New author’s work explores love and xenophobia

THABILE Shange’s first novel, In The Midst Of It All, is opening doors for her.

The journalist from Newlands West explores the relationship between a South African woman and a man from elsewhere in Africa and the hurdles they face in turbulent times.

She will be at the Gauteng International Book Festival on December 11 with renowned authors such as Fred Khumalo and Dudu Busani-Dube in a discussion titled Our Stories – A Celebration.

“I’m very excited about this festival because it will be bringing local authors together,” said Shange.

She has also been invited on radio and TV interviews.

Shange said her love of reading started at a young age.

“I was born in KwaMashu and spent the first years of my life there. My family and I then moved to Newlands West where I completed my matric at New West Secondary School,” said Shange. “My choice to study journalism was because I wanted a career where I would write.”

She was inspired to write In The Midst Of It All by the desire to change the narrative on foreign nationals and

their relationships.

“I didn’t like how women in relationships with non-South African men, Nigerian men particularly, are usually perceived,” said Shange.

“As someone who was in this kind of relationship before, I wanted to write something that would represent me and other women correctly. Also, I love and I wanted to write a beautiful African love story.”

Shange believes the government could do more do to deal with xenophobia.

Shange said that in the book there is a scene where the main character, Nandi, is shamed and insulted for being in a relationship with a Nigerian man.

Although no one has said anything to her personally, she would read comments and posts online about women in this kind of relationship and would feel judged and shamed.

For her book, she did more research and interviews, and invested a lot of emotions. She said the reception for the book had been good. “It’s been lovely. People are very supportive and engaging with the content posted on social media,” said Shange.

She said that she didn’t share details with her family, but they were excited and supportive once she informed them of her publishing contract with Kwela Books. “As soon as the copies were delivered, my dad finished reading it in a couple of days,” said Shange.

The book is available at all leading bookstores nationwide and online.