Rapport Names the 100 Best Afrikaans Books of the Century

This year marks a big moment for Afrikaans. It’s been a hundred years since the language was officially recognised alongside English in the Union of South Africa.

To celebrate, Rapport put together a ranking of the 100 best Afrikaans books from the past century — a project that gives readers a full picture of the language’s literary journey.

The list has something for everyone who has ever enjoyed Afrikaans books. There are classics that have been studied, debated, and loved for generations alongside newer works that show how the language keeps breathing, shifting, and finding new corners to fill.

It’s heartwarming to see the works of authors writing in Kaaps taking up space in the list. For years, Kaaps sat outside the world of printed literature. It was seen as gammattaal or kombuistaal — a way of talking, not writing.

Adam Small was one of the first to show that Kaaps belonged in Afrikaans literature. His work gave dignity and meaning to the way ordinary people spoke and lived.

Small’s influence opened the door for others, and today his legacy can be seen clearly in the ranking. Writers like Ronelda Kamfer, Nathan Trantraal, and Charmaine Afrika are carrying Kaaps forward. 

That says plenty about where Afrikaans finds itself at a hundred years old — old roots, strong branches.

Of course, some of the Afrikaans books on the list are hard to find. A few have been out of print for years, tucked away in the hands of collectors who guard them like treasure. That gives the ranking an extra layer of nostalgia.

The judging panel of the best Afrikaans books consisted of Dr. Alfred Schaffer, André le Roux, Prof. Andries Visagie, Annie Olivier, Prof. Antjie Krog, Bibi Slippers, Prof. Chris van der Merwe, Darryl David, Dr. Donovan Lawrence and UWC’s Department of Afrikaans and Netherlands, Dr. Stefan van Zyl, Eben Venter, Elna van der Merwe, Eloise Wessels, Erika Oosthuysen, Erns Grundling, Etienne Bloemhof, Gerda Taljaard, Heinz Mödler, Hettie Scholtz, Izak de Vries, Jo Prins, Prof. Joan Hambidge, Johan Myburg, Johan van Zyl, John Miles, Kerneels Breytenbach, Kirby van der Merwe, Loftus Marais, Louis Esterhuizen, Louis Gaigher, Prof. Louise Viljoen, Marita van der Vyver, MC Botha, Prof. Mercia Coetzee, Murray la Vita, Nathan Trantraal, Phyllis Green, the Rondebosch lees- en studiekring, Prof. Sonja Loots, Stefaans Coetzee, Tertius Kapp, Trisa Hugo, Valda Jansen, Prof. Willem Anker and Prof. Willie Burger. The panel was brought together by convenors Andries Gouws and Dawie Boonzaaier.

Rapport’s 100 Best Afrikaans Books

1. Agaat by Marlene van Niekerk (2004)
2. Sewe dae by die Silbersteins by Etienne Leroux (1962)
3. Triomf by Marlene van Niekerk (1994)
4. Die swerfjare van Poppie Nongena by Elsa Joubert (1978)
5. Toorberg by Etienne van Heerden (1986)
6. Hierdie lewe by Karel Schoeman (1993)
7. Die Kremetartekspedisie by Wilma Stockenström (1981)
8. Fees van die ongenooides by P.G. du Plessis (2008)
9. ’n Ander land by Karel Schoeman (1984)
10. Magersfontein, o Magersfontein! by Etienne Leroux (1976)
11. Buys by Willem Anker (2014)
12. Eilande by Dan Sleigh (2002)
13. Ek stamel ek sterwe by Eben Venter (1996)
14. Ons is nie almal so nie by Jeanne Goosen (1990)
15. Niggie by Ingrid Winterbach (2002)
16. Kroniek van Perdepoort by Anna M. Louw (1975)
17. Die uur van die engel by Karel Schoeman (1995)
18. Die swye van Mario Salviati by Etienne van Heerden (2000)
19. Van vaders en vlugtelinge by S.J. Naudé (2023)
20. Kroniek uit die doofpot by John Miles (1991)
21. Bart Nel by J. van Melle (1936)
22. Vatmaar by A.H.M. Scholtz (1995)
23. Mahala by Chris Barnard (1971)
24. Die boek van toeval en toeverlaat by Ingrid Winterbach (2006)
25. Op soek na generaal Mannetjies Mentz by Christoffel Coetzee (1998)
26. Kringe in ’n bos by Dalene Matthee (1984)
27. Fiela se kind by Dalene Matthee (1985)
28. Ons wag op die kaptein by Elsa Joubert (1963)
29. Abjater wat so lag by Wilma Stockenström (1991)
30. Kompoun by Ronelda Kamfer (2021)
31. Griet skryf ’n sprokie by Marita van der Vyver (1992)
32. Kennis van die aand by André P. Brink (1973)
33. Verliesfontein by Karel Schoeman (1998)
34. Decima by Eben Venter (2023)
35. Valsrivier by Dominique Botha (2013)
36. Die reise van Isobelle by Elsa Joubert (1995)
37. Op ’n eiland by Karel Schoeman (1975)
38. Afskeid en vertrek by Karel Schoeman (1990)
39. Kamphoer by Francois Smith (2014)
40. Koors by Deon Meyer (2016)
41. Die derde spoel by S.J. Naudé (2017)
42. Duiwelskloof by André P. Brink (1998)
43. Sy kom met die sekelmaan by Hettie Smit (1937)
44. Horrelpoot by Eben Venter (2006)
45. Huilboek by Ryk Hattingh (2016)
46. Na die geliefde land by Karel Schoeman (1972)
47. Voorouer. Pelgrim. Berg. by Ingrid Winterbach (2021)
48. Houd-den-Bek by André P. Brink (1982)
49. Die Dao van Daan van der Walt by Lodewyk G. du Plessis (2018)
50. Spertyd by Elsa Joubert (2017)
51. Memorandum by Marlene van Niekerk (2006)
52. Gebeente by Etienne van Heerden (2023)
53. By fakkellig by Karel Schoeman (1979)
54. ’n Oomblik in die wind by André P. Brink (1975)
55. Die ambassadeur by André P. Brink (1963)
56. Die aanspraak van lewende wesens by Ingrid Winterbach (2012)
57. ’n Droë wit seisoen by André P. Brink (1979)
58. Een vir Azazel by Etienne Leroux (1964)
59. Onrus op Steynshoop by Ingrid Winterbach (2024)
60. Skepsel by Willem Anker (2020)
61. Eugene by Kirby van der Merwe (2022)
62. Amma by Charmaine Africa (2024)
63. Verkenning by Karel Schoeman (1996)
64. Die Jakkalsjagter by Alexander Strachan (1990)
65. Karolina Ferreira by Lettie Viljoen/Ingrid Winterbach (1993)
66. 30 Nagte in Amsterdam by Etienne van Heerden (2011)
67. Die reuk van appels by Mark Behr (1993)
68. Die onsigbare by P.J.O. Jonker (2024)
69. ’n Duisend stories oor Johannesburg by Harry Kalmer (2014)
70. Die son struikel by Dolf van Niekerk (1960)
71. 18-44 by Etienne Leroux (1967)
72. Die uurwerk kantel by Marié Heese (1976)
73. Sirkusboere by Sonja Loots (2011)
74. Laat vrugte by C.M. van den Heever (1939)
75. Somer by C.M. van den Heever (1935)
76. Louoond by Jeanne Goosen (1987)
77. Bidsprinkaan by André P. Brink (2005)
78. Loeloeraai by C.J. Langenhoven (1923)
79. Die troebel tyd by Ingrid Winterbach (2018)
80. Onder ’n bloedrooi hemel by Annemarié van Niekerk (2023)
81. Inteendeel by André P. Brink (1993)
82. Die ongelooflike onskuld van Dirkie Verwey by Charl-Pierre Naudé (2018)
83. ’n Hart is so groot soos ’n vuis by P.P. Fourie (2021)
84. Plaasmoord by Karin Brynard (2009)
85. Moerbeibos by Dalene Matthee (1987)
86. Ek wens, ek wens by Zirk van den Berg (2019)
87. Dis ek, Anna by Anchien Troskie (2004)
88. Klaaglied vir Koos by Lettie Viljoen/Ingrid Winterbach (1984)
89. Pieternella van die Kaap by Dalene Matthee (2000)
90. Die verevrou by Jan van Tonder (2019)
91. Die man wattie kinnes vang by Nathan Trantraal (2024)
92. Beertjie en sy boytjies by R.R. Ryger (1991)
93. Sluitstuk by Johann Rossouw (2023)
94. Vier susters by Gerda Taljaard (2021)
95. Anderkant die stilte by André P. Brink (2002)
96. Vos by Anna M. Louw (1999)
97. Klapperhaar slaap nie stil nie by Kirby van der Merwe (1999)
98. Die groot anders-maak by Jan Rabie (1964)
99. Die Mugu by Etienne Leroux (1959)
100. Geknelde land by F.A. Venter (1960)

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