Xolisa Guzula

Dr. Xolisa Guzula is a Senior Lecturer in Applied Language and Literacy Studies at the University of Cape Town, specializing in multilingual and multiliteracies education. She has 24+ years of experience across research, teaching, and literacy activism.

Education:

• PhD in Education (University of Cape Town, 2021)
• MPhil in Education Administration, Planning and Social Policy (UCT, 2011)
• Bachelor of Primary Education (UCT, 1997)

Her research focuses on multilingual education, literacy as social practice, and language policy in post-apartheid contexts. She critiques skills-based literacy approaches and advocates for rich literacies frameworks that recognize children's full linguistic repertoires.

Her recent publications analyze: third space learning models (2022), decolonial language policy (2021), simultaneous biliteracy development (2019), digital writing support (2017), and multimodal translanguaging (2016). These works collectively emphasize the importance of contextual knowledge, critical pedagogy, and language equity in South African education.

Scientific Recognition:

• 2020 IBBY/Exclusive Books award for translation of The Elders at the Door
• 2024 IBBY/Exclusive Books award for translation of Sing Nala
• 2022 IBBY Honour List selection for The Singing Stone translation

As co-founder of the Vulindlela Reading Clubs and Stars of Today Literacy Club, she has been instrumental in establishing community-based literacy initiatives across South Africa. Her work with the Bua-lit Language and Literacy Collective challenges deficit views of African language-speaking children's educational resources.