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‘With razor-sharp insight, Msimang writes in a reflective tone that contains both heartbreak and humour, as she navigates some often-overlooked complexities surrounding race, womanhood and class.’ – Cher Tan, Books and PublishingJust some of the words that come to mind when thinking of Sisonke Msimang’s second book ‘The Resurrection of Winnie Mandela’Written in response to her passing of Winnie Mandela, Sisonke’s book is haunting and inspiring. In answering the question of redemption as it comes to iconic, powerful Black womxn, Sisonke is also asking the reader questions on our morality.The book written in the second person contextualises Winnie Mandela’s life from before she was born to when she died. Sisonke skillfully and poetically converses with Winnie by reclaiming her and celebrating her. She writes about how Winnie encounter powerful womxn upon arriving in Joburg dispelling the myth that Winnie became political because of Nelson. She writes about the moment Winnie saw Nelson, their love - showing us that theirs was a deep, profound love.Further, in the book, she writes about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and how Winnie was treated at this Commission, this allows us to question the true nature of the TRC and whether it was about truth. In the same breath, she holds Winnie to account by writing about the deaths of the 18 boys that Winnie may have been involved in. In this, she demands of us to hold Winnie to account for these deaths and to take some ownership in the passing of these boys. She writes about the mothers of these children and how they came head to head with Winnie demanding the truth. In this book, Sisonke encourages us to use Winnie’s life to think about nation-building and Blackwomxnhood. It’s a powerful conversation about reclaiming our heroes.

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‘But humility is a work of progress and there are times when I need to work on practising tolerance. Whenever individuals question my ‘genitals’ I am reminded of how blinkered and obsessed with labels we humans are. Whatever lies between my legs, whether I sit or stand when I pee, my genitals are what they are and they serve their purpose. Whatever the shape, size or name of them, and whether I have chosen to surgically align my body to my identity or not, I remain the man I have always been.’ - Landa Mabenge In his memoir, ‘Becoming Him’, Landa Mabenge details his journey as the first transgender man to have his surgical transition paid for by his medical aid. From childhood, Landa knew that how he looked on the outside was not aligned with how he felt on the inside. These feelings were particularly exacerbated in puberty. He recalls the confusion and trauma that came with all these changes and the inability to vocalise how he felt. His childhood was not an easy one either. A childhood characterised by abandonment, separation, and constant, unending abuse meant that these changes were only exacerbated. In a deeply personal account, Landa also takes us through his time at UCT, highlighting the toll on his mental health that the journey of self-discovery took. There is a powerful commentary on themes of abuse, self-discovery and uncomfortable change, both inside and outside. This dynamic of change is highlighted in Landa’s relationship with his loved ones, in those who choose to support and those who do not. The question of what it means to have to reckon with toxicity from those closest to us is a painful topic that Landa explores with poise. Landa’s story represents so many of the facets of what is good about the human experience. Tenacity, resilience and the courage it takes to become.Groundbreaking. Poignant and inspirational.

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“Whiteness seeks to remove us from its embrace because we threaten it. We place its position at the centre at risk when we dare to usurp it rather than simply remain constant in relation to it. Exerting my identity undermines the identity of whiteness. Yet exerting my identity calls into question my commitment to follow this feeling of emancipation from whiteness to its natural conclusion. It challenges whether or not I am willing to dismantle the system in which I exist to place myself in the centre at the expense of whiteness and the social leverage it has afforded me. This uncertainty of the coconut’s commitment begs the question: as a coconut, are you willing to slide down the snake to join those who have been excluded from the born-free ladder and assist them in the revolution, the chimurenga?’ - Rekgotsofetse ChikaneThese words end the first chapter of Rekgotsofetse Chikane’s Breaking a Rainbow, Building a Nation: #The Politics behind #MustFallMovements Rekgotsofetse Chikane found his passion in the field of youth development and politics since 2009. He is a University of Oxford graduate with a Master’s in Public Policy. This book is a first-hand account of the university protests that gripped South Africa between 2015 and 2017, widely known as #FeesMustFall. In this book, Rekgotsofetse delves into what he calls the politics behind #MustFall movements. He explores – through a musical and biblical language –themes around fighting the perpetual sense of survival, challenging the score and setting of the stage for #RhodesMustFall, identities in the movements from Black radical thought to Black Radical Feminism and ends the book with the question “Should Coconuts be Trusted with the Revolution?” In this podcast, we sat and dive deep into the work that Rekgotsofetse puts into the book. We speak about double consciousness, his relationship with his father, party politics, and who has the right to tell the story of #FeesMustFall. We also challenge him on certain framings in the book that could be read as further marginalising certain voices that uplifted the movement. This conversation reminds us of the richness that comes from telling our own stories and creating our own narratives. As youth month ends, we thought to share with you some reflections on youth politics.

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“But I’ve had time now to really think about the issue of racism, abuse, and discrimination against black professionals in the workplace, as a system, because that’s exactly what it is. A system. Designed to maintain the status quo, this system ensures that power imbalance remains unchanged.” – Sihle Bolani Sihle Bolani invited us into her life in a deeply personal way. She tells a story about her time in corporate. Her book written in the first person, in a journal/diary-like way, a method she intentionally chooses. She delves into the challenges faced by her and what she believes many Black professionals in South Africa’s corporate environment experience as well.Her book focuses on themes that include structural racism in organisations; the role executives play in sustaining discriminatory practices; pay discrimination; the emotional and psychological trauma suffered by Black professionals as a result of corporate abuse and the suppression of black talent, especially Black womxn.In this podcast, we sat down with Sihle to speak about her book. We spoke about the method of writing the book, white womxn in corporate, bullying, constructive dismissal, racism, sexism. We spoke about the role of Black executives and their complicity in perpetuating inequality. Sihle also offers us her way forward, a call to action. We spoke about some elements of the call to action. She believes that these actions can go a long way to dismantle systems of oppression.A deeply insightful, personal conversation filled with ‘aha’ moments. This episode continues conversations about racism, sexism and the workplace and how we can continue to fight to dismantle them.

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‘Well-behaved women seldom make history.’-@malebosephodi writes deeply on the way this quote by Laurel Thatcher has influenced her life and writing. The Cheeky Natives sat down with the magical Malebo Sephodi, author of Miss Behave. Miss Behave is an award-winning text on a Black feminist journey to consciousness. Graceful and so relatable, Miss Behave is in part a journal and a love letter to black womxn of all ages. Far too often, in the age of wokeness, there’s been almost an absence of acknowledgement of the stages of awakening that even our most woke favourites have gone through. Miss Behave is an excellent example of these different stages. With sensitivity and awareness that only someone who's encountered the full depth of what Ntozake Shange describes as the metaphysical experience that is being a Black womxn, Malebo writes on the far-reaching themes of patriarchy, misogynoir and navigating relationships in the bodies Black womxn inhabit. This book has womxn, young and old snapping their fingers in formation at so many of the micro-aggressions detailed. There’s a gold mine of ‘aha’ moments in Miss Behave. Miss Behave is so much more than just a book. It’s a movement, having generated powerful conversations everywhere in its wake following its release. What was particularly striking about this book is the use of accessible language to explain academic concepts such as patriarchy and body shaming, proving that the academy doesn’t always have to be inaccessible. In a live podcast, Malebo sat with the Cheeky Natives as we waxed lyrical on the themes of patriarchy, corporate racism and the difficulties of navigating this world in bodies such as ours. Fun, challenging and thought-provoking.

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Happy 2019!!!!!!The first live recording of The Cheeky Natives features Rosie Motene talking about her memoir ‘Reclaiming the Soil: A Black Girl's Struggle to Find Her African Self’. This book tells the story of a young girl born to the Bafokeng nation during the apartheid era in South Africa. At the time, Rosie's mother worked for a white Jewish family in Johannesburg who offered to raise her as their own. This generous gesture by the family created many opportunities for Rosie but also a trail of sacrifices for her parents. As she grew, Rosie struggled to find her true identity. She had access to the best of everything but as a black girl, she floundered without her own culture or language. This book describes Rosie's journey through her fog of alienation to the belated dawning of her self-discovery as an African. In this episode, The Cheeky Natives alongside Rosie Motene tackle the important themes that emerge from her book. The conversation covers intricate dimensions of interracial adoption, her time on Generations, the notions of family, the pervasiveness of whiteness, the exceptionalism of blackness, erasure of Blackwomxnhood, domestic abuse, family feuds, mental health and starting over and reuniting with her Black family. This conversation reminds us that Black lives are not monolithic. Rosie through this conversation reminds us that Black womxn have a face, a voice and a history. She reminds us of the importance of writing as healing and the power of womxn taking up positions to fight the scourge of Gender-Based Violence. An intense conversation interspersed by light-hearted moments that give us hope for a better tomorrow.Follow us: @cheekynatives and follow Rosie @RosieMotene

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“A collection of stories about nobodies who discover that they matter.” This is how Mohale Mashigo described her latest offering, Intruders, in one newspaper interview. While this is true, Intruders is also an ode to the stories that coloured many of our childhoods, like the Veras we were all warned about as children late at night. Mohale has rejected the label of Afrofuturism and aptly demonstrated why not only in these 12 brilliant short stories but also in the recording of this podcast. These stories are powerful with so much suspense created that even on social media there have been persistent calls for the standalone version of a few of them. (We see Y'all). The short story as a gesture is often not applauded for the dexterity and technical skill that is actually required but throughout this book, we see an apt demonstration of this. There’s a resurgent interest in the art of the short story and the Intruders is one such example. Following the incredible success of The Yearning, readers everywhere have been hounding Mohale for a second book, true to form. She didn’t disappoint. The Intruders is the sophomore book we deserved. Brave, rooted both in the past and present and gives such a glimpse of the future, it is a commentary on the ills which plague society as it holds a mirror through the urban legends we’ve accumulated but seen through new eyes.The Cheeky Natives sat down with Mohale Mashigo to discuss her latest book in a live podcast that is both serious and thought-provoking while equally humorous and joyful. There was an air of nostalgia as Mohale took us back to our childhoods in ways we’d previously not thought of. This discussion was one for the ages.

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“This time especially, she was absolutely right, down to the last word. It was still only beginning.”These words end Qarnita Loxton’s sophomore novel Being Lily. We first encountered Lily in Qarnita’s debut novel Being Kari, which was longlisted for the 2018 9mobile Prize for Literature and shortlisted for the 2018 Herman Charles Bosman Prize. The second book is a sequel to the first book. This book focuses on the life of Lily. Dr. Lily De Angelo is a successful doctor who is going to get married to her fiancé, Owen. The novel invites us into Lily life which has many dimensions. In the book, we get to see Lily and the relationship she shares with her parents, one filled with many dynamics of love, care, and sometimes hatred and resentment. Lily’s life is also drastically changed with Owen’s gorgeous ex finds herself in the picture, with the ex comes the possibility of fatherhood. The ex and the child move in with Lily and Owen and this living dynamic soon causes havoc in the home and their relationship. The addition of Owen's ex introduces us to Lily’s closest friends including Kari, who comes back to celebrate her friend. In this episode of the podcast, we spoke to Quarnita about her legal career and when and how her writing career began. We spoke about some of the underlying themes that animate form the book around relationships, family, womanhood, and friendships. We also spoke about the white story and how Black writers can authentically write about white people, but white people cannot do that for Black people. This novel touches on important topics in a light heart, fun manner. In certain moments you will be frustrated with Lily and her attitude, but in other moments you will empathises with her and her friends. The characters felt familiar like those you could be having coffee with in your everyday life. It’s a story with equal amounts of humour and depth, exploring what it means to live, love and commit in changing times.Quarnita: @Qled CheekyNatives: @cheeynatives

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‘No one owns their stories and the telling of them like white male writers. They are given endless opportunities for it. They can write about anything. They can pen rants about white-men problems and white-men wealth. They can wax lyrical about cars and boats and spaceships. They can have reams and reams of motivational articles published about being ‘bosses’. Without, mind you, ever having to refer to sexual harassment, unequal opportunities, discrimination or unequal pay. But the cherry on the vanilla cake is that they also get to write about the soft, sensitive, soulful stuff. You know?’ – Haji Mohamed DawjeeSouth Africa has been proliferated by conversation about race. We have heard the likes of Koleka Putuma tackle the issue of race through her spoken word and her debut collection of poetry Collective Amnesia.The history of slavery, colonialism and apartheid has shaped the psyche of the nation of South Africa. In the early years of South Africa as a democracy, we were known as the Rainbow nation. Many have disputed this description and offered an account of the South Africa they have lived in. Haji Mohamed Dawjee adds to the choirs of voices in her collections of essays called ‘Sorry, not sorry: experiences of a brown woman in a white South Africa’. A timely book written by a brown womxn, speaking truth to power. Haji was the first social media editor in a newsroom at the Mail & Guardian, where she went on to work as deputy digital editor and a disruptor of the peace through a weekly column. She recalls one of those articles that caused still waters to be unsettled in her book. In this episode, we sat down with the gorgeous Haji to speak about her book. The conversation, held at our favourite bookstore ‘Bridgebook,’ was filled with a diverse audience who had travelled near and far to listen to Haji. Our conversation canvassed whiteness and literature and why she writes what she likes. Throughout the conversation we returned to one theme, which is interracial marriage, inquiring why she did not spend some time in her book sharing her thoughts about interracial dating and marriage, owing to the fact that she was married a white man and now is married to a white womxn. We spend some time talking about intersectional feminism and what it looks like for her. The conversation led us to talk about representation and the power of Serena Williams, who she greatly adores. We laughed a lot while revisiting her essay ‘Begging to be White’, this essay had some in stitches. We spoke about the value of whiteness and how costly and taxing it can become. The conversation covered so much more themes that emerged in her book. This conversation was challenging, necessary and ripe for the moment.follow Haji on Twitter: @sage_of_absurd

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“Although this, of course, was not strictly true: I so desired Maureen that at times I temporarily lost my mind, any sense of restraint. That I imagined, with a sudden swell of emotions and enlightenment, how desperately I craved Greek salad: cucumbers. Lettuce, onion rings and baby tomatoes, only dressed with her springs, her womanly eruptions resultant from our imagined carnal sieges.” – Nthikeng Mohlele, Micheal K: a novelThis month Nthikeng Mohlele will publish his sixth Novel llumination, which he describes as “…an exploration of the nature and pitfalls of an artistic life. The backbone of the narrative is essentially a love story, but also how the charges and passions inherent in art, particularly music, interface and become transformed when fused with passions and anxieties of a more personal and discreet kind”Bearing this great milestone in mind, we are cheekily releasing this conversation, where Dr-Alma-Nalisha sat in conversation with the award-winning author. Nthikeng published his first book The Scent of Bliss in 2008 and he has also written other acclaimed novels including Pleasure, a novel that won various awards including the 2017 University of Johannesburg Prize for the K. Sello Duiker Memorial Prize. His fifth novel, – Micheal K - is a response to JM Coetzee’s 1983 Man Booker prize winner Life and Times of Micheal K. The novel explores the weight of history and of conscience. Zakes Mda describes the writing in this book as “a work of reflective intensity, re-imagining character from JM Coetzee’s world of stark and sparse prose”. During this enlightening conversation, Nthikeng described the writing process and the inspiration of the book, which would’ve intimidated a perhaps lesser writer. Further to this, he shared his thoughts about how pivotal it is for readers and writers to read their contemporary writers. He spoke about some of his favourite writers including the likes of Zukiswa Wanner, Yewende Omotoso, Sue Nyathi and Niq Mhlongo. He also blesses us with a list of 5 books to read which include the works of the late Professor Kgositsile. Bold, brave and inspiring. This podcast is a master class in literature and re-imagining. Twitter: @nthikengmohlele

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