Caught in a diplomatic crossfire
On a recent trip to northern Nigeria, Zukiswa Wanner finds solace through African sisterhood in a time of xenophobia
Zukiswa Wanner 1
Mugabe is a zero, not a hero
"One just has to look at his legacy."
Accra: An Outsider’s Brief Perspective
"Maybe we see possibilities in each other’s countries that we don’t see in our own."
Write the future with young adults
Leaders of this continent need to pay attention to the intellectual need of the majority of the population.
A literary snapshot of Somaliland
As part of the festival, the organisers have worked on ensuring that they nurture a new generation of Somali readers and writers
Libraries must get into our good books
"Our own libraries, like some of our bookstores, seem to sneer at homegrown literature."
Discard the odd and publish in Africa
As we continue using the same blueprint, we will continue mourning the high illiteracy rates and low returns in the book market
No flavour in this book judge
Authors who were anticipating payments were left high and dry by African Flavour Books when the store closed unceremoniously
Vote for parties that live up to promises
Who is likely to ensure I am freer to express discontent while ensuring that I don’t prefer death because healthcare is unaffordable?
Arts department messes up again
"We have someone in charge of the department who understands how best to serve the interests of their stakeholders."
Project spawns stories for young adults
Why do African governments have ministries of arts if they don’t seem to put as much funding into the arts as the Goethe-Instituts of this world?
In Tito’s Rwanda: Beneath the surface
Zukiswa Wanner explores Rwanda’s ongoing attempts toward equal dignity.
Winnie ‘unashamedly’ resurrected
The book may fall short of expectations because those who have canonised Winnie as the patron saint of black women’s emancipation may take offence.
Campaign against breast cancer all year
"Perhaps this awareness should not be something that is left for the month of October alone."
Why jobs should never trump human dignity
‘This man had used the k-word so very casually and later apologised for his ‘total lack of respect’. Not for racism,’ writes Zukiswa Wanner
A gender violence robot, seriously?
"I am afraid the president will be asking for many more minutes of silence and have many fewer voters next year."
Best not to rely on fickle donors
If art organisations and governments do not realise their worth, they will forever be at the mercy of some donor funders
Heartbreak in Huhudi
I wondered what it must be like to love your town yet constantly feel that, as a result of corruption and incompetence, some things may never change.
I voted yes for land expropriation
In 1994, 86% of land was white-owned. There had been an agreement that 30% would be transferred by 1999, the date has been shifted to 2025.
Fund the labour of cultural workers, Mr President
"Our president has asked that we send him, maybe one of the places we should dispatch him to is to revisit the way art is funded".
Women want action, not words
As we reflect on that day, let us yet again question our governments about the well-meaning documents they sign to protect us but do not act on.
A letter to my Xhosa fathers and brothers
"I am a Xhosa woman who is raising a Xhosa boy. If this is your manhood, madoda, keep it. Your priorities are very skewed".
We’re complicit in our own exploitation
"We are failing to put the blame squarely where it belongs: on our political leaders, our business leaders and ourselves".
