THE READING LIST
Achmat Dangor: Bitter Fruit. I’m only a third of the book in and find myself caught between rapaciously racing through Dangor’s flawless syntax and staying for as long as possible on a page in a sensory exploration of narratives that cannot be retold enough. This is an amazing book detailing the implications of apartheid’s violence on people’s personal relationships. (MB)
THE PLAY LIST
Vintage Nigella. A friend was moving house last week and I happened on a box set of Nigella Lawson’s cooking show episodes. I don’t need to sell Lawson’s charm — it’s pretty obvious to the millions of people who tuned in to bolster her rise to the throne of noughties foodie TV. But I was reminded of it when I stopped watching for the food and just watched her do her thing. Amazon is selling these sets for a tasty $25. (MB)
Zetina Mosia: The RoundAbout. I’m not big on hyphens, so from where I stand, soul-style singing over hip-hop beats would land me right back to hip-hop. Interviewing Mosia’s Iapetus Records stablemate Fifi the RaiBlaster, Sabelo Mkhabela describes Kanif Sebright’s production of her album as monolithic, perhaps a reference to both its solidity and singularity. As far as how Sebright has tweaked his production approach to fit Mosia’s style, I’ll be honest, I am still working that one out. (KS)
Thandazile Radebe: Sabela. I am all for subtlety, nuance and all that feel-good stuff that helps us work through our pain without really jolting us out of our comfort zones. But I also know that life for most of us is precarious. The ceilings are low and at various turns we find ourselves straitjacketed by situations that have nothing to do with our abilities but everything to do with our government names. To watch Sabela is to be immersed in this, if only for an hour. If you are in Jo’burg, keep an eye out for the 969 Festival at the Wits Theatre, where this dance piece will be performed on July 21. (KS)
The Lists are compiled by Friday editor Milisuthando Bongela and arts writer
Kwanele Sosibo