Dear Julius Malema
I hope my letter finds you well today Please allow me to introduce myself, I am Jedi Ramalapa from South … Continue reading Dear Julius Malema
(Post Script): Every Journey Begins With A Sowetan
This phrase, Every Journey Begins with a Sowetan, was once on a billboard inside the Johannesburg Park Station, colloquially known … Continue reading (Post Script): Every Journey Begins With A Sowetan
Palimpsest: Scraped Clean and Ready to Use Again
Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash The first time I came across the word Palimpsest was in the first Episode of the third … Continue reading Palimpsest: Scraped Clean and Ready to Use Again
The End of History and The Stories We Tell
I have been having a bit of trouble processing the amount of information which has been flooding my screen lately. … Continue reading The End of History and The Stories We Tell
We Are Responsible For Who We Become
Early on into Former US President Barak Obamas’ presidency, a Harvard Professor, Henry Louis Gates was arrested for trespassing in … Continue reading We Are Responsible For Who We Become
The World Doesn’t Stop For Your Grief
This week has been a tough one. I felt a lot of grief which I could not place because it … Continue reading The World Doesn’t Stop For Your Grief
When I had To Forgive Myself: Not Easy
Sometime last year after a rather bruising encounter with a friend where she felt I needed to apologise, not only … Continue reading When I had To Forgive Myself: Not Easy
It’s Been A While….
To the woman who loved me without a career, a job, or the ability to dress myself, eat, drink and … Continue reading It’s Been A While….
Even Friends Will Let You Down Sometimes
A writer friend of mine recently called to share some of her frustration and disappointment upon learning that her friends … Continue reading Even Friends Will Let You Down Sometimes
When Your Family Lets You Down: Chin-up
For those of you who are regular readers of my blog, you will know that my family is very important … Continue reading When Your Family Lets You Down: Chin-up
Age: Nothing but a number?
April is my birthday month. The only time I “celebrated” my birthday on my own was on my first year … Continue reading Age: Nothing but a number?
2020: When Keeping Your Distance is Loving
I am late. I have been running behind on my “I have learnt” blogging challenge to myself which was inspired … Continue reading 2020: When Keeping Your Distance is Loving
#OnLockDown: Friendship Without Borders
I was in the midst of rearranging my mind, shifting the priorities of my heart while reflecting and maybe even … Continue reading #OnLockDown: Friendship Without Borders
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgement; (noun) Acceptance of the truth or existence of something. I enjoy reading acknowledgement sections in almost every book I pick. … Continue reading Acknowledgements
Caught: Off Guard
This week’s truism from Paolo Coelho’s blog caught me off guard. All week I have tried to reason with it, to … Continue reading Caught: Off Guard
Attitude: You Control It
The recent chaos in South Africa over comments by Former South African President and Nobel laureate F W De Klerk … Continue reading Attitude: You Control It
Beyond Charm: What Do You Know?
I’ve learned that you can get by on charm, for about fifteen minutes. After that, you’d better know something; This … Continue reading Beyond Charm: What Do You Know?
Trust: This Land Is Not Ours, Yet
I’ve learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it. I’ve decided to … Continue reading Trust: This Land Is Not Ours, Yet
Who Cares: When No One Does?
Brazilian Author of the Alchemist Paul Coelho shared a post on his blog about a list of things he’s learnt … Continue reading Who Cares: When No One Does?
Accept Yourself : You cannot Make Someone Love You
Brazilian Author of the Alchemist Paul Coelho recently shared a blog post about a list of things he’s learnt which … Continue reading Accept Yourself : You cannot Make Someone Love You
Maponya: Feeding The Nation One Generation At a Time
Perhaps it was not a coincidence that the name Maponya came up during our family New Year’s Eve dinner recently. … Continue reading Maponya: Feeding The Nation One Generation At a Time
Chihombori-Quao: ‘Maybe I Lasted Longer Than I Should Have’
Former African Union Ambassador to the US Dr Arikana Chihombori-Quao says she was was not surprised by her recent dismissal … Continue reading Chihombori-Quao: ‘Maybe I Lasted Longer Than I Should Have’
Zulu Wedding: Re-writing History?
This week I had a blast watching the Zulu Wedding, a South African feature film about a young Zulu woman … Continue reading Zulu Wedding: Re-writing History?
Sticks & Stones: Journalism and Hate Speech in South Africa
“I realise that when reporting, I walk with a stoop now, bent from the world as if to protect myself. … Continue reading Sticks & Stones: Journalism and Hate Speech in South Africa
May The Best African Language Presenter Win!
On the week that researchers released a report revealing that most black South African households (parents) prefer to educate their … Continue reading May The Best African Language Presenter Win!
Africa: Stories in The Mist
Storytelling is not an easy skill to master. For the past few weeks I have been writing and re-writing stories … Continue reading Africa: Stories in The Mist
Error: Mind Your Language(s), Nkandla is Beautiful!
The Week That Was For two days last week, I reported from the front-lines of what many in the media … Continue reading Error: Mind Your Language(s), Nkandla is Beautiful!
Juba: The Dream vs Reality
When I accepted an offer to work in Juba, South Sudan for twelve months, I instinctively wanted to write about … Continue reading Juba: The Dream vs Reality
A QUESTION OF POWER: DON’T SAY THAT #freestellanyanzi
There’s a story a former colleague and housemate told me once about “madness”. The story has stuck with me over … Continue reading A QUESTION OF POWER: DON’T SAY THAT #freestellanyanzi
Why are (most) African Leaders Silent on Media Freedom?
The people would be forgiven for thinking that most African leaders are not committed to building liberal democratic institutions as … Continue reading Why are (most) African Leaders Silent on Media Freedom?
Consent: Is a Woman’s Right
As women leaders and activists from around the world gather for the 63 Commission on the Status of Women in … Continue reading Consent: Is a Woman’s Right
Homegoing: A Non Book Review
This post is inspired by a recent reading of Yaa Gyasi’s book, HomeGoing (2016). It is a book chosen by … Continue reading Homegoing: A Non Book Review
There is No War on Women
Perhaps this is the title that many men who commented on a book I’ve been reading this week by the … Continue reading There is No War on Women
Forgiveness: It’s Not Black or White, It’s Personal
It came out of nowhere, just like Die Stem, South Africa’s national anthem from 1957 to 1994. I thought we … Continue reading Forgiveness: It’s Not Black or White, It’s Personal
ON: THE LOVE DIARY OF A ZULU BOY
A memoir by Bhikisisa Mncube A few months ago I was part of a social gathering in which the Master … Continue reading ON: THE LOVE DIARY OF A ZULU BOY
AT LAST: YOU’RE YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK
A once dear friend of mine loved to compare me to the American singer, songwriter, composer and pianist Nina Simone. … Continue reading AT LAST: YOU’RE YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK
SOLD: How Ramaphosa Managed
This picture of former South African President Jacob Zuma with the newly elected South African President Cyril Ramaphosa brought to … Continue reading SOLD: How Ramaphosa Managed
Inxeba: Tradition VS Culture
Back when I was a journalism student at Natal Technikon now DUT I attempted, rather poorly, to articulate the continuous … Continue reading Inxeba: Tradition VS Culture
Unveiling Democracy: It’s A Mirage
I’m here watching as the brilliant pallet of hopeful colours democracy once painted for us in vivid penetrating hues of … Continue reading Unveiling Democracy: It’s A Mirage
Coconut: Soothing oil for growing Afros
I do not know how to make it pretty. I do not know how to mask it. It is not … Continue reading Coconut: Soothing oil for growing Afros
THE NEW DEAL: OLD NEWS, NEW DATES
It has become phenomenally difficult to retain any level of optimism regarding African politics these days. It’s as if the … Continue reading THE NEW DEAL: OLD NEWS, NEW DATES
THE LEADING SEX: DOES GENDER MATTER?
The incoming president of the Business Woman Association of South Africa (BWASA) Happy Ralinala has challenged women to put their … Continue reading THE LEADING SEX: DOES GENDER MATTER?
ABAHLALI: LINDIWE’S UNTOLD STORY
You can listen to a podcast-radio version of this story here. It is arguably one of the largest shack dweller’s … Continue reading ABAHLALI: LINDIWE’S UNTOLD STORY
POWER FAILURE: LIGHTS ARE ON BUT NOBODY’S HOME
[LISTEN] Take a trip to Nairobi, Kenya and you will find a country at war with itself where political contest … Continue reading POWER FAILURE: LIGHTS ARE ON BUT NOBODY’S HOME
THE EFF: AND ITS LANGUAGE GAME
Click here to listen to the audio version of this article. It is rather unfortunate that the newest political party … Continue reading THE EFF: AND ITS LANGUAGE GAME
APOCALYPSE: LET ME EAT FIRST
You can also listen to an audio version of this column here In the 2008 documentary film Behind the Rainbow … Continue reading APOCALYPSE: LET ME EAT FIRST
MONEY: MIND LAUNDERING
“In politics, we will have equality and in social and economic life we will have inequality. In politics, we will … Continue reading MONEY: MIND LAUNDERING
TJOVITJO: I’M SORRY, WHAT?
The recent exchange between ‘the people’s bae’ South African Member of Parliament and Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi … Continue reading TJOVITJO: I’M SORRY, WHAT?
LOVE: FROM PAIN TO POWER
Beyond the biblical definition of what love is: kind, patient, does not boast, does not think of evil, always hopes, … Continue reading LOVE: FROM PAIN TO POWER
11 Tips to Wield Power: ‘Die Hoof Meisie’ Monica Geingos
I had to share this. It’s been a while since I came across a public official whose message resonated with … Continue reading 11 Tips to Wield Power: ‘Die Hoof Meisie’ Monica Geingos
Black People Need To Be Loved
A conversation with my sister had me in tears today. She wanted to know how I was doing, really. I’m … Continue reading Black People Need To Be Loved
