Albertina Sisulu is revered by South Africans as the true mother of the nation. A survivor of the golden age of the African National Congress, whose life with the second most important figure in the ANC exemplified the underpinning role of women in the struggle against apartheid.

In 1944 she was the sole woman at the inaugural meeting of the radical offshoot of the ANC, the Youth League, with Walter Sisulu, Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and Anton Lembede in the vanguard. Her final years were spent in an unpretentious house in the former white Johannesburg suburb of Linden. A friend said of her, "she treated everybody alike. But her main concern was the welfare of our women and children." This abridged account of Sisulu’s overflowing life provides a fresh understanding of an iconic figure of South African history.

This new abridged memoir is written by Sindiwe Magona, one of South Africa’s most prolific authors, and Elinor Sisulu, writer, activist and daughter-in-law of Albertina.

When we meet someone, one of the things we notice is the colour of their skin. But what can someone's skin colour tell us about them? Despite what some people say, your skin means very little! Inside we're all the same.

Join Njabulo, Aisha, Tim, Chris and Roshni as they discover why humans have different skins, and how people's thinking about skin colour has changed throughout history. Skin We Are In is a celebration of the glorious human rainbow, both in South Africa and beyond.

One of South Africa's best-selling authors, Sindiwe Magona, has teamed up with well-known American anthropologist, Nina G. Jablonski, and award-winning illustrator Lynn Fellman to create a much-needed book about race and skin colour – for children. Magona has written a story of five friends as they explore and discuss the skin they are in. The scientific narrative, written by Jablonski, expands and supports the conversation topics generated by the children's adventure.

When we meet someone, one of the things we notice is the colour of their skin. But what can someone's skin colour tell us about them? Despite what some people say, your skin means very little! Inside we're all the same.

Join Njabulo, Aisha, Tim, Chris and Roshni as they discover why humans have different skins, and how people's thinking about skin colour has changed throughout history. Skin We Are In is a celebration of the glorious human rainbow, both in South Africa and beyond.

One of South Africa's best-selling authors, Sindiwe Magona, has teamed up with well-known American anthropologist, Nina G. Jablonski, and award-winning illustrator Lynn Fellman to create a much-needed book about race and skin colour – for children. Magona has written a story of five friends as they explore and discuss the skin they are in. The scientific narrative, written by Jablonski, expands and supports the conversation topics generated by the children's adventure.

Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane holds a pivotal place in the history of South Africa. As a childhood friend of Chris Hani and inspired by the thinking of Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, he became a political activist in the liberation struggle against apartheid. Preceding Nelson Mandela to Robben Island, he was in fact one of the prisoners responsible for building Mandiba’s prison cell. Once released from ‘the island’ he became a champion of the poor and oppressed - speaking out against segregation, fighting for the rights of HIV positive people, and acknowledging the equal role of women in society. On becoming Archbishop of Cape Town he succeeded Desmond Tutu, and was responsible for continuing implementation of change within the Church. During his eleven years residence in Bishopscourt, Archbishop Njongo, as he was affectionately known, was a bridge-builder linking divergent views and a catalyst for change.

These essays bring to life many facets of Magona’s personal history, her deepest convictions, love for her country and belief in her ability to activate change. They are a meaningful supplement to her fictional works, while offering insightful responses to the conditions that inspired them.

Sindiwe Magona is a celebrated South African writer, storyteller and motivational speaker known mainly for her autobiographies, biographies, novels, short stories, poetry and children’s books. I Write the Yawning Void is a collection of essays that highlight her engagement with writing that span the transition from apartheid to the post-apartheid period and addresses themes such as HIV/Aids, language and culture, home and belonging.

Magona worked as a teacher, domestic worker and spent two decades working for the United Nations in the United States of America. She has received many awards for her fearless writing ‘truth to power’. Her written work is often informed by her lived experience of being a black woman resisting subjugation and poverty.

These essays bring to life many facets of Magona’s personal history as well as her deepest convictions, her love for her country and despair at the problems that continue to plague it, and her belief in her ability to activate change. They demonstrate Magona’s engaging storytelling and mastery of the essay form which serve as meaningful supplements to her fictional works, while simultaneously offering insightful responses to the conditions that inspired them.

In August 1993, Fulbright scholar Amy Biehl was killed in Cape Town by a group of black teenagers incited by an upsurge in 'anti-white' sloganeering. She died just a few metres away from Sindiwe Magona's house. One of the boys held responsible for the killing was her neighbour's son. Mother To Mother takes the form of an epistle to Amy Biehl's mother.

Sindiwe Magona imagines how easily it might have been her own son caught up in the violence of that day. She writes about their lives in a colonised society that not only allowed, but also perpetuated violence against women and impoverished black South Africans.

The result is not an apology for murder, but an exquisitely written exploration of the lives of ordinary people in the apartheid years.

The Five Firm Friends – Edith, Cordelia, Amanda, Doris and Beauty – are five sassy career women who confront life head- on. But when Beauty suddenly becomes ill and, after six short weeks, passes away, their world is thrown into confusion. On her deathbed Beauty begs Amanda to promise her one thing – that she and the rest of the FFF will not waste their lives as she has done. All because of an unfaithful husband ... ‘Ukhule,’ she begs of Amanda. May you live a long life, and may you become old.

Beauty’s Gift is a moving tale of how four women decide to change their own fate as well as the lives of those closest to them. This is Sindiwe Magona at her very best – writing about social issues, and not keeping quiet. Speak up, she says to women in Africa. Stand up, and take control of your own lives.

In ’n land, nie ver hiervandaan nie, en nie so lank gelede nie, het Hlohlesakhe en sy familie gelukkig gewoon, totdat ’n vreeslike droogte oor die land gekom het. Mense was honger en het aan hongersnood gely totdat hulle so maer geword het dat jy die ribbebene van ’n volwasse man deur sy klere kon tel. Een dag, terwyl hy desperaat na iets gesoek het om huis toe te neem na sy familie, het Hlohlesake diep in die woud ingewandel opsoek na wortels en bessies ...

Die wrede, ou koning was dood. Oral deur die koningkryk was daar feesvieringe, want niemand was lief vir die koning nie. Sommige het gese hulle het hom geprys, uit vrees wat hy aan hulle mag doen. Die ou wrede koning was dood; hoop het soos 'n pilaar, stewig en sterk, gerys; dit het geklim, op, op, tot in die hoogste hemele. Daar sou weer goedheid in die land wees. Daar sou vir almal liefde en respek wees. Daar sou geluk in oorvloed wees; armoede, mishandeling en siekte sou daar nie meer wees nie. Of so het hulle gedink...

In a land not so far away and not that long ago, Hlohlesakhe and his family lived happily, until a terrible drought came to the land. People went hungry and starved until they got so thin you could count the ribs of a grown man through his clothes. One day, while he was desperately looking for something to take home to feed his family, Hlohlesakhe wandered deep into the forest in search of roots and berries ...

When we meet someone, one of the things we notice is the colour of their skin. But what can someone's skin colour tell us about them? Despite what some people say, your skin means very little! Inside we're all the same. Join Njabulo, Aisha, Tim, Chris and Roshni as they discover why humans have different skins, and how people's thinking about skin colour has changed throughout history. Skin we are in is a celebration of the glorious human rainbow, both in South Africa and beyond. One of South Africa's best-selling authors, Sindiwe Magona, has teamed up with well-known American anthropologist, Nina G. Jablonski, and award-winning illustrator Lynn Fellman to create a much-needed book about race and skin colour - for children. Magona has written a story of five friends as they explore and discuss the skin they are in. The scientific narrative, written by Jablonski, expands and supports the conversation topics generated by the children's adventure.

Nyaniso hates Sunday School. He knows all the Bible stories the Sunday School teacher tells them. He heard those stories long before he was big enough to go to Sunday School. Heard them from Makhulu, and many more stories besides. .He has attended Sunday School for many, many years and heard those stories over and over again. He used to like them. Used to like going to Sunday School, too. Then Lunga came.

In a land far, far away, a long time ago, a certain town was suddenly beset by a plague of mice. And all were scared of nothing and no one. These mice chased dogs and firghtened cats and made them scuttle off, tails between their legs! The townspeople called a meeting. To the mayor, they said “We eleccted you to help solve our problems. Come on, then! Help us solve this problem before it is too late!” they did not pay him to grow fat and do nothing…

Long ago, the people of Gwadana lived simple, but happy, lives. They had found the secret of happiness. Their lives were very, very orderly. No one broke the rules. There were no police and no jails in that village. There were rules for just about anything and everything you care to think of, and everybody knew those rules well. Yes, they knew the rules very, very well indeed and happily obeyed them all. Until one day…

In a land not so far away and not that long ago, Hlohlesakhe and his family lived happily, until a terrible drought came to the land. People went hungry and starved until they got so thin you could count the ribs of a grown man through his clothes. One day, while he was desperately looking for something to take home to feed his family, Hlohlesakhe wandered deep into the forest in search of roots and berries...

In a land far, far away, a long time ago, a certain town was suddenly beset by a plague of mice. And all were scared of nothing and no one. These mice chased dogs and frightened cats and made them scuttle off, tails between their legs! The townspeople called a meeting. To the mayor, they said “ We elected you to help us solve our problems. Come on, then! Help us solve this problem before it is too late!” They did not pay him to grow fat and do nothing ...

Albertina Sisulu is revered by South Africans as the true mother of the nation. A survivor of the golden age of the African National Congress, whose life with the second most important figure in the ANC exemplified the underpinning role of women in the struggle against apartheid.

In 1944 she was the sole woman at the inaugural meeting of the radical offshoot of the ANC, the Youth League, with Walter Sisulu, Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and Anton Lembede in the vanguard. Her final years were spent in an unpretentious house in the former white Johannesburg suburb of Linden. A friend said of her, "she treated everybody alike. But her main concern was the welfare of our women and children." This abridged account of Sisulu’s overflowing life provides a fresh understanding of an iconic figure of South African history.

This new abridged memoir is written by Sindiwe Magona, one of South Africa’s most prolific authors, and Elinor Sisulu, writer, activist and daughter-in-law of Albertina.