The daily dad by Ryan Holiday, a book review
2023-06-13"There was just a clear flow of eloquence, with lessons obviously learned over years through the trial and error of applying ancient wisdom to living situations. Within no time, I was hooked."
Author’s corner episode 3: Ntabeni and Head
2023-06-09"In a way, for me, writing is another kind of view of the world, with words and sentences and stanzas that seem to have allowed me to redefine myself under the trees: to re-see."
Yellowface by RF Kuang: a book review
2023-05-29"This book is a critique not only of the publishing world, but of our Western culture and late-capitalism-induced way of life."
Africa Day: Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika
2023-05-25"Lastly, I dream of an Africa that honours its own identity and looks after its cultural/historical heritage. Of a new African consciousness – not just in politics, but in a deeper worldview of environmental respect that arises from the philosophy of Ubuntu bethu, which we inherited from our forefathers and ancestors."
Eye brother horn by Bridget Pitt: A review
2023-05-16"The strength of Pitt’s writing is her rare ability to repudiate without judgement or condemnation. Her arguments, worn with artistic lightness, go beyond mere politicising."
The hype of federalism
2023-05-12"Only those with selfish private economic income would think that a federal arrangement of our provinces makes sense, when the majority of our provinces are poor and rural, without many economic prospects. The rest of us know the drab reality of how the majority of our people are dependent on the state for the bare minimum of their living income."
The man who shook mountains by Lesley Mofokeng: a book review
2023-04-19"If anything, the book carries the pain it narrates with graceful eloquence, even though, by necessity of our state’s disrepair, its tone is often tinged with melancholy."
A book of personalised histories, a review of The inheritors by Eve Fairbanks
2023-03-29"In this era of historical revisions by both white conservatives and radically woke activists who’re obsessed with trying to use history as another weapon of politics, perhaps this recalling of our lived experiences beyond mere ideologies is what will free us from these demagogues."
Authors’ Corner episode 2: Ntabeni and Pitt
2023-02-24"I find that stories often have their own objectives, which I only discover while writing, or sometimes after writing."
Authors’ Corner, episode 1: Ntabeni and Nyathi
2023-02-14"The value in my books comes from writing about those things people don’t want to talk about. My intent is to get people talking as opposed to measuring. We need to start having robust conversations around those topics that make us uncomfortable."
The demise of Eskom | Iingxaki zikaEskom zikubaphathi
2023-02-07"The provision of reliable energy is at the centre of South Africa's ability to solve the scourge of poverty, unemployment, inequality, violent crime ..." | "Yiyo kuphela indlela enokukwazi ukusikhupha kula manyundululu orhwaphilizo kulungiswe eli ziko uEskom aphuhlise isizwe, azise impilo engcono kwabo babetheka kakhulu yintlupheko nokulamba."
The spirit of books in Soweto
2022-12-21"The inaugural Gauteng International Book Festival, held in Soweto on the 11th of December 2022, surpassed all expectations. It became a resounding success with its director, Lorraine Sithole, calling it 'a positive beginning'."
Language of activism
2022-12-13"From Fanon to Robert Sobukwe and Biko, these are prototypes of what Richard Wright called his 'split position' and 'double vision', which a Western-educated black man born in the Anglo-American-oppressive zeitgeist has to deal with."
The wanderers, what does it mean to belong?
2022-12-08"I have seen the returning MK soldiers, how disappointed they are in what is happening in our country."
Who is African: Place, identity and belonging in literature
2022-12-06On Sunday, 4 December 2022, an international team of authors discussed the topic, "Who is an African?" They also asked: Who is allowed to write from an African experience? Why do African authors get boxed into certain kinds of story?
