The South African edition of To Swim with Crocodiles is now out! You can get it at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Press website and soon in stores! And on May 2, I’ll be giving the 26th Annual Alan Paton Lecture alongside Dr. Sibongiseni Mkhize.
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To Swim with Crocodiles Updates
You can read an excerpt from the book over at the fabulous new South African media project New Frame. You can listen to a podcast about the book over at New Books Network.
To Swim with Crocodiles – Now Out!
Just in case you missed the news on social media, To Swim with Crocodiles came out in the U.S. earlier this summer. It will be out in South Africa in early 2019 with the University of KwaZulu-Natal Press. You can get it now with Michigan State University Press and, of course, that other online seller. Thanks, everyone, forContinue reading “To Swim with Crocodiles – Now Out!”
The Order of the Luthuli in Gold – Mhlabunzima Joseph Maphumulo
Last month, the Presidency of South Africa awarded the Order of the Luthuli in Gold posthumously to Inkosi Mhlabunzima Joseph Maphumulo. The order “is awarded to South Africans who have served the interests of South Africa by making a meaningful contribution in any of the following areas: the struggle for democracy, human rights, nation-building, justice,Continue reading “The Order of the Luthuli in Gold – Mhlabunzima Joseph Maphumulo”
Dispossession & Land Myths
*For more on the context of this particular oral history interview, see previous post. The “myth of the empty land” is one of the most pervasive myths of South African history. In 2012, Freedom Front Plus leader and then deputy minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries Pieter Mulder declared that black South Africans had noContinue reading “Dispossession & Land Myths”
Oral History Snippets and Scraps
I haven’t blogged in a year. Oops. I’m on leave (yay!) and spending a lot of time revisiting my oral history interviews as part of manuscript revisions. Reading, listening again produces a range of emotions and thoughts that won’t make it into any book or article. They deserve to be shared and despite my best efforts atContinue reading “Oral History Snippets and Scraps”
World War II in Africa
This week in the Modern African history course we’re discussing African participation in World War II and its impact on the continent. Like the growing attention to World War I highlighted by the World War I in Africa project, it is increasingly easy to access media for classroom use. A few I have used successfully: ONLINEContinue reading “World War II in Africa”
Prime Evil’s Parole
Today, South Africa announced the parole decisions for three apartheid-era political assassins: Clive Derby-Lewis, Eugene de Kock and Ferdi Barnard. Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masuta announced that de Kock would be released. Despite the medical board‘s recommendation, the state denied Derby-Lewis (the man behind Chris Hani‘s murder) parole. The decision on Ferdi Bernard has beenContinue reading “Prime Evil’s Parole”
Repost: Lecture Prep and Digital Humanities
This is a re-post from my #DayofDH2014 page (April 8, 2014). Some portion of my Tuesday is usually devoted to grading and lecture prep for the rest of the week. Tomorrow the Modern Africa History course will cover decolonization in Portuguese Africa, so I want to blog about some of the great online digital sourcesContinue reading “Repost: Lecture Prep and Digital Humanities”
“Nadine’s People”
The South African author, Nobel laureate, anti-apartheid and anti-secrecy activist Nadine Gordimer has died at the age of ninety. Novelist Thando Mgqolozana tweeted this morning, “Nadine’s People,” a play on one of her most popular novels, July’s People. I am one of Nadine’s People. I frequently get asked, “Why South Africa?” Why did I choose toContinue reading ““Nadine’s People””
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