There’s a compelling scene in Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie where the Nigerian protagonist Ifemelu is getting her hair braided in a stuffy American hair salon. During the six hours that she’s there, stories from the past and present unfurl in a gripping narrative. While Ifemelu is waiting patiently for the hairdresser to complete her work, a […]
In the spirit of Rory Gilmore, here is my pros-and-cons list of the Gilmore Girls revival, which started showing on Netflix in November last year. Before I start my review, let the record reflect that I am completely biased. I’ve been looking forward to binge-watching the revival since news of its existence first dropped. I re-watched all […]
This morning, Facebook reminded me of a post I shared last year when my friend Kutloano came to visit me when I came home from hospital. It’s quite fitting then, that she also went back to the Pretoria Urology Centre with me last week for my check-ups. But the photo was just another tug at […]
How lucky am I, that in a world such as this one, I have had an arsenal of teachers pushing me forward, encouraging me to be whoever I want to be, to live with dignity and integrity?
That time we went on a road trip around New Zealand … in a campervan “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.” — J.R.R. Tolkien In a van on the […]
Saffron book launch enjoys a massive turnout Last Sunday, I attended the launch of Saffron: a collection of personal narratives by Muslim women. I was invited by a friend who is also a contributor to the collection, Khaleeda Moosa. Scroll down for tweets from the launch under the hashtag #saffronbooklaunch As I made […]
Welcome to Bibliotherapy Thursday, where I will recommend books to suit your moods. Before I go on, I must make a disclaimer. I am not a medical doctor or a registered therapist. I cannot give advice on mental health, nor will I even attempt to do so. If you feel blue or you […]
Human Rights Day 2018 comes at a time when apathy threatens to destroy and divide us. Here are 5 books that will help us understand what the day really means. Human Rights Day: Remembering the Sharpeville Massacre of 1960 As I’m writing this, I can hear singing in the streets. It’s a […]
I remember the first time I went to the library. Yes, I see you calling bullshit, but it’s the truth. It was before I went to school. My mom took me with her to the public library, where she used to take out Afrikaans novels. I can’t remember what she read, but I can recall […]
The purpose of this story on limbo is not to make you feel sorry for me. If sympathy is your default setting, stop. I don’t want it. I just want to write through this. I don’t remember a time that I didn’t want to run away from home. My skin and bones never felt […]
Reviews on a Train 