Mphuthumi Ntabeni's guest appearances

Mphuthumi Ntabeni

Africa: Stories in the 55

The Cheeky Natives

A Readers' Community 

Angela Makholwa

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Morgan Parker

Kimberlé Crenshaw

Sarah Ladipo Manyika

Mona Eltahawy

Brandon Taylor

Zinzi Clemmons

Aminatta Forna

Abi Daré

Sisonke Msimang

Lauren Beukes

Irenosen Okojie

Yewande Omotoso

Zukiswa Wanner

OwlTail

In this final episode of the season, we look at stand out reads from 2021 so far, featuring a conversation with Mphuthumi Ntabeni, author of The Wanderers. Jess’s favourite picture book of the year so far is The Rock From the Sky by Jon Klassen, while the book that has meant most to Colin this year is The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr, and Luami’s stand out read is a spec fic novel, Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon. Hosted by Vasti Calitz. Produced by Andri Burnett. A Readers' Community is a South African literary podcast featuring conversations with local authors and recommendations from Book Lounge staff.

In this final episode of the season, we look at stand out reads from 2021 so far, featuring a conversation with Mphuthumi Ntabeni, author of The Wanderers. Jess’s favourite picture book of the year so far is The Rock From the Sky by Jon Klassen, while the book that has meant most to Colin this year is The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr, and Luami’s stand out read is a spec fic novel, Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon. Hosted by Vasti Calitz. Produced by Andri Burnett. A Readers' Community is a South African literary podcast featuring conversations with local authors and recommendations from Book Lounge staff.

Why We Read with Mphuthumi Ntabeni

Written about the life and times of Maqoma, the Xhosa chief who was at the forefront of fighting British colonialism in the Eastern Cape during the nineteenth century. The story is told through the eyes of a young South African, Phila, who suffers from what he calls triple ‘N’ condition – neurasthenia, narcolepsy and cultural ne plus ultra.  It is touted as an entrancing novel that marries imagination with history in a foray into the rapidly growing genre of historical fiction.Phila, who returns from his architectural studies in Germany has to learn to rediscover home. This is done through Maqoma’s historical telling, as they both visit places of biographical relevance to both their lives. It is told in a sequence of interconnected events. As a book of historical literature, it flirts between the borders of fact and fiction, even rattles a historical cage or two.This layered story traverses multiple locations and time periods, flitting from the Eastern Cape, Robben Island and contemporary South Africa. Using the voice of a people traditionally marginalised, it offers a historical perspective from those deeply affected by the Frontier Wars while battling with modern-day legacies stemming from this hosiery of subjugation. Mputhumi Ntabeni has previously claimed not to be a writer in terms of a career, but his extensive work in writing The Broken River Tent is evidence to contrary.  Although difficult and flawed, the two characters easily generate empathy. Phila is well educated, sophisticated but emotionally immature while Maqoma comes from beyond the grave as the ancestor to bring historical perspective and wisdom. Exploring themes of mental health, religion and estrangement. Mphuthumi is at his finest demonstrating why this book is a national award winner.He sat down for a long-awaited conversation with Dr Alma-Nalisha Cele to discuss the book, the themes and all the characters. The conversation is filled with deep reflection of the importance of historical fiction.  Follow him on social media Twitter: @mphushntabeni Instagram: mphuthumi

Written about the life and times of Maqoma, the Xhosa chief who was at the forefront of fighting British colonialism in the Eastern Cape during the nineteenth century. The story is told through the eyes of a young South African, Phila, who suffers from what he calls triple ‘N’ condition – neurasthenia, narcolepsy and cultural ne plus ultra. It is touted as an entrancing novel that marries imagination with history in a foray into the rapidly growing genre of historical fiction. Phila, who returns from his architectural studies in Germany has to learn to rediscover home. This is done through Maqoma’s historical telling, as they both visit places of biographical relevance to both their lives. It is told in a sequence of interconnected events. As a book of historical literature, it flirts between the borders of fact and fiction, even rattles a historical cage or two. This layered story traverses multiple locations and time periods, flitting from the Eastern Cape, Robben Island and contemporary South Africa. Using the voice of a people traditionally marginalised, it offers a historical perspective from those deeply affected by the Frontier Wars while battling with modern-day legacies stemming from this hosiery of subjugation. Mputhumi Ntabeni has previously claimed not to be a writer in terms of a career, but his extensive work in writing The Broken River Tent is evidence to contrary. Although difficult and flawed, the two characters easily generate empathy. Phila is well educated, sophisticated but emotionally immature while Maqoma comes from beyond the grave as the ancestor to bring historical perspective and wisdom. Exploring themes of mental health, religion and estrangement. Mphuthumi is at his finest demonstrating why this book is a national award winner. He sat down for a long-awaited conversation with Dr Alma-Nalisha Cele to discuss the book, the themes and all the characters. The conversation is filled with deep reflection of the importance of historical fiction. Follow him on social media Twitter: @mphushntabeni Instagram: mphuthumi

Mphuthumi Ntabeni: Broken River Tent

In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, South African writer Mphuthumi Ntabeni describes his twenty-year journey into the mind of Maqoma, a chief in the Xhosa community who lived in the 1800s. Ntabeni uses Maqoma's lifelong struggle against the British as the backdrop for his novel The Broken River Tent, as Maqoma guides modern-day character Phila through the realities of fighting for their land. Writer Mphuthumi Ntabeni speaks of the difficulty in writing about such a painful time in Xhosa history, but he says inspiration came from the fact that there are no books that speak of the land invasions in the Eastern Cape in the 1800s from a Xhosa point of view."I put psychological emotions and thinking behind the actual historical events," says Ntabeni. Also included in this podcast: Nigerian writer Nnamoi Ehirin, author of Prince of Monkeys, his debut novel out in April, speaks about his favorite book from the Heinemann African classics series.

In this month's Africa: Stories in the 55, South African writer Mphuthumi Ntabeni describes his twenty-year journey into the mind of Maqoma, a chief in the Xhosa community who lived in the 1800s. Ntabeni uses Maqoma's lifelong struggle against the British as the backdrop for his novel The Broken River Tent, as Maqoma guides modern-day character Phila through the realities of fighting for their land. Writer Mphuthumi Ntabeni speaks of the difficulty in writing about such a painful time in Xhosa history, but he says inspiration came from the fact that there are no books that speak of the land invasions in the Eastern Cape in the 1800s from a Xhosa point of view."I put psychological emotions and thinking behind the actual historical events," says Ntabeni. Also included in this podcast: Nigerian writer Nnamoi Ehirin, author of Prince of Monkeys, his debut novel out in April, speaks about his favorite book from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Writers_Series" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Heinemann African</a> classics series.

South African novelist Mphuthumi Ntabeni shines a light on the Xhosa narrative