Sindiwe Magona – författare

A poignant tale of friendship, love, and the power of sisterhood in the face of life''s challenges.

The Five Firm Friends – Edith, Cordelia, Amanda, Doris and Beauty – are five sassy career women who confront life head-on. But when Beauty suddenly becomes ill and, after six short weeks, passes away, their world is thrown into confusion. On her deathbed, Beauty begs Amanda to promise her one thing – that she and the rest of the FFF will not waste their lives as she has done, all because of an unfaithful husband... ''Ukhule,'' she implores Amanda. May you live a long life, and may you become old.

In Beauty''s Gift, Sindiwe Magona, at her very best, weaves a moving tale of how four women decide to change their own fate as well as the lives of those closest to them in modern-day South Africa. With themes of love, relationships, and female empowerment, Magona urges women to speak up, stand up, and take control of their own lives.

‘All the way to school, and all day long, the same thought kept turning and turning in Busi’s mind. He will not forget my birthday. It is also his. No way could he forget his own birthday. Surely he remembers he shares it with me, his beloved daughter. We spoke about it during our weekly "visits", as he calls our scheduled Sunday afternoon telephone talks. And today is not any old ordinary birthday, either. THIRTEEN! I am a teenager at last. Certified, verified, glorified.

Should I call him? No, it is a special day for me: he must call first!

Thina sobabini? We two? We jive!

Except, that whole long day, no call came from her father.’

When the Village Sleeps is a visionary novel about what the loss of identity and dignity do to a people afflicted by decades of brokenness. Told through the lives and spirits of four generations of amaTolo women, including The Old, who speak wisdom with ever-increasing urgency, it moves between the bustling township setting of Kwanele and the different rhythms of rural village life. It recalls the sweeping sagas of the great A.C. Jordan and the Dhlomo brothers and invokes the poetry of S.E.K. Mqhayi, while boldly exploring urgent and contemporary issues. An ode to the complex strengths of South African women, When the Village Sleeps is also a powerful call to respect the earth that nurtures human life, and to live in self-sufficiency and harmony with the environment and each other.

Sindiwe Magona is a celebrated South African writer, storyteller and motivational speaker known mainly for her autobiographies, biographies, novels, short stories, poetry and children’s books. I Write the Yawning Void is a collection of essays that highlight her engagement with her writing that spans the transition from apartheid to the post-apartheid period, and that addresses themes such as HIV/Aids, language and culture, home and belonging. Magona worked as a teacher and domestic worker, and spent two decades working for the United Nations in the United States of America. She has received many awards for her fearless writing ‘truth to power’. Her written work is often informed by her lived experience of being a black woman resisting subjugation and poverty. These essays bring to life many facets of Magona’s personal history as well as her deepest convictions, her love for her country and despair at the problems that continue to plague it, and her belief in her ability to activate change. They demonstrate Magona’s mastery of the essay form and serve as meaningful supplements to her fictional works, offering insightful responses to the conditions that inspired them.

Sindiwe Magona is a celebrated South African writer, storyteller and motivational speaker known mainly for her autobiographies, biographies, novels, short stories, poetry and children’s books. I Write the Yawning Void is a collection of essays that highlight her engagement with her writing that spans the transition from apartheid to the post-apartheid period, and that addresses themes such as HIV/Aids, language and culture, home and belonging. Magona worked as a teacher and domestic worker, and spent two decades working for the United Nations in the United States of America. She has received many awards for her fearless writing ‘truth to power’. Her written work is often informed by her lived experience of being a black woman resisting subjugation and poverty. These essays bring to life many facets of Magona’s personal history as well as her deepest convictions, her love for her country and despair at the problems that continue to plague it, and her belief in her ability to activate change. They demonstrate Magona’s mastery of the essay form and serve as meaningful supplements to her fictional works, offering insightful responses to the conditions that inspired them.

Explore a vibrant tapestry of South African culture with this enchanting treasury of songs and poems, curated especially for young readers. Compiled by acclaimed children''s book author Refiloe Moahloli, this book features traditional and contemporary works in the rainbow nation''s 11 official spoken languages, each accompanied by an English translation. Join 17 esteemed contributors, including beloved authors Sindiwe Magona, Jaco Jacobs, Gcina Mhlophe and more, as they share works that celebrate the diversity and beauty of South Africa and its people. Illustrated throughout in full colour by award-winning illustrator Katlego Keokgale, the treasury is not just a book, but a visual feast that brings South African culture to life. Perfect for bedtime reading or to use in the classroom, All that I am, is a celebration of language, culture, and the power of storytelling that will captivate readers of all ages.