Louise Smit


Louise Smit is a South African writer of children's books and creator and director of children's television programmes and characters.

Biography

Smit studied teaching at Paarl Teachers College, and Drama at the University of Stellenbosch. From 1964-1968 she did charitable work in Malawi where she performed indigenous folktales with the participation of the local children in the rural areas. This led to a weekly children's radio programme in the Chichewa language.
Returning to South Africa, she joined the Johannesburg Civic Theatre as a puppeteer before accepting the position as programme director and creator at the South African Broadcasting Corporation. Her first programmes, Haas Das se Nuuskas and Wielie Walie, were national hits. Haas Das se Nuuskas was also one of the first programmes to be aired on South African television in 1975. Louise is the creator of Wielie Walie,, Haas Das se Nuuskas ''Pumpkin Patch, Kideo Mina Moo en Kie,Zap Mag and Professor Fossilus en die Dinosourusse amongst others. She produced around 4000 programmes in seven languages and according to many, probably created the most characters in the world. She also created, directed and produced programmes in Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Pedi, and Tswana. Louise Smit directed the first 26 episodes of Liewe Heksie, created by Verna Vels.
In 1980 Smit formed her own company, Louise Smit Productions and built her own television studio, Kinnor Studios in Johannesburg. She sold it to Red Pepper Productions in 1998.
She has a daughter and currently lives in Cologne, Germany.

Children’s Programmes

  • Haas Das se Nuuskas — Haas Das and Piet Muis, Koning Leeu, etc.. A Rabbit with flashy ties reading news from Animal Land.
  • Pumpkin Patch — Woofles the security dog, the cousins Speckles and Freckles etc.. All the adventures of a community in a little town.
  • Mina Moo & Co. — Mina Moo, Bak en Terie, King Mick, Micka etc..
  • Professor Fossi en die Dinosourusse — A German Palaeontologist builds antime machine and visits the Dinosaurs.
  • Kideo — Timothy Traddle, Mr. Chinwag. A playroom programme.
  • Wielie Walie — Karel Kraai, Sarel Seemonster, Bytjie, Bennie Boekwurm, Wagga Wagga Kwag, Meend die Eend. A playroom series.

    Books

Louise Smit is a well-known writer and has published more than 25 books. They include:
  • Die Bybel vir Kinders/ The Bible for Children
  • Professor Fossilus en die dinosaurs, illustrated by Marjorie van Heerden
  • Haas Das se Nuuskas, illustrated by Fred Mouton
  • Haas Das raak weg!, illustrated by Tanja Joubert
  • Wielie Wielie Walie, illustrated by Sean Verster

    Awards

Louise Smit received national and international acclaim for her work.
Seven Artes awards for best magazine programme and children's programmes, SABC
Two Star Tonight Awards for Liewe Heksie and a series in Tswana: Kabarete ya Poone
Unima Award for best contribution to puppetry in South Africa
M-Net Award for a children's programme: Eko-Boffins
for Kideo - most innovative programme, 1995
Prix de Jeunesse prize, Munich, 1996, third prize for Kideo
ATKV Woordveertjie for Bennie Boekwurm se Tonnelhuisie -
for her life achievement work.