Duduzile's latest book is redefining self-love
Duduzile Ngwenya is a bestselling author celebrated for her impactful works, including Things I Never Said To Myself and This Time You Return To Yourself. After self-publishing her books and successfully selling over 10,
20,000 copies, she has proved that women are in tune with the language of self-love. Duduzile's exquisite poetry explores vital themes of healing, relationships, self-compassion, growth, and self-acceptance, making her a powerful voice in contemporary African literature.
In her latest collection, You Get Better With Love, Duduzile highlights the significance of being gentle with oneself, embracing authenticity, and fully committing to self-love. She poignantly illustrates that each day serves as a blank canvas, presenting a renewed opportunity to start fresh.
At African Female Voices, we recognize the profound impact of Duduzile's message, particularly in the context of October, which aligns with Mental Health Awareness Month in South Africa. Her work resonates deeply with our mission to amplify the voices and stories of African women, fostering discussions around mental health and self-care. We are thrilled to share this collection with you, as it embodies the spirit of empowerment and resilience that we champion.
LUH in the Wild : A journey of romance, beauty and identity
In "LUH in the Wild," Veroschkka Motimele invites readers on an evocative journey through landscapes of romance, beauty, and identity, capturing the profound themes of love, loss, longing, and belonging. Each poem offers a glimpse into the nature of connection and reflects a powerful blend of introspection and observation, serving as both a celebration of love and a lamentation of lovelessness while encouraging a deep meditation on self-love.
This collection promises to enchant, challenge, and inspire, delivering a transformative reading experience that lingers long after the final page is turned. Veroschkka, a creative writer from Polokwane, Limpopo, South Africa, has made her mark as a curator of poetry and talent shows through her debut spoken word EP, "Lentsoe," which opened doors for her to perform at prestigious platforms such as the National Hair Expo and Joburg Theatre. Her artistic journey continued with notable participation in the "I AM WOMAN" dialogue and recognition as a top 13 finalist in the Poetry Africa Slam Jam competition in 2020. Besides her artistic pursuits, she is a trained dialogue facilitator, MC, media innovator, and practicing attorney. "LUH in the Wild" serves as an art book exploring themes of belonging, connection, beauty, desire, and joy, showcasing her ongoing love affair with poetry. As she insightfully states, “Experiencing deep joy amid life's challenges is not an exclusive privilege only meant for some; deep joy is an option at any given moment; we do not have to suffer our existence when life takes an undesirable turn."
"I Do... Don't I?" guarantees to captivate you
"I Do... Don't I?" is the highly awaited sequel to the beloved novel "The Thing with Zola." Follow the captivating love tale of Zola and Mbali as they brave a long-distance relationship and contemplate commitment across the enchanting settings of Kigali and Johannesburg. Will they leap?
Join the enchanting characters including the spirited Okuhle embarking on a journey to marriage, the daring Thobile challenging societal norms, and the composed Ongama navigating life's challenges. Personal aspirations clash with societal expectations, unveiling a beautiful tapestry of love, dreams, and the complexities of relationships. Brace yourself for a whirlwind of emotions, laughter, deep insights, and the pursuit of a fairy tale ending.
"I Do... Don't I?" promises to sweep you off your feet.
Zibu Sithole, our vivacious author, is a published ghostwriter and journalist with experience writing for television and radio as well as print and digital media. Zibu's natural knack for screenwriting translates in her novel writing as it feels like a TV series playing out before you, line after line. (I have attached both information sheets for more insight).
The Catch Me If You Can by Jessica Nabongo
Book review by Nonjabulo Malinga
There is a strong consensus that the world is a giant friendly neighborhood for the richest and famous. However, a new book written by writer turned world traveler Jessica Nabongo champions the idea that even black women can travel the world and experience the inherent goodness of humanity.
The Catch Me If You Can, is an energizing travelogue that records her visits to 195 countries worldwide, accompanied by just as many photos. In October 2019, Jessica Nabongo officially became the first black woman to visit all 195 countries, a feat achieved by a total of 250 people. In an interview with Michael Strahan on Good Morning America, Nabongo beautifully summarized her book as 100 hundred stories from 100 countries about the beauty of humanity.
As a self-proclaimed Geography nerd, Nabongo identifies as a Ugandan-American who grew up in Detroit, citing her upbringing and the love of traveling as the book's inspiration. In an interview with the Breakfast Club, she mentions the honor of having her book published by National Geographic, saying, "We never see pictures of black women frolicking around the world, and now it's part of the National Geographic canon."
Jessica was the proud founder and owner of a luxury boutique travel agency called Jet Black, which sadly closed after the economic pressures brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the fear-mongering that defines American news media, she views the world as a collection of well-meaning people. "To be a good neighbor, you have to let go of the burden of fear," she said in her 2019 TED Talk. "This planet belongs to all of us, and we have to treat the planet kindly and treat each other kindly, like a good neighbor."
The book has received impressive ratings from GoodReads and looks to be an adventurous, empowering story about how a black woman sees and can see the world.
Ntandokazi by Thabile Nhlapo
Book Review by Itumeleng Mavuso
The book tells the story of Yibanathi Bhengu, a young girl from the rural village of Bergville Zwelisha in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Ntandokazi is a fictional novel that depicts Yibanathi as a victim of a forced marriage known as Ukuthwala, where she is married off as a teenager without her consent to an older man. She disagrees with the decisions imposed on her life and feels powerless to change what her family and in-laws have determined for her.
In her quest for independence, Yibanathi abandons her newborn twins with the help of her maternal aunt to pursue her studies in law. She later graduates at the top of her class, finds love, and decides to return to her village to seek custody of her growing twins. However, she faces resistance and discovers that her younger sister, Uluthando, was forced to replace her as a Bhengu bride while Yibanathi chased her dreams. Complicating matters further, she learns that the man she has chosen as her life partner has a deep history with the Bhengu family.
The novel is filled with twists and turns and buried secrets, ultimately conveying the lesson that what is not confronted will come back to haunt you, as nothing goes unchallenged in life. There are two choices: confront the situation and bear the consequences, or avoid confrontation and create an even larger web of unresolved mysteries that will ripple through those around you and future generations.
Thabile Nhlapo, the author, is a family-oriented wife, sister, and friend from Randburg, Gauteng. She graduated cum laude in Human Resource Management and Digital Marketing, and is passionate about nature, family, and helping people reach their full potential. Thabile enjoys exploring new places and learning about diverse cultures and traditions.
The idea for the book was sparked by a documentary she watched about young girls, including some pre-teens, who were forced into marriage with much older men, often with the support of both their families. This highlighted clear violations of women’s rights and ignited her interest in pursuing a dialogue through creative fiction to address the pressing societal issue of gender-based violence, often masked as a cultural practice.
Broken Porcelain by Relebone Rirhandzu eAfrika
Interview with author Tebogo Molatlhegi
Relebone Rirhandzu eAfrika is a small-town girl getting lost in the big city. The Tzaneen-born and bred essayist, writer, literacy advocate, life coach and mental health advocate has been writing for years but still sees herself as a baby writer.She’s the host, content producer, and program coordinator of the mental health podcast The Nine Lives of Depression Survivors. She is an avid bookstagrammer (@blackfeatherhideout) who promotes Black writers and their work, and a plant mom who doesn’t believe that there is such a thing as having too many plants.You can find her ranting and being goofy on all social media at @relebone everywhere.
Start your collection of books by African Female Authors
1. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria)
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian writer whose works include novels, short stories and nonfiction.
Her most notable books are;
- "Half of a Yellow Sun"
- "Americanah"
- "Purple Hibiscus"
2. Nawal El Saadawi (Egypt)
Nawal Elsaadawi was an Egyptian feminist writer, activist and physician. She wrote numerous books on the subject of women in Islam, focusing on the practice of female genital mutilation in her society. Her most notable books are;
- "Woman at Point Zero"
- "The Hidden Face of Eve"
- "Memoirs of a Woman Doctor"
3. Buchi Emecheta (Nigeria)
Florence Onyebuchi "Buchi" Emecheta OBE was a Nigerian-born novelist, based in the UK from 1962, who also wrote plays and an autobiography, as well as works for children. Her most notable books are;
- "The Joys of Motherhood"
- "Second Class Citizen"
- "The Bride Price"
4. Tsitsi Dangarembga (Zimbabwe)
Tsitsi Dangarembga is a Zimbabwean novelist, playwright and filmmaker. Her debut novel, Nervous Conditions, which was the first to be published in English by a Black woman from Zimbabwe, was named by the BBC in 2018 as one of the top 100 books that have shaped the world. Her most notable books are;
- "Nervous Conditions"
- "The Book of Not: A Sequel to Nervous Conditions"
- "This Mournable Body"
5. Mariama Bâ (Senegal)
Mariama Bâ was a Senegalese author and feminist, whose two French-language novels were both translated into more than a dozen languages. Her most notable books are;
- "So Long a Letter"
- "Scarlet Song"
- "Une si longue lettre" (original French version of "So Long a Letter")
6. Leila Aboulela (Sudan)
Leila Fuad Aboulela is a fiction writer, essayist, and playwright of Sudanese origin based in Aberdeen, Scotland. She grew up in Khartoum, Sudan, and moved to Scotland in 1990 where she began her literary career. Her most notable books are;
- "The Translator"
- "The Kindness of Enemies"
- "Minaret"
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African Books Collective is a platform that aims to promote and distribute African literature. By following them, you can discover a wide range of books and authors from different African countries, providing diverse perspectives and voices. The platform provides Africans with an opportunity to immerse themselves in African culture and gain a deeper understanding of the experiences, history, and literature of the continent. There is no better way to show one's support for African authors, publishers, and the literary community. This can help contribute to the growth and development of African literature. African Boks Collective offers a vast collection of unique and often underrepresented narratives. By following the African Books Collective, you have a chance to explore and engage with these stories, broadening your literary horizons.