WOMAN ZONE STORIES

One of the four women who led The Women's March of 1956 to protest the pass laws, little has been known about Lilian Ngoyi. But in this book, media scholar Martha Evans has brought the stylish but fiery orator and activist to life, setting her firmly in apartheid South Africa of the time. Published by Penguin, its release coincides with the 70th anniversary of The March.

Every year the NPO 1000 Women Trust celebrates at Artscape's Women's Humanity Festival with a special event - this year, it was themed Healing Through Art and amongst others, it featured embroiderer Nell Louise Pollock and her powerful healing red-on-white artworks that helped her not only overcome, but gave her the opportunity to share the stories of others - in stitches.

It's impossible not to be moved by Because I Love You, writer and feminist researcher Joy Watson's book (Jonathan Ball) containing the, fictionalised, three stories of three women badly damaged by love. Her own story, part of which she includes here, has give Joy the insight to listen, to learn, to write and reflect. She shared the journey at the Woman Zone Book Club.

Of All Things We Need Hope (Modjaji Books) is indeed a story about hope, but also about forgiveness and restorative justice. And appropriately, in this Mandela Month, about kindness - as well as, unexpectedly, about knitting! Author and writing coach Sally Cranswick explains her thinking behind this story in which a woman visits her son's killer - in prison.

It being June, Youth Month in South Africa, we decided it would be interesting to hear from the upcoming generation of writers. So we approached English Alive, the annual anthology that features work by high school learners, and invited four of them to come and share. But a bonus was discovering that lead editor of the publication, Kirsten Deane, is a poet and disability activist who joined us to share the background to her newly released debut anthology, Disabled, But.

While libraries are closing down all across the UK, in some boroughs of the capital, London, they're not only still very much open for business, but flourishing. In Wandsworth for instance they have no fewer than 11 libraries - including one it Putney that, opened in 1899, has a unique history, as well as a rather newer manager, Katy Homden who has quite a story of her own.

Amongst the line-up of international literati who came to the Franschhoek Literary Festival this year was Indian born, American writer Alka Joshi. Such is her success, her Jaipur Trilogy and latest novel, Six Days in Bombay have been translated into over 30 languages. She is also one of the Forbes list of '50 over 50' of women making a global impact. Listen here to her writing journey, and so much more...

Showcasing, as always, writers from across the country and elsewhere in the world, this year the Franschhoek Literary Festival also held the promise of Africa with a delegate from Ethiopia. Listen here to curator Edom Belete, as she talks about the inaugural Addis Literary Festival.

South African civil-engineer turned author, Shameez Patel makes Rom-Com writing seem effortless. Published inthe USA (by Forever, an imprint of Hachette) her pigeon pair, Playing Flirty and Next Level Love are fun, fresh, witty and irresistible. But IRL (In Real Life... just so you know) getting it done is way more difficult story. She spoke to Nancy Richards at the Woman Zone Book Club and shared some tough truths.

On the back of The Light Remains (Modjaji) by Samantha Keller, it says ‘against the backdrop of complicated, beautiful South Africa in the 1960s, an epic family saga unfolds’. And it does. But here the author talks to Nancy Richards about the even more complicated, but long and fascinating, process of writing a story based on one’s own family. That and so much more.

Being differently abled has not stopped Sheryl James pursuing her dreams, but not without their challenges. Becoming a Paralympic was her goal and along the way 'Momager' Sandy started journaling. With Sheryl’smemories and notes, ‘Unbridling’ was born, their story of family, strength, determination and faith. On their way to an athletics meet in Stellenbosch they came to see us at Woman Zone …   

Following the release of her second novel, Fabrics of Love (Kwela), live wire author Lebo Mazibuko came to the Women's Library to talk us through some of the themes she works with - womanhood, township life, love, the generational clashes, modern vs tradition - and her own approach to writing. Interviewer Hazel Makuzeni picks up the threads...

Melinda Ferguson is prolific, in her life and in her work. She's a publisher, a motoring journalist, coach, consultant and, amongst other things, has authored four memoirs. But the 5th, Swift: a memoir (Ride or Die Press) is perhaps the most poignant of all, dealing with love and grief - the sudden passing of her soul mate and the first flight of a small bird. We spoke to her from her cabin in the mountains.

For such a slim little book, Nadia Davids haunting new novel, Cape Fever (Scribner) carries a lot of weight. The weight of two worlds, the weight of the Cape, the weight carried by women - the weight of war, and of words - written and spoken. On a visit to The Women's Library she shared some of its history, and its secrets.

We recently had a visitor at The Women's Library, all the way from Scotland. She's well-established children's book author, Nadine Aisha Jassat who we first met years ago through the Glasgow Women's Library. But we were thrilled to welcome her again, to see the latest in her trilogy of children's books, The House at the Edge of the World , to receive the gifts she brought - and to discover that libraries are very big in her life as well as an inspiration. Take a listen...

In the old days women would sometimes quilt, sitting round a table to work on a piece together. As part of our EVERYWOMAN Project, we plan to do just that, to create a very special Commemorative Quilt, and we'll be inviting YOU to join us. But first, we'd like you to Meet the Quilter who inspired it, FELICITY KHAN...

This play, written by Zakes Mda back in 1988 and on at The Baxter Theatre in Cape Town till March 7, tells the poignant story of two women as they wait, and wait, in a queue. Their conversation and unfolding relationship reveals more than a few home truths about their lives as individuals, but also about the bigger picture confronting so many women. Listen here to actors Awethu Hleli and Tamzin Daniels as they unpack their roles, and their thoughts.

Pumla Makeleni is not a librarian, but she is passionate about books, early literacy and language. Which is why, in its second year, she focused her Ibuyambo Book Festival in Langa, on mother-tongue reading and writing. I went along to the Langa Civic Centre to find out more.

What better day to hear about a book of love poetry than on Valentine's Day! Dr Hlami Ngwenya, amongst many other things, is the author of two anthologies - the latest, a birthday gift for a new love, is called 53 Years Later: The State Is Captured subtitled An official report on the irregular takeover of the Hearts’s governance system (Shofar) As Guest Author of the Month, she came to share the whole story.

Writer and founder of Sweet Life, an online diabetes community, Bridget McNulty is a busy lady. But not too busy to notice Daily Glimmers - the title of her new book all about the 'art of finding tiny joys every day of the year'. Listen here to the back story as she talks to Woman Zone's Beryl Eichenberger

Having started this series with Women's Libraries in the UK, we decided to seek out some 'Women on the Shelf' closer to home. And so, in what may qualify as one of the smallest libraries in the world, just outside Cape Town, we met Vovo in Gugulethu.

As part of the Cape Flats Book Festival's 5th birthday this year, a small team from Woman Zone was very honoured to be invited, not only to facilitate some panel discussions, but to give a writing workshop called FLOW. But in between sessions, there was the opportunity to do some serious eavesdropping - so take a listen here, and be sure to watch out for details of next years Festival!

Burning Down the House (Karavan Press), a collection of anarchic essays by a new generation of activists and scholars began its journey on a Feminism course given by lecturers Charisse Louw and Stella Viljoen at Stellenbosch University. In writing their pieces, 16 contributors have breathed new, provocative perspectives into the word, and at our Book Club, they shared just some of their thinking processes.

In the third and final episode in this series (for now), we very proudly bring you The Glasgow Women's Library as she was the primary inspiration for own much smaller edition in Cape Town. Do take a listen, and if you know any other women's libraries, anywhere in the world, do let us know as we'd love to be in touch. Meanwhile, happy listening!

For the second in our series on Women's Libraries, we visited The Feminist Library. Housed in a significantly historic old building with a story of its own to tell, we found it tucked away in Peckham, South London - and filled with fascinating material.

As a very small Women's Library based in Cape Town at Artscape, we wondered how other Women's Libraries worked. So we set off to the UK where we found three! First up we took a visit to the one at The London School of Economics. Take a listen, and watch this space for two more.

Photographer Ajay Lalu is donating proceeds from A Mountain Divides, his book about Cape Town's famous ' Klopse' minstrel parade, to shoot4purpose, an initiative empowering women through photography.

To mark the end of 2025, The Women's Library was 'fully booked' with a big fat Book Swap and the back stories of a brace of book babes in the publishing biz. Happy listening - and happy holiday reading!

The Smallest Ones  (Penguin Random House) is a personal account of survival in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo of the early 2000s. Captured by rebel soldiers, Popina Khumanda, and many others were captured tortured and raped. Amazingly, Popina and her older sister managed to escape, and find their way to South Africa. But their nightmare was not over. Popina writes about this journey with unflinching honesty in a testament to the power of hope and resilience.

Through a campaign called #Doekwithadifference, the Cancer Alliance https://canceralliance.org.za/ wants every woman to know that whilst it can be a killer, Cervical Cancer is also 100% preventable. In the first in a series of Story Cafe's and in partnership with Woman Zone and Artscape, they share the info.

Author and founder of the hugely popular victim-focused podcast series True Crime South Africa, NICOLE ENGLEBRECHT speaks to Beryl Eichenberger about the making of the series and about her fourth book, BARE BONES: Cold Cases from True Crime South Africa (Jonathan Ball).

In this heritage month, with our thoughts on legacy, what better legacy we felt, than to pass on a love of reading. So our two Guest Authors this month have both turned their hands to writing for children. Listen here to poet Diana Ferrusand actor Bianca Flanders.

Law, Life and Langenhoven was the title of Dominique Malherbe's event at 'Nave Narratives', the first ever book festival in Stanford in the Western Cape. But author of two memoirs and a book called 'Searching for Sarah', Dominique offered much more - primarily about her life 'in writing'.

Among the many literary legends attending the Open Book Festival this year, was literary activist Goretti Kyomuhendo from Uganda. Her latest novel Promises (Catalyst Press) straddles Kampala and London and took her fifteen years to complete. But co-founder of FEMRITE in 1995, she has many stories to tell, including here, a little of her own.

Ode to Sara is a short documentary produced by filmmaker Nomandla Vilakazi as part of her Master's thesis at the University of Cape Town. It features the story of 19th Khoisan woman Sarah Baartman, with whom Nomandla's own journey is inextricably linked. It also features the poem written by Diana Ferrus on the repatriation of Sara's remains and will be followed by a second doccie called simply Bones. Nomandla spoke to Theresa Smith of Woman Zone as part of the Artscape Women's Humanity Festival. Arts

The title Deep Blue: Why we love the sea (Jonathan Ball) says it all. But for journalist, writer, communications specialist and diver Veruska De Vita, there is so much more, and the book is not just her own story. 'Water is primordial. It represents hope and renewal.' Veruska will be a speaker at the Open Book Festival in Cape Town from Sept 5th to the 7th, but you can get a taste of Deep, right here...

As part of this years Artscape Women’s Humanity Festival, we held a special WZ Book Club – a sort of double bill about women and apartheid. We spoke to literary activist Xolisa Guzula, one of the co-authors of a book called Together Apart: The Story of Living in Apartheid (Jacana) and to artistactivist Sue Williamson, a Festival icon whose retrospective exhibition at the Iziko SA National Gallery is called There’s Something I Must Tell You. Take a listen here to what they had to say.

Chickens and curry, khannas, community police, children, church clocks and chardonnay are all part of the mix that journalist and author Vanessa Govender serves up in The Village Indian (Jacana), her memoir about life for a mixed-race family in a small rural town in the Western Cape.

'Growing up in Ziyabuya township, Nomandla battles poverty, racism, and her own mental health.' Braids & Migraines is a debut novel that tells Nomandla's story, but author Andile Cele knows exactly what she's talking about. Hear her as Guest Author of the Month in conversation with Maryam Adams.

British writer, playwright and champion of women's writing, Kate Mosse is a prolific author and co-founder of the Women's Prize for Fiction. She's well known for her historical fiction, not least the Joubert Family Chronicles which have brought her back to Franschhoek many times. Following this years Literary Festival in that town, Beryl Eichenberger spoke to her at The Women's Library at Artscape.

'You are what you eat', so the saying goes. But how does food affect your health and wellbeing? For Zambian-born Dietician, Performance Nutritionist and author of Food for Menopause Dr Linda Patel, food has been life changing. Join her here for the journey.

While there's a serious side to Juliette's own story, the humour in her book If The Dead Could Talk (Kwela), and in her interview with Beryl Eichenberger at The Women's Library at Artscape, is irrepressible! Join this new princess of 'cosy crime' as she sets the scene.

With ten published novels to her name, a radio book show and an online Book Club with 23,000 members, Paige Nick is the quintessential book person. Unsurprising then her latest title is called Book People ( Pan Macmillan). At the Woman Zone Book Club, she spoke to Beryl Eichenberger, about its origins, as well as her own.

For a change we heard a story, not from an author this time, but from an actor. Erika Breytenbach came along to The Women’s Library at Artscape, to talk about the one-woman play I Can Buy Myself Flowers that tracks the all-too-familiar, tragi-comic lives of six city women. Written by Mike van Graan, and co-produced with Unlikely Productions, it's opening March 28 2025 at The Wave in Cape Town - with a countrywide run ahead.

Included in the many important social messages internationally- acclaimed artist Sue Williamson shares in her 50 year retrospective exhibition at the Iziko National Gallery, are the voices of women calling for, amongst other things, Peace.

Sharing her stories and baring her soul, former international supermodel and photographer Josie Borain was recently at The Alma Cafe in Rosebank, in conversation with Nancy Richards of Woman Zone.

Paleoanthropologist Mary Leakey, much awarded and sometimes known as the Grande Dame of Archaeology, was remarkable. Not just for her fossilsed discoveries back in the 1950’s-70’s of skulls and tools dating back 200 million years, but for the extraordinary life she led – moving from Londonto East Africa.She was also the wife of paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey, and co-founder ofThe Leakey Foundation, but inFollow Me To Africa – its Mary’s own story that Penny Haw de Vos tells.

The Namib is said to be one of the oldest and most hostile deserts in the world. And with temperatures rising over 50o, it seems like the last place on earth you'd want to be, never mind run. But for Kim Sonntag, the Beyond the Ultimate Desert Ultramarathon was 'a challenge' - listen to how she found it, and conquered it.

Just prior to the start of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender based Violence, Woman Zone joined forces with the Cape Town Interfaith Initiative and Artscape to host a discussion asking How Faith and Spirituality Can Work against GBV. Here we get just a a taste of a very big conversation.

I Will Not Be Silenced (Tafelberg), the defiant title of legal journalist Karyn Maughan's new book, speaks volumes. About the damaging motivation behind the private prosecution brought against her by former president Jacob Zuma, and about the woman herself.