Article by Kaylin Albertyn
Image: Jaman Asad unsplash.com
Representation matters. In a world filled with a tremendous range of diversity, and particularly, within a country that celebrates it – it’s especially wonderful to read about characters that represent your culture and people in a natural way without feeling like its ticking some kind of ‘representation’ box. It’s hard enough finding books representing the coloured community as anything other than a culmination of gang violence, gentrified communities, and tikkoppe.
But who cares? Our communities are built by strong, intelligent coloured men and women who have paved the way for younger generations to reach beyond the bounds placed upon us. There is a continually increasing number of young and old writers working at representing the beauty of our Cape Coloured culture and wonderful communities.
Here is a list of our Top 5 novels we suggest you read as a Capetonian, as written by Coloured writers from Cape Town.
1. A Coloured in Full Flight by Georgie Calverley
Georgie Calverley is a native Capetonian writer, actor and producer. Calverley wrote his novel A Coloured in Full Flight during his recovery from a minor operation. Calverley wrote about his journey from adolescence to adulthood, exploring the pain and trauma of a ‘sometimes cruel and unforgiving society’. Calverley’s novel began as a diary, retelling his experiences from past and present, events, moments and even parts of himself he hid from his world. Calverley describes his childhood being riddled with a ‘constant barrage of verbal, physical and inappropriate sexual behaviours’. This topical novel will trek on your heartstrings with Calverley’s poignant piece, and perhaps, even comfort those who are feeling, or felt alone during their hardships.
Calverley’s novel intends to inspire and comfort those, he, himself stating:
“If you never believed in guardian angels, A Coloured in Full Flight might change your perception. I am proof they do exist.”
2. You Can't Get Lost in Cape Town by Zoe Wicomb
Zoe Wicomb’s You Can’t Get Lost in Cape Town, is one of the most notable work within South African literature. This illustrious novel is set in the 1980s, exploring the experiences of the coloured community during Apartheid.
Wicomb’s novel is one of the earliest writing exploring the experiences of coloured people. The novel is a compilation of interconnected short stories with a chief focus on the central character, a young Coloured woman, attending the University of the Western Cape. The novel examines identity, and the contrasts of home and living in exile. The novel illustrates the use of codemixing, as the characters are forced to speak English in an Afrikaans-speaking community.
3. Living Coloured (Because Black and White Were Already Taken) by Yusuf Daniels
Yusuf Daniels evokes feelings of nostalgia as he writes about memories of growing up within the Coloured culture and the lived experiences of individuals within the surrounds of the Cape Flats. Yusuf’s collection of short stories relays distinct events from an era that will trigger memories from every coloured can relate to.
This enthralling novel is an ode to an era in which all coloured people will recognise, reminiscent of Cape Coloured culture.
Daniels’ novel tackles issues of racism, the forced removals, and the socio-political unrest within and surrounding the Cape Flats. Daniels’ manner of writing is sure to evoke powerful feelings as the harsh realities of coloured and black lives during this time period.
4. What Will People Say by Rehana Rossouw
Rehana Rossouw’s evocative novel illustrates the lives of the Fourie family, represented as a conventional coloured family living within the heart of the Cape Flats, in 1986. Rossouw illustrates various characters representing everyday individuals such as teachers, gangsters, the preachers and the destitute, with lively trends marking the era of Michael Jackson, Brenda Fassie and George Michael blasting on stereos. This chronicle of the Fourie family tells a tale of the lives of Neville and Magda Fourie, and their three children, as they raise them in a community rife with gangsterism.
Rossouw explores the lives of the Fourie family, questioning which members will survive their tumultuous lives, and which will succumb to their environment.
The use of codemixing is utilised throughout the novel illustrating the diverse and expressive language and culture of the Cape Flats.
5. 92 Queens Road by Dianne Case
Dianne Case was known for her short stories she submitted to local newspaper’s story competitions as a means of raising funds for her family, as she raised her three children as a single mother. Case had run creative writing workshops for the women at Pollsmoor Prison. Case’s novel follows the story of Kathy, a coloured woman who lives a sheltered life with her family in Cape Town during the 60s. Kathy realises that she is largely discriminated against due to the colour of her skin. Case’s 92 Queens Road illustrates Kathy and her family’s experiences living during a time of systematic racism. The novel relays a tale of Kathy’s search of herself in a community, understanding and accepting her ‘colouredness’ in her society and her lack of a father. 92 Queens Road tackles issues of shame, questioning selfhood and feelings of illegitimacy. Dianne Case’s work has been used in school curriculums and continues to be known for achieving critical acclaim.
These writers are proudly Capetonian and continually sought to represent their community and display their ‘colouredness’ in a time we had not seen much representation within the media and literature.
These novels not only represent the lived-experiences of our colour community and its’ people but offer enticing and beguiling stories guaranteed to make you feel proudly coloured.
These novels definitely emphasise that the coloured community is made up of more than just the labels of crime, gangsterism and abuse. The coloured community is proudly and wonderfully build upon real stories of identity, culture, hope and success.
Thanks for reading.
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