Tafelberg | Our Authors | Hennie Aucamp
Hendrik Christoffel Lourens (Hennie) Aucamp (1934-2014) was a South African writer and poet who gained prominence as an academic, playwright, short story and cabaret writer. (Read an obituary of Hennie Aucamp that appeared in Die Burger.)
He was born January 20 1934 in Dordrecht in the Eastern Cape and grew up on the farm Rust-mijn-ziel in the Jamestown district. He studied at the Universities of Stellenbosch, Leuven (Belgium) and Colombia (New York). He attained the qualifications BA, SOD, MA and DEd. He worked at the Faculty of Education of the University of Stellenbosch for thirty years. He retired in 1994. Aucamp made his prose debut in 1963 with Een somermiddag: landelike sketse en vertellings.
He received several awards for his writing, including: Tafelberg Prize (1970); WA Hofmeyr Prize (together with Chris Barnard, 1974); ATKV Playwright Prize (1980); Hertzog Prize (1982); Fleur du Cap Prize for best South African script of the year (1987); Recht Malan Prize (1997). He has been called the father of literary cabaret in South Africa.
Hennie Aucamp passed away on 20 March 2014.
The writer Margaret Bakkes is Hennie Aucamp’s second cousin. They both grew up in the Stormberge.
Amanda Strydom called her cabaret, ’n Vuur gevang in glas, an “offering of gratitude to Hennie Aucamp” and she often mentions him as her mentor. Aucamp in turn regards Strydom as his muse. He described her in a programme note in January 1997 as “the dream of every cabaret writer: a classically schooled actress who is also an excellent singer”.
Tafelberg Prize (1970) – ’n Bruidsbed vir tant Nonnie
W.A. Hofmeyr Prize (1975) – Hongerblom and Wolwedans
ATKV Drama Prize (1980) – Papawerwyn
Hertzog Prize for prose (1982) – All his prose
Fleur du Cap Prize for best South African Play of the Year (1987) – Blomtyd is Bloeityd
Recht Malan Prize for non-fiction (1997) – Gekaapte tyd
Fleur du Cap Lifetime Award (2004) – For his contribution towards the growth and development of South African theatre Afrikaans Onbeperk Award from the KKNK (2004) ATKVeertjie Award (2004) – His contribution to Afrikaans literature Gustav Preller Medal (2006) – For literary theory
1965 Die hartseerwals (stories and sketches) 1967 Spitsuur
1968 Karnaatjie (travel sketches and essays) 1970 'n Bruidsbed vir tant Nonnie (short stories) 1972 Hongerblom
1973 ’n Baksel in die more (with Margaret Bakkes) 1973 Wolwedans
1986 Wat bly oor van soene? 1989 Kommerkrale
1994 Pluk die dag 1995 Gewis is alles net 'n grap
1996 Rampe in die ruigte (fabels) 1996 Gekaapte tyd (diary) 1997 Allersiele (diary) 1998 Beeltenis verbode
2001 Bly te kenne 2001 In lande ver vandaan
2004 Skuinslig (diary) 2005 Dryfhout
2007 ’n Vreemdeling op deurtog
1977 Die lewe is 'n grenshotel: ryme vir pop en kabaret
1984 Die blou uur
1999 Lyflied – 'n keur uit Aucamp se liedtekste (compiled by Daniel Hugo) 2002 Hittegolf: wulpse sonnette met 'n nawoord
1978 Kort voor lank (essays about short prose) 1984 Woorde wat wond (theoretical work) 1986 Die blote storie
1991 ’n Boekreis ver (commemorative book gedenkboek om Tafelberg-Uitgewers se 40ste bestaansjaar te herdenk) 1992 Windperd: opstelle oor kreatiewe skryfwerk
1987 Dagblad (geselekteerde boekresensies) 1994 Die blote storie II
1980 Met permissie gesê (cabaret) 1986 Slegs vir almal
1987 By Felix en Madame (play) 1988 Sjampanje vir ontbyt (play) 1989 Punt in die wind
1982 Vir vier stemme (bibliophile edition) 1990 Wisselstroom
1998 Borde borde boordevol
1979/90 In een kraal (compiled by Elize Botha) 1987 Brandglas (compiled by Charles Fryer)
1963 Ou Ramon by Jack Schaefer
1983 House Visits: A Collection of Short Stories (compiled and translated by Ian Ferguson)