Search results for ""jacana media""
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd 10 Extraordinary Leaders, Activists & Protesters (English)
Imbokodo: Women Who Shape Us is a groundbreaking series of books which introduces you to the powerful stories of South African women who have all made their mark and cleared a path for women and girls. These books recognise, acknowledge and honour our heroines and elders from the past and the present. South African women are silent no more on the roles that we have played in advancing our lives as artists, storytellers, writers, politicians and educationists. The title ‘Imbokodo’ was been chosen as it is a Zulu word that means “rock” and is often used in the saying ‘Wathint’ Abafazi, Wathint’ Imbokodo!’, which means “You Strike a Women, You Strike a Rock!” These books were made possible with the support of Biblionef and funding from the National Arts Council. In 10 Extraordinary Leaders, Activists & Protesters you will read about women who fought against colonialism and oppression. Here are the stories of women heroes through history, whose stories are connected because of a shared passion for equality and justice.
£8.68
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Mhudi
Sol Plaatje’s Mhudi is the first full-length novel in English to have been written by a black South African and is widely regarded as one of South Africa’s most important literary works. ‘Set in the 1830s it tells the tale of Mhudi and Ra- haga. A romantic story set against a violent backdrop of war between Baroleng and Matebele, complicated by the intrusions of Boer trekkers with whom the Baroleng form an alliance. ‘It is notable, among other things, for the way Plaatje uses the past to explore the roots of oppression and injustice suffered by his people a century later, when the book was written.’ From the introduction to Sol Plaatje’s Mhudi: History, Criticism, Celebration by Sabata-mpho Mokae and Brian Willan. Bessie Head called it ‘a beautiful book’ and added: ‘It is more than a classic; there is just no other book on earth like it.’ Mhudi has been translated into Setswana, French, Italian and Dutch and at least nine English language editions, some based on the original 1930 Lovedale text, but with footnotes added. Others have illustrations added, some have minor changes and others more extensive changes introduced by editor Stephen Gray. Editions currently available are based on the version with changes made by Stephen Gray.
£13.35
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd The Good Nigerian
From the author of Death in the New Republic comes another thrilling crime story featuring hard-bitten Johannesburg detective, Jerome Nossel. A distress call from Nossel’s old friend, Alex, breaks into the detective’s lazy Sunday afternoon. He is propelled into the glamour and sleaze of the city’s underworld by a kidnap and a demand for an exotic ransom. Accompanied by Alex’s captivating Nigerian wife Ngozi, they scour the fleshpots of Johannesburg, from its mega-rich northern suburbs to its sordid core in the dark city. They are pursued by the crazed steroidal enforcer who answers to only one man – Yuri Kramerov, the pimpmeister of Doornfontein. With time running out, and in their desperate quest to recover the ransom, encounters, characters and places create a Chandler-esque story, with Johannesburg as the main attraction. The Maori approached Alex, who Nossel feared might fall backwards into the freezing black pool, as patently terrified as he was.
£11.99
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd The Trial of Cecil John Rhodes
Set over five days in an African Hereafter called “After Africa”, this story revolves around the British South African imperialist, Cecil Rhodes, awakening in an After African Limbo after being asleep for 120 years. Guided by Ghanaian writer Efua Sutherland, he is taken on a tour of After Africa’s five heavens, experiencing Africa’s great civilisations, its Nobel laureates, its writers, its musicians and its sporting legends. The novella centres on the grand trial of Cecil Rhodes in the fifth heaven for five crimes committed in the Herebefore.
£10.99
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd By the Fading Light
The sun begins to set and twilight falls over the Cape Town suburb of Salt River. The year is 1960, the year of the Sharpeville massacre. Three friends, Ainey, Haroun and Cassius, comrades in arms and merry pranksters, make a discovery that changes their lives. Mired in their troubled families, they valiantly struggle through their childhood. With the help of a mysterious yet powerful woman they confront an awful truth that forever changes their lives… The prologue of By the Fading Light sets up the story by an unidentified narrator who, it is later discovered, is one of the three main characters, now grown up, reflecting on the past. A young boy, Amin Gabriels, disappears, an event that creates fear and anxiety in the community, especially for his friends, the main characters, who are three eleven-year-old boys, Ainey, Haroun and Cassius. The boys’ adventures offer a poignant, compelling but also humorous glimpse into the world from their youthful perspectives. Ainey lives with his fussy grandmother and his authoritarian father who blames him for his mother’s death. Haroun lives with his depressed mother and bigamist father. Cassius lives with his sister and snobbish mother who wishes that she were white. Through these and other minor characters, a mysterious yet powerful older woman, a police officer, and a murderer, the reader encounters a spirited and robust community. With its elements of historical fiction, literary realism and absurdist humour, By the Fading Light weaves together themes of troubled families, vibrant Muslim culture, South African politics, the resilience of children, loss of innocence and coming of age. If only a young boy had not taken the long way home on a cold winter’s day. If only he had gone straight home, things might have been different. But he did not, and events in the tight-knit community of Salt River take a turn that inspire fear…
£10.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Recession, Recovery and Reform: South Africa after Covid-19
Where is South Africa going now? And where will South Africa be in five years' time? Much has been written about the country's past, but is enough thought being given to its future? Is South Africa in danger of again losing its way, given its pressing socio-economic challenges? Prominent economist Raymond Parsons has drawn together a powerful collection of expert thinkers, economists and analysts who tackle these issues head on as well as offering timely solutions to several of South Africa's most pressing problems, drawing key lessons from the past in crystallising what South Africa needs to do to create a better future. After the so-called 'lost decade' under the Zuma administration, South Africans had high hopes that President Ramaphosa would deliver on his promise of a 'new dawn'. Yet despite high expectations that the country would finally turn the corner and settle onto a path of stronger inclusive growth and better governance, socio-economic conditions have deterioriated. Growth remains negligible, unemployment has worsened and the fiscus is under considerable strain. Will SA be able to break out of its present 'growth trap' without falling into a 'debt trap'? The country is also facing global headwinds in the form of volatile market conditions, shifting geopolitics, and a fast-changing and disruptive technological landscape which threatens to leave all but the most well-prepared behind. So how must the different strands of policy - ranging from purely economic issues to broader questions around education and the rule of law - now knit together to create a bigger, stronger and better SA economy in future? If the vision of a well-functioning society is to be realised, policy uncertainty about the road ahead must be generally tackled at the highest level to facilitate job-rich growth. And business and civil society, in its turn, must take a long-term view of South Africa's future and commit energy and resources to bringing about change which is both productive and transformational. Recession, Recovery & Reform will offer compelling new insights into how South Africa can unlock its potential in the years ahead. The publication of this title a month ahead of the ANC policy conference in June 2020, at which President Ramaphosa's political and economic 'track record' will be widely assessed, ensures it will be a must-read for all who are concerned about South Africa's well-being and who are willing to believe that a 'new dawn' is indeed possible.
£15.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Comrade King
Khulu Radebe already had had a full life before discovering at the age of 50 that he was a king. As a teenager, he teamed with other Alexandra Township youth to carry out the 1976 uprisings just prior to the Soweto rising. Arrested and sent to Robben Island, he was one of the youngest prisoners there. He served six years on the island with Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Govan Mbeki, amongst others. After returning to Alex, he helped organise the township during the 1986 Six Days War. He joined the armed struggle, repeatedly dodging death from the enemy and fellow MK soldiers in Angola, and later travelled the globe as a drummer for the ANC’s Amandla Cultural Ensemble. At age 50, and proving a midwife’s prediction correct, Khulu Radebe learned about his royal roots. He was informed that he was ruler of the AmaHlubi people of the Embo Nation, a nation that stretches along the east coast of Africa. In chronicling Radebe’s extraordinary life and times, this landmark biography tells, in a humane, vivid and deeply political way, of the revolutionary path for freedom in South Africa, and the role traditional leaders can play in shaping the nation’s future. Gripping and original, Comrade King makes a powerful contribution to understanding South Africa’s past and present at a critical moment in the nation’s history.
£14.99
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd The Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Anthology
Now in its 9th year, the Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award is a launching pad for upcoming poets. From slam poetry to formal rhyme, the anthology is a celebration of language and cultural diversity. Assembled by a brilliant team of judges, from a blind selection, this year’s compilation contains the best poems from over 600 entries, in 10 of the 11 South African languages. Named after Solomon Tshekisho Plaatje (1876–1932), the award recognises the life and vision of this highly respected political and social activist. We always hope that it reveals the political and social attitudes of our time and reflects the complex, nuanced and uncomfortable truths of life in South Africa.
£12.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Explore! Awesome South African Artists
South Africa's finest living contemporary artists, like William Kentridge, Nandipha Mntambo and Penny Siopis, Banele Khoza, Zander Blom, Billie Zangewa and many many more, grace the pages of this funky children's book. Let children jump into the lively and flourishing local art scene, see it in full colour, learn about the diverse paths of the artists and their fascinating artworks. In time your little wonder will soon have found their own South African art hero to look up to! Explore! Awesome South African Artists is an inspiring and educational read for 9-15-year-olds that will keep them entertained. For lovers of Splat! The Most Exciting Artists of All Time and Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, this book will be a welcome addition to their shelf.
£13.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Winging It: On Tour with the Boks
Winging It: On tour with the Boks is an insider’s view of life on tour from one of South Africa’s most enduring sports writers, Liam Del Carme, while he follows the much-cherished national rugby team, the Springboks. Del Carme takes the reader across continents and time zones as he shares the helter-skelter atmosphere of meeting looming writing deadlines while finding ways to maintain his sanity. The book explores the ebb and flow of touring with one of rugby’s iconic teams since 1996, including three RWCs, various Tri Nations and Rugby Championships, as well as end-of-year tours, in destinations all over the world. He explores the characters, destinations, and his travel companions while sharing his highs and lows of covering great rugby moments. In the book, the reader gets to see the personal side of prominent sports personalities.
£11.99
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Two minutes to midnight: Will Ramaphosa’s ANC survive?
16 to 20 December 2017 saw most South Africans and political pundits closely observing the African National Congress's 54th National Conference at Nasrec. There were plenty of international observers and local and foreign press who were closely tracking the ANC top brass and branch delegates as they jostled for political power and position. From all accounts the air was thick with anticipation and high with suspicion. Former student activist, member of the then Mitchells Plain Student Congress (Mipsco) and now ANC member in good standing, Oscar van Heerden, once again found himself doing duty as a scribe at the National Conference in Nasrec. What he witnessed in the period leading up to Conference and then the five days of high drama at Nasrec make for an enthralling and heart-stopping insider's view in his book Two Minutes to Midnight: How the ANC survived Nasrec 2017. Van Heerden's observations will lay bare a governing party that is at war with itself and at the heart of this struggle is deception, corruption and power-hungry politicians flexing their muscles. Factional in-fighting, money in bags exchanging hands in the dead of night, spies on duty and a political party in the clutches of state capture are some of political moves that Van Heerden witnesses, and now shares in his book. Van Heerden's assertion after the first two days of Conference is that the Cyril Ramaphosa camp, also known as CR17, did not stand a chance of winning. To him they seemed disorganised, at times not understanding the modalities of election politics at Conference, and had arrived at the gun fight with a knife. How then did the tide turn against the obvious pro-Jacob Zuma camp to favour CR17? What really happened behind closed doors? Allow Van Heerden to tell you the story of how the ANC survived Nasrec.
£13.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Coach: The life and soccer times of Clive Barker
Coach offers a first-class glimpse into the life of this extraordinary South African, Clive Barker. Author Michael Marnewick details everything from his pre-coaching days and how he avoided bankruptcy by driving taxis, to his early coaching jobs and making it into the professional ranks, and ultimately to the position of national soccer coach. The book is not only an in-depth look at Clive Barker the coach, but also gives insight into Clive Barker the man, the husband, the father, and the patriot. Coach captures the social and political upheaval in the country during the dark days of apartheid and leading into South Africa's golden period of international football when Barker led the team to their only African Cup of Nations success in 1996, before qualification for the 1998 Soccer World Cup.
£14.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Dead president walking
Zapiro comes of age in this 21st annual. Zuma once again takes centre stage for all the wrong reasons along with his cronies the Guptas and his nemesis Malema. It’s the year of the hashtag. #RhodesMustFall begat #FeesMustFall, also #Racism/#Sexism and #ZumaMustFall. With Nenegate and SARS wars, it’s the rand that’s really falling. Meanwhile, Pravin and Thuli fight the good fight. Each cartoon is worth a thousand words and helps us make sense of our crazy, beautiful country where fact is indeed stranger than fiction.
£11.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Permanent removal
Permanent Removal is a beautifully written political thriller focusing on the nature of justice, truth, betrayal, socio-political and ethical quandaries, complicity and moral agency. The novel introduces readers to a cast of players whose destinies intertwine in a particularly gruesome murder. The novel is set in apartheid South Africa and fictionalizes the events leading up to the assassination of the Cradock Four. South African security forces set up a roadblock to intercept a car near the city of Port Elizabeth. Two of the four anti-apartheid activists in the car were secretly targeted for assassination. The police abducted the four and murdered them in cold blood. Their burnt bodies were found later near the Port Elizabeth suburb of Bluewater Bay. These murders are one of apartheid's murkiest episodes. On the day of the funeral of the Cradock Four, President PW Botha declared a State of Emergency. It was the beginning of the end.
£11.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd The elders at the door
Early one morning three tired, dirty, hungry elders – Blessing, Wisdom and Love – knock on the door of a family home. The family wishes to invite them in but they can only choose one visitor to enter their home. Which of the three do they pick? This fable is told across the continent and belongs to all of Africa and its people. Although the setting and characters are quintessentially African – from the rhythms of their speech to the patterns on their clothes – the message is universal. This is a book for every child and family. Well written and beautifully illustrated, this book will have children wanting to read it over and over again. This story originally appeared in the Sunday Times Storytime: 10 South African Stories for Children in 2014.
£8.68
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Promise and despair: The first struggle for a non-racial South Africa
Most people believe that black South Africans obtained the vote for the first time in 1994. In fact, for almost a century suitably qualified black people had enjoyed the vote in the Cape and Natal, and in certain constituencies had decided the outcome of parliamentary elections. Little wonder, then, that when the first South Africa came about in 1910, black people were keen to see the principle of non-racialism entrenched in the constitution that was drawn up for the new Union. This is the story of that struggle. Its centrepiece is a lively account of the delegation that travelled to London in mid-1909 to lobby for a non-racial constitution.
£13.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd More life's a beach cottage
More Life's a Beach Cottage is the third cookery book in the series featuring a collection of best holiday feasting recipes. It is as beautiful and quirky and set to follow in the successful footsteps of previous publications. Expect muscular curries, potent cocktails, desserts that argue back and deliciously robust salads. Inside the covers you will find exquisite photography, and delectably different recipes, including: Homemade Cabnah Tomato and Chai Seed Salad; 4 Melon and Prawn Salad with Asian Dressing; Baked Chicken Pâté with Gooseberries, Thyme and Crushed Hazelnuts; Badass Bacon Jam; Baked Brie with Blueberries; Chocolate Éclairs with Pomegranate Jewels.
£20.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Jafta's father
Jafta's father is coming home. He has been away for a very long time, but things are changing in his country and now he can return. Jafta will be able to tell him about all the things that he has missed, and Jafta's father will answer questions that no one else can answer. There'll be a homecoming party bigger than Nomsa's wedding. Because Jafta's father is coming home at last.
£8.70
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Recovering democracy in South Africa
South Africa's hard-won democracy was the main victim of the chaos in parliament during President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address. In Recovering Democracy in South Africa, Raymond Suttner brings together the best of his recent thinking; he offers a fresh look at the wide range of contentious issues that currently preoccupy South Africans, from the threat to constitutionalism to problems with leadership and questions of ethics. The book is as much an in-depth engagement with our difficult present as it is a damning account of the politics of the Zuma era.
£13.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Emperor Haile Selassie
Emperor Haile Selassie was an iconic figure of the twentieth century, a progressive monarch who ruled Ethiopia from 1916 to 1974. This book, written by a former state official who served in a number of important positions in Selassie's government, tells both the story of the emperor's life and the story of modern Ethiopia. After a struggle for the throne in 1916, the young Selassie emerged first as regent and then as supreme leader of Ethiopia. Over the course of his nearly six-decade rule, the emperor abolished slavery, introduced constitutional reform, and expanded educational opportunity. The Italian invasion of Ethiopia in the 1930s led to a five-year exile in England, from which he returned in time to lead his country through World War II. Selassie was also instrumental in the founding of the Organization of African Unity in 1963, but he fell short of the ultimate goal of a promised democracy in Ethiopia. The corruption that grew under his absolute rule, as well as his seeming indifference to the famine that gripped Ethiopia in the 1970s, led finally to his overthrow by the armed forces that he had created. Haile Selassie was an enlightened monarch in many ways, but also a man with flaws like any other. This short biography is a sensitive portrayal of Selassie as both emperor and man, by one who knew him well.
£10.99
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Nobody's business
In 2003, Thabo Jijana's father was gunned down in a scrap between rival taxi associations who had been forced to operate from a single rank. A decade later, Thabo faces up to South Africa's most violent industry to try to figure out how and why his father was murdered. In this searing first-person investigation, Thabo puts a face behind a recurrent tragedy that plagues South African working class communities. By speaking to the people who knew his father best, he tries to fill in the blanks that are the years that have followed his father's death. He begins by trying to reconstruct the night the murder took place, but what he uncovers about the ongoing strife that has plagued government's consistent attempts to formalize this multimillion-rand industry comes with more baggage than he expected.
£11.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd The Sol Plaatje European Union poetry anthology
This is the fourth annual Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Anthology, and is a compendium of the poems long-listed for the 2014 Sol Plaatje EU Poetry Award. Every year South African poets, young and old, debut or previously published, are invited to submit up to three of their poetic efforts to the Award, in any of the country's 11 official languages. The anthology seeks to publish voices in as many different languages as possible, and be one of the spaces in which these tongues are given equal space and respect. The anthology is a truly democratic as well as creative effort, in keeping with the spirit of the legendary intellectual giant, Sol Plaatje, the activist, linguist, translator, novelist, journalist and leader.
£10.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Chester Missing’s guide to the elections ‘14
Confused and tired? Don't know whom you'll vote for in the 2014 South African elections? Have a sneaking feeling that politicians are sneaky? Then this is the book for you! Political wonk, sharp social commentator, relentless interviewer of people who try to get away from him, Chester Missing explains all of history, some geography, and the last 100 years of South African politics. He spells out in inimitable puppet fashion the must-knows, the who's who, and the what-what. This infamous puppet interviews heads of political parties, cabinet ministers, and the public protector on national television; writes for newspapers; and gets involved in debates with actual political professors on radio shows. The most satisfying part of being a puppet is that no matter what you say, you never have to take responsibility for saying it. Really, being a puppet is just like being a politician. Chester Missing is one of South Africa's most prominent political commentators. His hard hitting, no-holds-barred analysis of the nation's sociopolitical landscape leaves public figures from all sides of the fence running for cover.
£10.01
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Close to home
In this novel of mystery and intrigue, the sudden death of popular classmate Clarence has a wealthy and indulgent group of friends suspecting that he didn’t take his own life. Their disbelief evolves into obsession as they make it their mission to uncover the true cause of his death and what they believe to be a homicide. At first it’s unclear whether their preoccupation with Clarence’s death is a symptom of boredom, or whether they suspect one of their friends as a killer. But when two more deaths occur within their circle, it becomes apparent that the killing is just the beginning of a strange, chilling series of events that will uncover the once close-knit group’s best-kept secrets. The mystery unfolds through multiple character narrations, offering the reader an insider account of the lies and secrets that both create and destroy the relationships within this circle of friends.
£11.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd The Sol Plaatje European Union poetry anthology 2013
Poetry lovers - those who enjoy reading it and those who are compelled to write it - will find in this collection a truly splendid experience of the country's soul. So much of the ineffable human spirit and experience that usually remains untold is gently lifted above the surface with care, attention and honesty. Here, for the reader who must yet write of his or her own intimate recovery and sacred journey, are guideposts on the way. Here, for those who are already on the journey, are good and wise and funny journeymen and women to keep them company on the road.
£10.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd URefilwe: Ubaliso kwakhona lwase-Afrika
Through the Best loved tales for Africa, we aim to grow a love of reading. "Refilwe, Refilwe, let down your locks, So I can climb the scraggy rocks!" In a cave high up on a craggy cliff, beautiful Refilwe is allowed to see no one but the witch who locked her away. One day, Prince Tumi hears Refilwe singing as he is riding his horse near her cave and he searches for the owner of the magical voice. Will Refilwe ever be free from the evil witch? Will she ever find true love? An African retelling of the classic fairy tale Rapunzel by one of our best loved authors, Zukiswa Wanner, with magical illustrations by Tamsin Hinrichsen will keep all children entranced, and grow a love of reading. Read aloud, read together, read alone, read forever!
£7.04
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Love is war: The Modimolle monster
Young mother Surinda du Preez stood transfixed, barely able to breathe. A single thought went through her head: I'm looking at the devil. She was staring straight into the eyes of a man whose alleged crimes had earned him the title: Modimolle monster. She was staring at Johan Kotze. It was 10 January 2012. "I've never seen anything like this, that a person can do this to another human being." - Renier van Rooyen, prosecutor. 3 January 2012 is a day the community of Modimolle in Limpopo, South Africa will never forget. On this day, Johan Kotze did the unthinkable. Kotze not only orchestrated the gang rape of his wife, before torturing her, but also murdered her nineteen-year-old son. His unthinkable actions earned him the name Modimolle monster, and have made him infamous. Love is War tells the sobering story of the workings of a twisted mind, and the weighty consequences of actions. Maughan takes a walk on the macabre side, through an in-depth analysis of Kotze's story. From his life before the horrific events, to coverage of the trial, Maughan leaves nothing uncovered. While the trial continues, and the authorities try to ascertain whether or not Kotze is sane, his now ex-wife tries to deal with the fragile remains of her life, and South Africa holds its breath in the hopes that justice will be served in what is certainly the most talked-about case of the year.
£14.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Legacy of the mine
In this visual narrative of untold stories, award-winning photographer Ilan Godfrey explores the consequences of mining on South Africa’s land and people. His images bring to life the forgotten communities that the mining industry has left behind, and his subjects thus become symbols of the struggle for environmental and social justice throughout the country. Rather than basing itself on dry scientific or statistical evidence, this collection is the result of a long and very personal journey across South Africa’s vast landscape, dotted with townships and mining communities. As he examines the legacy of mining—the land rendered unfit for alternative uses, the public health crises, land and water pollution, and the impact of historical labor exploitation on family structures—Ilan Godfrey delves deeper into the effects of the mine on local communities.
£21.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd The last right: Craig Schonegevel’s struggle to live and die with dignity
How would you like to die? This is the question Craig Schonegevel's brave life anddeath challenge us to ask of ourselves and the society we live in. Is it humane to deny those who suffer from an incurable or life-threatening illness the right to a dignified death? The Last Right is the true story of Craig Schonegevel who suffered from the extremely variable condition known as Neurofibromatosis Type 1. In Craig's case his life was mostly one of operations, pain and suffering and his brave attempts to slay the NF 1 dragon that kept on gnawing at his life and his body. His extraordinary courage in the face of this disease is to be admired and provides some relief from the anguish and sadness that pervades the book. Craig was 28 years old when he decided he had had enough, his symptoms began to worsen and the agony was too much to bear so he sought self-deliverance. The Last Right asks the reader to put themselves in Craig's shoes, to get to know how the disease Neurofibromatosis Type 1 affected him and finally to decide whether they would have considered making the same choice that Craig did. It is the true story of how one family, their friends and the community.
£13.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Shorty and Billy Boy: A tale of two naughty dogs
Written and illustrated in 1973 by one of South Africa's most famous artists, Gerard Sekoto, Shorty and Billy Boy is a book for children as well as art lovers and collectors. The manuscript formed part of a private collection of Sekoto's sketches, artworks, letters and memoirs repatriated to South Africa from France. The story was clearly written and illustrated as a personal exercise and possibly a sentimental souvenir of his own childhood memories, but has not been published until now. Sekoto may well have composed it as a gift for children of friends, as he was often engaged in making greeting cards with accompanying illustrations. There are other unfinished stories and musical compositions in the estate collection, but Shorty and Billy Boy is the most complete. Shorty and Billy Boy tells the tale of two troublesome dogs whose thieving ways take them to the far-away town of Porcupine Hills. Here they meet all sorts of interesting characters, but continue their mischief until Billy Boy is caught red-handed and sent to jail. Here he dreams about the kindness of others, and comes to realise that good deeds are the true measure of freedom. The Gerard Sekoto Foundation has approved a number of editorial changes made to Sekoto's original text, where the aim has been to preserve the integrity and flavour of the unpublished story, while making it more accessible to present-day readers. The South African context of the tale has been accentuated, and obsolete language and minor inconsistencies have been removed. The result is a timeless and engaging story that retains Sekoto's unique spirit and imagination.
£10.01
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Spearheading debate: Culture wars & uneasy truces
As South Africa’s democracy matures, this book raises pertinent questions: How does the state mediate between traditional tribal authority and constitutional law in matters such as initiation customs or the rights of women, children, and homosexuals? What are the limitations on artistic freedom in a society where sensitivities over colonial- and apartheid-era representations are acute? How does race open up discussions or close down dialogue? and What are the parameters of freedom of speech when minorities fear that hateful language may trigger actual violence against them? Examining disputes over South African art, music, media, editorial cartoons, history, public memory, and a variety of social practices, the culture wars' perspective is extended to new territory in this study, demonstrating its cross-cultural applicability and parsing critical debates within this vibrant society in formation.
£17.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Field guide to shorebirds of South Africa
Do you have a large 'Wader'-sized gap in your bird knowledge? Roy Cowgill and Stephen Davis will help you fill in those gaps and will soon have you identifying South Africa's shorebirds with confidence and ease. This unique new guide will help identify the more common waders (shorebirds) in South Africa and will appeal to both experienced birders and novices. Using classification, characteristics and behaviour, and based on an 8-point identification framework, the reader is guided through the stages of identification of shorebirds. The book gives visual clues to both plovers and sandpipers through silhouettes and plumage patterns showing their relative size as a key to identification, as well as photos with key species characteristics. Also included are descriptions of habitats, tables showing seasonality, abundance and distribution.
£18.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Dear Edward: Family footprints
A personal journey into the family archives of a talented photographer, this book explores Paul Weinberg's past as he retraces his family's footprints to far-flung small towns in the interior of South Africa—where his ancestors found a niche in the hotel trade. Part visual narrative and part multilayered travel book, this record is organized in the form of postcards to Weinberg's great grandfather, Edward. Weaving history, historiography, and memoir into a personal pilgrimage, it sets up a dialogue between the past and present and questions who records history and who is left out of it. The family's hotels are also revisited within these pages, and their evolution explored.
£21.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd UMntanenkosi Othokozile
Oscar Wilde's timeless, compassionate tale of the friendship between the Happy Prince and the Swallow is brought to life by Joan Rankin's sensitive, magical artwork. Beloved since it was first published in 1888, this enchanting story will be enjoyed by both adults and children. From his high pedestal, the Happy Prince, a magnificent golden statue, can see all the misery of the city below him. He begs a little Swallow to pluck off his treasure and share it amongst the poor. When the Happy Prince asks his new friend to stay and help him, the Swallow receives a lesson in kindness and caring.
£10.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd The ANC youth league: A Jacana pocket history
This book tells the story of the ANC Youth League from its origins in the 1940s to the controversies of the Malema era. It analyses the ideology and tactics of its founders, some of whom (notably Mandela and Tambo) later became iconic figures in South African history. It also shows how the early Youth League gave birth not only to the modern ANC but also to its rival, the Pan Africanist Congress. Dormant for many years, the Youth League re-emerged in the transition era under the leadership of Peter Mokaba - infused with the tradition of the militant youth politics of the 1980s. Throughout its history the Youth League has tried to 'dynamise' and criticise the ANC from within, while remaining devoted to, and dependent on, the mother body. This book argues that in all this time the Youth League has struggled to find a balance between loyalty and rebellion.
£10.99
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd I Know That!
Continuing the Bester sisters' beloved Cool nguni series, I know that follows Gaps, the nguni calf, as he introduces his friend, the youngest cattle egret, to the library. The little cattle egret is anxious for Gaps to think of him as smart, and every chance he gets he claims to know almost everything about everything! But when Gaps shows him the exciting world of reading and books, the egret discovers that there is so much more to get from learning than just shouting "I know that!" A book that truly celebrates and encourages a love of reading - this book should be in every library.
£7.56
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd But will it stand up in court?
Chronicling South Africa's 2012 politics and the state of the nation, this humorous compilation by one of the country's most well-known political satirists also delves into more personal topics. From President Zuma's five million rand court case against cartoonist Zapiro to the African National Congress’s court action against Brett Murray, this book exposes the South African national conscience throughout 2012.
£12.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Searching African Skies
In the era of technological advancement astronomers want to build the most powerful telescope ever, to see back to before the first stars and galaxies formed. The SKA will be a radio telescope - instead of seeing light waves, it will make pictures from radio waves. Sarah Wild's Searching African Skies is the story of South African radio astronomy and the quest to hear the songs of the stars. What, exactly, is the Square Kilometre Array? How did South Africa end up bidding against Australia to host the largest scientific instrument on Earth? What does it hope to find in outer space? Are we alone in the universe? Will we be able to see as far back as the big bang? And can a developing country justify building a massive radio telescope at the expense of housing, healthcare and meeting basic needs? Jacana presents the book that shall answer these questions.
£16.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Quiet food: A recipe for sanity
This is more than just another recipe book. It celebrates food and asks us to experience the magic of preparing it. It introduces us to the possibility of making cooking and eating an exquisite, meditative, occasion - an antidote to our fast food junk culture. Ultimately, our enjoyment of things depends on the quality of attention we give them. Cooking and eating are no exception. To help you do this, the 'Zenecdotes' accompanying the moody pictures in this book will put a Buddha smile on your face as you wait for the bread to rise...
£17.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Illuminating love
Pogroms and the Holocaust, xenophobia and the Bush War provide the backdrop for Illuminating Love. The novel entwines the journeys of two Jewish women, Judith, an immigrant to South Africa, forced to leave her home and family in Eastern Europe before World War II, and Cally her granddaughter living in contemporary South Africa. While rendering Judith's poems in calligraphy, Cally uncovers her family's history and roots in the shtetls of Lithuania and she memorialises this past. Judith's love poems also serve as a counterpoint for Cally's own circumstances. Trapped in a cycle of abuse, she also inscribes a Ketuba, the Jewish marriage contract for Aaron and Shira, as well as a love sampler for her husband Jake in order to win him back.
£13.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Fred and I and a Dash of Pepper
Fred and I and a Dash of Pepper is Lauren Singer's inspirational and heartfelt story, told through the eyes of her service dogs Fred and Pepper, about the daily triumphs and defeats of living with Multiple Sclerosis. Join Fred and Pepper as they recount their mischievous adventures of escaping through the gate, hear about Fred's love of serviettes and money and Fred's moving account of the passing of Lauren's father.
£14.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Who's Afraid of the Dark?
Sanele is afraid of the dark, she hears strange noises and can't sleep. She thinks there are monsters under her bed and a lion in the house. What will help Sanele sleep at night/ Accompanied by beautiful illustrations, this charming tale will resonate with children everywhere.
£7.35
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Jardine
Eat Out Award–winning chef George Jardine offers some of the recipes that have drawn guests for almost a decade to his fabulous eatery on the Jordan Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. In the pages of Jardine: Cooking with an Accent, George has looked back over his award-studded time as a chef in South Africa and compiled a collection of recipes that defines his style as a chef. Whether it’s mushrooms gathered in a local forest, guavas from the tree in the garden, or fish caught in our oceans, Jardine is filled with recipes that explore the culinary bounty of Mzansi. This stunning volume, photographed beautifully by Russel Wasserfall, serves as both an exploration into the skill of a talented chef and a memoir for visitors to his restaurant.
£17.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Development in a divided country
This title begins from the standpoint that new thinking is needed if South Africa is to generate sustainable economic growth, provide employment and decent work and promote rural development. As comparisons with other developing economies, particularly South Korea and Brazil, show, it is possible for the so-called developmental state to direct and plan economic activity and achieve developmental objectives. At the same time the title warns about the perverse impacts of black economic empowerment, particularly the growth of a rentier class of well-connected entrepreneurs.
£10.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd The Ayahuasca diaries
A lively travelogue, this book follows the author's psycho-spiritual odyssey in search of ayahuasca—a dark, psychedelic brew known as “the vine of the dead." Trekking through the rain forests of Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, and Ecuador in search of enclaves where ayahuasca is taken in the dark of night at ceremonies presided over by shamans, the author shares his experiences with otherworldly songs that are both magical and healing and ignite in him a new enchantment with life and a burgeoning sense of connection with the natural world.
£15.99
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Soweto
A celebration of modern life in Soweto, these stunning and stirring photographs show the importance of this township within the collective consciousness of South Africa. Going beyond Soweto’s historic struggles with apartheid, these images instead reveal the traditional importance of art, dance, and fashion in the community’s daily life—and to showcase a new cosmopolitan energy as the people reinvent themselves and their urban space.
£22.00
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Grow to live
A celebration of the wonders of the natural world, this beautiful yet practical book is a simple guide for people in Southern Africa to grow their own food in whatever space is available, using methods that are tried and tested, simple, low-cost, water-wise, and resourceful. From classifying the different soils and tools that one needs in a successful garden, this guide also offers practical advice on maintaining and protecting an organic garden.
£17.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Hidden Wonders: The Small 5005 of Southern Africa - Insects, Spiders, Frogs and Reptiles
This photographic masterpiece celebrates the forgotten inhabitants of the African savannah - insects, spiders, frogs and smaller reptiles. The main aim of this book is to showcase the superb, high-quality slide collection of the photographer, Dan Lieberman, and his tremendous patience taken in acquiring these images. In doing so, the author also highlights and describes the diversity of species and makes the smaller often overlooked creatures as exciting to observe as their big and hairy counterparts. A tall order perhaps! But with the quality of Dan's macro-slide images of these small creatures, coupled with the author's passion for the natural world, we hope to demonstrate that observing some of the Small 5005 can be as rewarding as observing their Big 5 compatriots. The more one begins to know about these denizens of the bush, the more one begins to realise how much more there is to discover. By highlighting some of the lesser-known inhabitants of these areas, it is hoped that people will be more willing to conserve them, and that in this context these creatures will gain recognition so that the plight of all biodiversity can be given the attention it deserves.About the Authors:Rael Loon, the author, aims to promote the connections between ecotourism, conservation and community development by demonstrating in his writing how people and wildlife can benefit from each other, and by writing on related environmental issues. He believes that the best chance of conserving nature and our biodiversity is by learning as much as possible about them. In this book, he takes the reader on a journey of discovery into the hidden world of some of these smaller denizens of southern Africa's rich and diverse habitats. Rael lives in the Lowveld with his wife, Helene, and their two children, Asha and Benjamin. Dan Lieberman was an intrepid explorer and photographer. An ethnobotanist whose passion for the natural world, and particularly the microcosmos within it, led him on many explorations into his environment - snow, jungle, desert and sea - and finally his camera and his eye favoured insects and other tiny creatures. He took thousands of photos all over Africa, including Madagascar, Gabon and southern Africa - and many of these colourful characters are captured in this book. His animated comprehension of this minute world inspired and educated all who were fortunate enough to share his experience with him. When you were with Dan, you knew you were in the presence of something wild - a true legend. Dan died in a car accident in 2000 at the age of 33. This beautiful book is a tribute to his memory.
£22.00