Alba Bouwer facts for kids

Albertha Magdalena Bouwer (born March 16, 1920 – died October 5, 2010) was a South African writer and journalist. She wrote in Afrikaans, one of South Africa's languages. She is best known for her popular children's stories. These stories are about a little girl named Alie. Alie grows up on a fictional farm called Rivierplaas in the countryside of the Free State. Later in her life, Alba Bouwer also wrote a novel for adults. It was called Die afdraand van die dag is kil, which means "The close of the day is cold."

About Alba Bouwer's Life

Alba Bouwer grew up on a farm in the Free State, just like the characters in her books. She went to La Rochelle Girls' High School in Paarl. After that, she studied at Huguenot University College in Wellington. Most of her working life was spent in and around Cape Town. She was involved with books, newspapers, and radio.

Her Career and Writing

After finishing college, Alba Bouwer first worked as a school teacher. But she soon changed careers. She became the editor of a new magazine for women called Huishouding.

From 1948 to 1950, she worked at the South African Broadcasting Corporation. She was a producer and presenter for children's radio shows. In 1950, she left to become an assistant editor at another new women's magazine, Sarie. She worked there for thirteen years.

Her most famous children's book, Stories van Rivierplaas, first appeared in Sarie magazine. It was published in parts, like a series. Many of her stories were based on her own life experiences. She continued to write stories, translate books, and put together collections of writings until the late 1980s. In 1963, she got married and stopped working as a journalist.

Family Life

Alba Bouwer's first husband was Hubert Coetzee. He passed away in 1969. He had two teenage children from his previous marriage. Alba took care of her stepchildren, and they became her main focus. In 1975, she married again to Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr. He had five children from his first marriage. After this marriage, she moved from the Cape Winelands area to Riversdale.

Her Later Years and Passing

From 1994 onwards, Alba Bouwer lived in a retirement community. This community was in Somerset West. On October 5, 2010, she fell into a coma and passed away.

Awards and Special Honours

Alba Bouwer received many awards for her writing. She won the Scheepers Prize for Children's Literature twice. She received it in 1959 and again in 1965. She also won the C.P. Hoogenhout Award three times. These wins were in 1961, 1971, and 1983.

Since 1989, a special award has been named after her. The South African Academy of Science and Arts gives out the Alba Bouwer Prize every three years. This prize is given to excellent children's literature.