Videos
‘For me, writing is like being an actress’ – Sue Nyathi chats about getting into her characters’ heads and her new novel The Gold Diggers
Sue Nyathi, author of The Polygamist and now The Gold Diggers, chatted to Africa’s Lit about her writing and the inspiration for her new novel.
The world today could do with a dose of Nelson Mandela’s leadership – Peter Hain, author of Mandela: His Essential Life
‘You’ve got President Trump, you’ve got President Putin, you’ve got Erdoğan in Turkey, all these authoritarian figures, and they appeal to people’s base instincts. Nelson Mandela always appealed to people’s higher instincts in the way that he led.’
Listen to a 1971 letter from Mandela to his daughter Zenani, from the new book The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
‘You will be able to pay me a visit in 1975, when you will have turned 16, but I am growing impatient, and the coming five years feel longer than eternity.’
‘The world has a view of Nelson Mandela as a cuddly teddy bear’ – Sahm Venter discusses The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
‘The world generally has a view of Nelson Mandela as being this cuddly teddy bear, or this grandfatherly person, because he was a grandfather when he came out of prison.’
‘There’s no doubt’ – Liza Smit believes the National Party was involved in her parents’ murders
Liza Smit says she has no doubt that the murders were politically motivated, and executed through the National Party.
Len Kalane chats about his new book The Chapter We Wrote: The City Press Story and legendary journalist Percy Qoboza
Looking back at the rich history of the City Press through the eyes of its former editor Len Kalane.
‘I think we can make reading cool again’ – Clinton Chauke chats about the success of his debut book Born in Chains
In the latest edition of Africa’s Lit, young author Clinton Chauke discusses the reception his debut book Born in Chains has received.
AJ Pearce says her real-life friends inspired the friendship in her debut novel Dear Mrs Bird
AJ Pearce says her own friendships inspired the characters in her debut novel, Dear Mrs Bird.
‘I wanted to answer the question: Why don’t they go back to their country?’ – Sue Nyathi on how The Gold Diggers was triggered by xenophobia
‘The inspiration for the novel largely came from the xenophobic attacks.’
How being the son of a chief kept me humble: Bantu Holomisa chats about his biography The Game Changer
‘As the son of a chief, the home I grew up in was a home to all. So when the chief has meetings, he listens, and people come with different complaints. So you are a man of the people. I guess that’s why my parent named me Bantubonke, that means all the people.’
‘Our poverty comes from racism, and racism locks out talent’ – Clinton Chauke discusses his book Born in Chains
Clinton Chauke was on Afternoon Express recently to discuss his new book Born in Chains: The Diary of an Angry ‘Born-Free’.
Sue Nyathi is back with The Gold Diggers! Watch the book trailer
Following the success of her first novel, The Polygamist, released in 2012, Sue Nyathi is back with The Gold Diggers!
‘It was like giving birth to a child’: Award-winning journalist Iman Rappetti launches her memoir Becoming Iman
Award-winning journalist Iman Rappetti launched her debut book Becoming Iman at Exclusive Books Hyde Park recently.
David Baldacci thanks South African fans and chats about his new novel The Fallen
Worldwide bestselling novelist David Baldacci has a new book out in the Amos Decker series: The Fallen.
Haji Mohamed Dawjee chats about who should be reading her book, Sorry, Not Sorry: Experiences of a Brown Woman in a White South Africa
In Sorry, Not Sorry, Haji Mohamed Dawjee explores the often maddening experience of moving through post-apartheid South Africa as a woman of colour.
Hayden Eastwood explains the inspiration for the title of his new book, Like Sodium in Water
Hayden Eastwood chatted to Polity SA about his new book, Like Sodium in Water, a memoir of post-independence Zimbabwe and an atmosphere of nostalgia that hangs over much of Harare’s remaining white community.
‘Law enforcement capacity in South Africa has been eviscerated’ – Mandy Wiener discusses her new book Ministry of Crime
‘The conclusion that I draw in the book is that the law enforcement capacity in the country has largely been eviscerated over the last few years.’
‘No one teaches us how personal finance works’ – Sam Beckbessinger chats about her book, Manage your Money like a F*cking Grown Up
We never get an instruction manual about how money works. We never have to pass a test to get our Money License before we can take a new credit card for a drive. Most of what we learn about money comes from advertising or from other people who know as little as we do.
Evelyn Groenink discusses her new book Incorruptible: The story of the murders of Dulcie September, Anton Lubowski and Chris Hani
One of the most explosive revelations in this book concerns the murder of Chris Hani, 25 years ago. Groenink reveals how the police buried evidence from no less than three witnesses who saw another murderer besides Janusz Waluś; and how the state’s ‘brave’ star eyewitness in all likelihood hadn’t even been there when Hani was shot.
Labyrinth author Kate Mosse’s new series of books were inspired by her time at the Franschhoek Literary Festival
Kate Mosse will be in South Africa in May, to launch her new book, The Burning Chambers.