The Afrokulcha team has put together this wonderful list of books you should consider reading this winter. 2020 Winters amidst Covid-19 requires us to stay more at home, practise social distancing and most certainly read more books! Here is a few books that we enjoyed, we hope you enjoy them as much.

1. We, the scarred
Mukoma wa Ngugi, what a writer! Not only did we enjoy this story of Kwatee republic, the story of a young man Kalumba sent to exile, comes back home after his best friend has taken his lover, and this same friend is the one who leads to his downfall. Kalumba stands for the truth, but was he a traitor or a good comrade. A story of an African immigrant going back home, finding love again & dealing with consequences of political exile. What a read!

2. The Son of the house
Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia (that’s a name to remember) writes brilliantly. This is a story of 2 women awaiting their fate after being kidnapped, they start telling each other the story of their lives, the stories of african women, resilient, determined and navigating the world of men & the likes. We love it when the stories come together to form one, and you are left with your mouth wide open. The Son of the House won several novel writing competitions.

3. Fire in my bones
Nobuntu Webster writes a compeling story, about her life. She tackles the issues around what religion teaches you in comparison to believing in God. These are really confessions of a church girl. A thought provoking read!

Happy Reading!

All books available at Afrokulcha

xoxo

As social distancing has become our new normal and we are working from home, you can make your stay-at-home wardrobe stylish with these few fashion items from Afrokulcha.

1. Bomber jackets

2. Afroprint tracksuits

3. Stretch AfroPants

Shine Bright with Afrokulcha

XOXO

Christopher Mlalazi writes a compelling story about the life of Qinisela from the day he decides to jump the board from Zimbabwe to South Africa. Qinisela, in his quest to escape an economic crisis in Zimbabwe, sets out on a journey to enter South Africa illegally, with only an address of a “so called” friend in Johannesburg, who he later finds out, the address was only a postal address, leaving him homeless.

During this hazardous trip from Zimbabwe through the Limpopo river, he mets a number of people but more importantly one “friendly” gangster. When he finally gets to Johannesburg and finds himself homeless due to his friend giving him a postal address, instead of a physical address, he finds himself wondering the streets of Johannesburg and learning a few things about the city.

While he managed to survive homelessness after snatching a women’s handbag with money, he retreats into a budget motel and thinks of his next plan. During this time, he accidentally reconnects with the “friendly” gangster and Qinisela starts hanging out with him and his crew. Qinisela soon finds out how they make a living and he is caught up in their wheelings and dealings.

Qinisela’s life starts to be very complicated with all the things he has to do in this new gangster life. But indeed, being raised well, and always remembering the teachings of your mother will guide out of a bad life.

A book well written, full of suspense and worth every page turn.

Review by Nonkululeko Magi-Africa

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April 2019 – Namibia
August 2019 – Ghana
September 2019 – Malawi
October 2019 – Nigeria
November 2019 – Senegal
December 2019 – Kenya

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Sue Nyathi’s new book the Gold diggers has the same gripping effect that her first novel The Polygamist had – however this of a different nature.

From the beginning, We meet a number of characters through their journey from Zimbabwe to South Africa is search for a better lives. You will love some of them, admire some and possible dispise others. The characters are very well researched and are of charasteristic to africans we meet everyday. Thru these characters, Sue tells a story of dispodency, story of triumph, of criminality, of xenophobic attacks, marriages and life in itself.

Sue’s writing is golden. She is smooth like butter, colourful like sunshine and absorbing like a sponge in water. We love how in her genius way the lives of the strangers who met on this journey to Johannesburg somehow came to converge and collide into an amazing african story.

As you read the book, there are many tear-jerking moments. Many reminders of the saying “be kind, everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about” –

The book also reminds you that LIFE is about the relationships you make in this life journey rather than the port of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Great Read indeed!

Reviewed by Nonkululeko Magi-Africa

The book in short is a journey of a black woman through divorce, but packed with bone chilling and blood curdling events of the pain and turmoil she suffered during her 10 year marriage and her subsequent divorce.

This is a no-holds barred book detailing every step of the way Thuba went through and how she had to manoeuvre towards the exit of this abusive marriage. Though the book is more suited for women contemplating divorce or just recently divorced, I however found it to be relevant to us married men as well, in that, it forces us (at least it did me) to take a look in the mirror and do some introspection regarding our conducts in our marriages, then hopefully mend our ways and our marriages before it’s too late.

Having seen first hand, the pain divorce causes to women and children alike, as a product of divorced parents myself and observing life after divorce with several of my male friends, the book gave me an opportunity to understand the pain many modern women go through at the hands of abusive men in the name of love. It also made me understand why certain divorcees act a certain way. I however love how frank and open Thuba is, in sharing her opinions and giving constructive advice to women who may find themselves in a similar situation. It also highlights how important a support system i.e. family, friends and even strangers is, during this time.

The book is set in 3 different countries South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Oman where Thuba plies her trade as a lecturer at the Omani College. She may have gone through this terrible ordeal but at the end of it all SHE chooses to exercise forgiveness and love. By all means get yourself a copy, it’s a good read.

Reviewed by Ntokozo Mondli Biyela

This is a lovely story and a must read book. The story of Trevor Noah from birth but before he became famous. Trevor takes you through a series of his life stories as a child, with lessons he learnt about family, race, identity, love, business and more. Trevor comes from a religious family , his mother is African and his dad is white, German. Although, his parents never had a proper conventional relationship, Trevor still had the love of both his parents. The issue of identity comes in very strong in the book because from a young age, he had to decide if he fitted in with blacks, coloureds or white people.

His story is rich with humor and funny stories. He writes it in a witty, relatable way that young and adult readers can enjoy the book. The book is not just about his childhood but more about South Africa and life in South Africa in the past and present. He writes it like he is telling a foreign audience like USA and Europe about himself and his beloved country.

It’s well worth the read.

Reviewed by Nonkululeko Magi- Africa

Colour Me Yellow
Author: Thuli Nhlapho

Thulisile (Thuli) grew up knowing that her mother resented her, her mother would tell her that she hated carrying her in her stomach, hated being pregnant with her. Thuli knew there was something wrong with her but no one in the family told her why. She grew up being called different names because she looked different from other children, she was called Boesman, yellow and all other sorts of derogatory names. She hardly had friends because she was different even her cousins isolated her because she was different. Thuli vowed to study hard and be something in life to prove to everyone in her family that she was capable.

Her mother got married when she was still pregnant with her and she was told that her mother’s husband was her father but she knew it couldn’t be because she looked different from her younger siblings and her mother’s husband and his family always treated her like an outcast. She tried several times to ask her mother about her identity but the mother would be extremely upset and even tell her that she is ungrateful as her husband was feeding her and looking well after her even though they all knew this was a lie as Thuli was treated differently from the other kids.

She fell pregnant when in her final year and also had a difficult pregnancy but boyfriend’s family was very supportive, her family disowned her. She finished her tertiary studies, started working, got a place of her own to stay and decided to continue searching for her identity. One of the relatives gave her an address to a man’s house who she calls Mr O, the relative had said she will get answers when she gets there. She found incomplete answers there but her identity still haunted her. Her identity is later revealed, after searching and searching and She eventually found inner peace after this was revealed to her but devastated her uncle.

This memoir details the pain, struggles that one can go through because of family secrets. The horrible treatment also affected her health and also made her to develop a hard surface as she could not easy show feelings.

This is a sad story of how family secrets can actually harm the very same person that the secret is being kept from. Thuli Nhlapho went on to be a successful award winning journalist and a writer.

A review by Funeka Khumalo

We begin the year with our January sale from 25th January to 4nd February 2018 Take your time to peruse our selection of African books and you will not be disappointed. The sale is up to 40% off.

January is a good time to get back to the habit of reading! As many New Year Resolutions have been made and hopefully not already broken.

Look out for dates for our next book event : A celebration of African Literacy by #afrokulcha coming up in April 2018

xoxo

Let me start by saying “every woman in a relationship should have this book”. Linda on women issues, he should be called Dr Linda and even the Love expert title he doesn’t like befits him. This is a brilliantly written book addressing almost every issue women have about us men. If you’re planning to get into a relationship, in a new relationship, in a troubled relationship, stagnant relationship, rebound, want nothing to do with men GET THIS BOOK. It will put a few things about you and relationships into perspective. Linda poured out his sense of humour but also left no stone unturned. His witty style of writing makes it a page turner.

The next time any woman presents me with her relationship issues I will point her to this book. A good relationship guide, even High school girls should have it. Only 131 pages of good advice from cover to cover.

By

Ntokozo Mondli Biyela

A Well written and a very interesting story into the life Chris Hani, the Hani Family through her daughter and the story of Lindiwe Hani’s as an addict. Family feuds, family mishaps, chaos etc. A thriller. One thing I liked about the book was that she told it all and was very truthful and sincere about everything she penned. It gave me an idea or a glimpse into many lives of politicians’ kids through her. I bet their stories are similar to hers. Zihlukumezekile and disorientated nazi izingane senkosi.

A great read, I must say it’s a page turner, you’ll find it hard to put down.

I still maintain biographies are the best reads.

By

Ntokozo Mondli Biyela