Reading a book is like allowing yourself to travel to different places from the comfort of your own space. I love stories of all kinds, but there’s something so special about stories written about the country we live in, don’t you think? It’s always so much easier to relate to them, which makes reading really exciting. So here are a few proudly South African books I’m loving at the moment.

Born To Kwaito

Written by Sihle Mthembu and Esinako Ndabeni, Born To Kwaito is a collection of essays reflecting on the genre of music we know as “Kwaito” and the generation that was brought up by this music. I love this book because it also tackles important issues of negative masculinity in the music industry. More than anything, it’s a great celebration of a truly South African sound, which is why I love it so much.

The Girl Without A Sound

This story follows a young girl without a voice, who’s searching for a sound of her own. Buhle Ngaba wrote this book as a way to fight against the princess, fairytale stories that are often written for young girls. This book hopes to inspire young girls of colour to find their true voices in a world that tries to silence them.

Mpumi’s Magic Beads

The book is a children’s fantasy story about 3 little girls who use the magic in Mpumi’s hair beads to make wishes and have fun around the city of Johannesburg. One of the authors, Lebohang Masango, is a woman and poet who I love so much because all her work celebrates love and womanhood.

Have you read any of these books? If you have any others that you want to share with me, let me know in the comments, Choma.

Remember, if you or a friend need advice or help, you can contact me here on Ask Choma, send me a Facebook Message, a Twitter DM, or a WhatsApp Message (071 172 3657).