A CONCERN with the dearth of positive stories affirming the power of women impelled three South Africans to write a book. Her Story: Daughters of Modjadji/Umlando Wakhe: Amadodakazi endlovukazi uModjadji was launched at Soweto’s Maponya Mall on Friday evening.
An ambience of lively storytelling pervaded the venue as parents and children were treated to readings. Among those who read passages from the book was the great-granddaughter of Albertina Sisulu, Nontsikelelo Sisulu-Singapi, as her great-grandmother is one of the women featured.
Authors Natasha Allie and Baba-Tamana Gqubule said they wrote the book to fill a gap around women issues in the market. The third author, Thandiwe Matthews, is currently pursuing her studies overseas.
“We were tired of stories of black women not being written and if they are, they’re are not being written by black women,” said Allie. Gqubule said they shared a common goal.
“We felt there weren’t enough stories told about women. We decided to tell stories reflecting women’s journeys that are not linear. We wanted to tell stories that are positive and affirming,” she said.
“We had doubled the number of women we have now. But we cut it down because we organised the book in affirming themes such as ‘I Love Myself’ and ‘We Have Fighting Power’, and we then decided to select women who we have a connection with and we organised the women according to those affirming themes.”
Gqubule added that this was the first in the series. “We’ll be including women from different regions, the next one will be on women in Ethiopia. And, of course, we decided we are not going to be the lead in that one because we are not from that part of the world.
“The whole concept of the book was to be inclusive. We’ve got pictures done by young girls in schools. The front cover was chosen by kids in schools. So in the same way, we decided a woman from Ethiopia would be the lead in the next one.”
Speaking about the importance of self-identity at a young age, Allie said in early childhood development one needs a positive attitude to life and to know how to assert oneself.
“The book is aimed at seven- to 12-year-olds. That’s when you start toying with concepts like self-identity, confidence and being comfortable in your own skin.
“It is the first time you start thinking of what you want to be when you grow up. Even if you don’t become that, that’s when you start grappling with the idea of a career.” She adds that the book is targeted at children with a view to expose them to gender issues and enable them to realise that there are many women who can be scientists, athletes, accountants or judges. A diversity of careers and backgrounds went into the book to show little girls and boys endless possibilities.
The book features stories of 30 South African women. The authors wrote the book to present role models for younger girls and boys.
One of the women featured in the book is Marina Maponya, the late wife of Soweto businessman Richard Maponya. Marina, who was also a businesswoman in her own right and a community leader, made her contribution in the field of entrepreneurship at a time when economic development for the majority was proscribed. One of the organisations featured in the book is People Opposing Women Abuse (Powa).
The stories are accompanied by vivid illustrations and interactive comic strips. The authors said the empowerment of girls is a fundamental building block of the publication, with most of the writers and illustrators being female.
It has been printed as a reversible English and Zulu book, with other languages to follow over the next three years. Her Story/Umlando Wakhe is available online (www.khalozabooks.com), or at African Flavour Books, Bridge Books, Xarra Books and Protea Bookshop.
@LesegoMakgatho