm cocoons were found. A direct radiocarbon date was obtained for one of them—approximately 1940–1765 BCE.

Scientific Conclusions

Subsequent proteomic analysis of these cocoons confirmed that they belonged to silkworms. Protein analysis showed that they corresponded to domesticated silkworms, although morphologically they strongly resemble wild forms, which is likely explained by the variability of early domesticated species. The authors concluded that sericulture appeared in Central Asia 1500–2000 years earlier than previously thought.

Additional Evidence

In addition to insect remains, archaeologists discovered other evidence of the Oxus civilization's engagement in sericulture. Numerous samples of charcoal extracted from the three settlements were studied. Part of these findings consisted of charred mulberry wood (Morus sp.), presumably white mulberry (M. alba), whose leaves were used to feed silkworm larvae.

Comparison with East Asia

Historical traditions of using silkworm cocoons in East Asia are illustrated in works of art. For example, Chinese researchers working in Shanxi province discovered a miniature stone artifact over five thousand years old depicting a silkworm pupa.

Other Archaeological Finds

As part of other research conducted at the Roman fort of Ambleside in northwest England, archaeologists discovered seven lead sling bullets, adding them to 23 previously found similar artifacts. These finds, described in the journal Britannia, suggest that the fort defenders apparently repelled enemy attacks.