BOOKS
BoNE
A
chronicle of the struggle and
splendor of love, family, sex, race
and gender. Yrsa writes about
being black, being a woman and
relating to women. But more importantly
Bone is about being human.
The title is indicative of the raw nature
of this narrative. Her poems, although
impactful on their own, come together and
form a broader story. This is an enchanting
tale about the beauty of a beating heart,
identifying truths about the world.
In her poem ‘Liking Things’ she
explains how even women who were
brought up to be conservative and
subservient suffer animalistic desires.
On the beauty of ageing, Yrsa adequately
and eloquently uses a metaphor that likens
the fermenting of wine to the fermenting
of the spirit. And after reading this precise
piece called ‘Wine’ one can’t help but
celebrate what we may have learned in
the years which have come to pass.
Yrsa definitely didn’t miss the head of the
nail in saying, “If you’re afraid to write, it’s
a good sign. I suppose you know you’re
writing the truth when you’re terrified.”As
a whole, it identifies truths the world often
chooses to ignore. And through beautiful
prose, making them more palatable.
It’s insightful, enlightening and definitively
poignant.
BY NOBUSI MAQUBELA
dau g h t e r s o f a f r i c a
L
iterature, poetry and essays have
always played a crucial part in
the living autobiographies of our
African descendants. This delicate
collection speaks about the privilege and
the social challenges of being a woman
born on African soil. And for some, the
excruciating chronicles of being uprooted
from the motherland.
You’re in for a colourful treat as this 1000
page anthology offers a wide range of
diverse ancient and modern anecdotes
from women. Daughters of Africa is
synchronised with scripts from Queen
Hatchepsut to the modern literary gems
such as Toni Morrison and Jamaica Kincaid.
IMBO/ ISSUE 32/ '14
What we take away from the different and
gritty narratives is that the black female is not
one portrait or image, but a conglomerate
of (sometimes misunderstood) beauty
which has been globally scattered.
What I absolutely enjoyed the most is
how beautifully diverse these women are.
Some sensual, some depicting warriors and
others politically poetic…
It could be an avenue for learning about
the essence of womanhood, allowing our
African men to peer through our intricacies.
I would highly recommend it to women
who share in the unapologetic, divine
feminine aesthetic.
BY LEBOHANG MORAKE
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